OFF TO THE ROYAL REVIEW.

Otago Witness, Issue 2467, 26 June 1901, Page 29

OFF TO THE ROYAL REVIEW.

| ENTRAINING THE VOLUNTEERS. Saturday was a busy day with the volunteers, a'ud also with the Railway department, whose resources had been already severely taxed by the heavy passenger traffic consequent on the royal visit. The first stir was made when Colonel Webb, accompanied by Captain Joyce and Lieutenant Webb. left, by the morning's express for Christchurch, the Dunedin Pipe Band, 20 strong, under Pipe-major Gray, travelling by the same tram. Thenceforward the Garrison Hall became th° centre of activity, and the D.A.A.G.'s (A). Captain Hisloii ■ (infantry) and Captain Stronach (mounted men), assisted by their respective D.A.A.G.'s (B), Captain M'lndoe and Lieutenant Park, were kept hard at it all day, and practically all night, superintending the transport and commissariat arrangement*! in connection with the troops bound for the Chrietehurch review. To their credit, be it said, they discharged their difficult duties with tact, decision, and ability. As the day wore on and the trains kept discharging their volunteer freights, the city bore quite a military aspect, aiuV at' night the scene in the streets was a-n animated one, the searchlight from the Union Company's offices showing up in strong relief the varied uniforms ever) T where visible, also revealing the fact that, with their usual gallantry, the riflemen were monopolising the attention of the fairer sex. A couple of country troopers were gazing with awe-s+ruckv admiration at the brilliant illumination of the U.S.S. Company's building. " G.M.,"' remarked one of the twain, staring at the electrically-jewelled monogram bearing that device; "what do those letters stand for?" '"Why. don't you know?" retorted the other triumphpntly ; "George M'Lean, of course." Shortly after 8 o'clock there was a rush to the station to greet the mounted men from Southland, including detachments ot the Southland, Ma f a«rn, and Clutba Mounted Rifles. Through the courtesy of Messrs Wright, Stpphen^on, and Co., the horses arriving by that train were courteously stabled in the yards belonging to the firm. The next sensation was the departure of the first train for Christchurch, and here occurred the only hitch in the arrangements. To £>c cooped up in crowded cattle trucks for 24 hours in midwinter ia surely an experience as sc\erc as even South African campaigning can offer, and yet this is what some of the Otago volunteers were called upon to endure at the result of their loyal determination to take part in the royal re\ie\v. They cheerfully accepted starting away from home at 3 o'clock on Saturday morning with the cold coach ride and crude tiain acroinmodation on route to Dunedm, for had they not receiied definite promi-e by wire from Wellington that meat vans would Ijp provided for their comeyanee to Christchurch? Was it any wonder that when the train hove in sight, mainly composed of open grain waggons, scantily co\ercd a\ ltli hessian, that a murmur of discontent ran through the ranks' " Blooming cnttle truck*," cried one man indignantly: "It's a jolly shame"; but after a little explanation the situation was cheerfully accepted, and, despite the frosty atmosphere, the men sc rambled into their well-ventilated comeyante-. The crowd of onlookers, added to the •Jac-knessj of discipline among'-t the men, mado the ontraiument somewhat a lengthy pioces--, but eventually the first co'iitingrnt, under the command of Captain Logan, got away half an hour behind time. Only upon one assumption can the make up of this fir-it train be understood. The railway authorities must have assumed that, country volunteers being u-ed to routing it, any sort of transport would suffice for their u«e. The metropolitan men wore better looked after, their train being composed ot meat van's throughout. One thing, howe\er, is certain: that they knew better how to puH the strings in Invercargill than in Dunedin, for the Southland contingents travelled through to Chris>tchuich in firsLild&& carriages, the officer!; having a guard's \an fitted up in tip-top •btyle as a bleeping car After an internal, utilised in watching the workmen dm ing stake- in Princes htreet for the barricades or decorating by torch light in die Octagon, the city corps paraded outside the Ganison Hall at half -past 10, marched down to the station, and -ntrained m good frtyle, the precision of their movements being in marked contrast to the country corps, who had preceded them. The becond train, in charge of Major Smith, got away at half-past 11. The third train for Christchurch, with the •Southland men on board in charge of Maior Hawkins, armed in Dunedin about 6 a.m. yesterday, leaving again at 7 15. The foiuth and la&t train, Captain Bowler m charge, with the Southland mounted men, who arrived the previous e\eumg, Icit at half-past 8, the arrangements being carried out without a hitch. Following is tlie official parade ..tate, by which it

will be seen that Colonel Webb will hay* under his command at the ro3'al re\iew a force of Otago and Southland men nearly 1300 strong. The following- vwa* the PARADE STATE : — First train, 9.30 p.m , Saturday, Captain) Logan in charge. Maniototo Mounted Rifles (Captain Logan) 4 officers, 52 men ; Bruce Rifles (Lieutenant M'Clymont), 1 officer, 30 men ; East Taieri Rifles, 8 men ; Ivaitangata Rifles (Lieutenant Souncss), 1 officer, 26 men ; Queenstown Rifles (Captain Porter). 2 officers, 26 men ; Tapanui Rifles (Captain Rodger), 3 officers, 49 men: Owaka Rifles, 2 officers 49 men. This train picked up en route to Christchurch Queen's Rifles (Oamaru), 40 ; Oamaru Rifles, 35 ; Hampden Rifles, 35 : and Palmersthon South Rifles, 35 — in all 398 troops. Second train, 11.30 p.m., Saturday. Colonel Smith in charge. Port Chalmers Navals, 1 officer, 28 men ; Dunedin Engineers (Lieutenant Ross), 2 officers, 8 men ; Dunedin City Guards, 23 men ; North Dunedin Rifles (Lieutenant Johnston), 2 officers, 43 men; Highland Rifles, 29 men; Dunedin City Rifles (Lieutenant Kirkham), 1 officer,-27 men ; DunRifles (Captain Burt), 1 officer, 10 men ; Wakari Rifles (Captain Washer), 2 officers, 45 men ; Caversham Rifles (Captain Loasby), 2 officer^, 38 men ; Alexandra Rifles (Captain Smith). 2 officer-s, 36 men; Dunedin Cycle Corps, 11 men : Dunedin Bearer Corps, 18 men; — total, 329 troops. Third train. 7.15 a.m., Sunday. Major Hawkins in e'mrge. Clutha Mounted Rifles (Captain Pennycook), 2 efficprs, 34 men ; Jnvercar^ill Garrison Band (Lieutenant Siddell), 1 officer, 24 men ; Invercargill City Guards. 2 officers. 47 men : Oreti Rifles, 3 officers, 39 n.en; Awsrua Rifle?, 2 officers, 40 men; Gore Rifle=, 2 officcis, 36 men; Mercantile Rifles, 2 officers, 44 men; Winton Rifles, 2 officers, 45 men ; Orepuki Rifles, 3 officers, 42 men : Bluff Guards, 3 officers, 51 men; Colac Bay, 3 officers, 52 men; — total, 479 troop* 1 . Fourth Train. 8.30 a.m.. Sunday, Captain Bowler in charge. .Southland Mounted Rifles (Captain Hazlett), 2 officers, 42 men; Mataura '.Mounted Rifles (Captain Bowler), 3 officers, .45 men : — total, 92 troops. Grand total of Otago and Southland forces, 1298 troops.