WAVERLEY CAVALRY ENCAMPMENT.

Patea Mail, Volume XI, Issue 109, 26 September 1898, Page 3

WAVERLEY CAVALRY ENCAMPMENT.

The annual gathering of the West Coast battallion of mounted Rifles held this year on the Waverley Racecourse reserve came to a close on Saturday last, when the three troops which went into camp on Monday last returned to their several homes. The camp was under command of Major Sommerville, the staff including Capt. Lomax, adjutant, Capt. Johnson, quartermaster, Capt. Coleman, Government instructor, Chap* lain Hermon and Veterinary Capt. J. B. Taylor. The marching states shewed — Alexandra’s—Capt. Watt, Lieuts. Sommerviile and Morgan, and 45 rank and file. Wairoa’s—Capt. G. Howie, Lieuts. Johnston and Riddell, and 47 rank and file. Hawera’s —Capt. Davies, Lieuts. Matthews and Bartlett, and 38 rank and file. The Alexandi’as and Wairoas marched into camp, the Haweras arriving by special train. Although the weather was anything hut perfect camping weather, the best possible use was made of the time at the Instructor’s disposal, the following being the daily duty state : —Reveille, 5.30 a.m.; Fcotdrill, 6.15; Breakfast, 8.30 ; Mounted Parade, 10; Dinner, 1 p.m.; Mounted Parade, 2.15; Tea, 6.15; Guard Mounting, 7.30; First Post, 9.30; Second Post, 10; Out lights, 10.15. The following promotions were in orders : Bugler Syme, Hawera Troop, to be Battallion Bugle-major; Troop Sergt.-major Matthews, Hawera Troop, to be Battalion Sergt.-major ; Troop Quartermaster Sergt. Sladden, Hawera Troop, to be Battalion Quartermaster Sergt. On Friday the battalion . was inpected by Colonel Pole-Penton, when the men were put through some useful and showy manoeuvres, including, of course, the inevitable march past, which was exceedihgly well executed. After this the battalion was divided into two divisions, and marched off to the sand hills to engage in a sham-fight; but as this took place far out of visual range of the ground it was interesting only to those forming the divisions engaged, the on-lookers not even being able to hear the reports of the rifles in their imaginery death-dealing work. The afternoon consequently did not present that interest or excitement which purely on-lookers hope to secure out of such occasions. It was, however, satisfactory to know that the divisions returned without having to report any casualties and on perfectly friendly terms with each other. After the battalion had been dismissed, a friendly contest in physical drill took place between an Inglewood and a Hawera squad of the Hawera Troop, the following forming the competing squads :—Lieut. Matthews’ squad (Inglewood) — Sergts. j Surrey and Sharood, Corpls. Morgan and Revel, Lnce-Corpl. Watson, and Privates Percival, Chis. Hamerton, Payne, Quigley, Bennett and Sargeant. Lieut. Bartlett’s squad (Hawera)— Sergt. Buchanan, Corpls. Foreman and C. Ball, Lnce-Corpl. Bailey, Privates O'Neil, Russell. Corrie, Fantham, Wiseman, Piper, Motram and Hunter. The result was never in doubt, and Col. Pole-Penton awarded the winning honors to Lieut. Matthews’ squad, an award which evidently fitted with public opinion, and with this contest the day’s evolutions closed in plenty of time for visitors from the north to catch the train at the Racecourse siding.

On Saturday morning the camp broke up, the Alexandras and Wairoas marching home, the Havveras returning, as they came, by train, passing through Patea at 2.10 p.ra. ______