NEWS PROM THE CAMPS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4988, 23 April 1889, Page 3

NEWS PROM THE CAMPS.

The South Canterbury Volunteers who attended the Springbank encampment returned by special tram last night, the Timaru contingent reaching home at half past two this morning, having left the camp station at 8 o’clock last night. The camp was well 1 managed, the men had a good time and very i few accidents occurred. Trooper Studholme, , 0.Y.C., had a nasty fall from his horse, which stumbled through a wire fence instead of 1 leaping a gate he was put at. Bandsman Eyan of Timaru, through some unccessary exposure, caught rheumatic fever and was left at Christchurch hospital. After the final march past yesterday afternoon , Colonel Lean addressed the North and South Canterbury men separately. Addressing first Major Moore and the South Canterbury battalion, ho said it gave him great pleasure to see them present in such great numbers at the camp. Before the division of the command ( they were but few in numbers. They had now increased in both strength and efficiency. They did credit to their officers, and he could heartily congratulate the officer commanding the district upon, possessing such a well disciplined and efficient body of men, (By Telegraph.) NELSON, April 22. ' The Easter Volunteer encampment is now a thing of the past, having proved an unqualified success. . Colonel Pitt and the officers made the camp really one of instruction, and excellent work was done by all branches. Discipline was maintained, though < not so strictly as to be irksome to the men. The weather throughout has' been excellent. The only rain that fell was for an hour or two before 8 o’clock on Saturday morning. Today a bracing wind was blowing, but the sun was shining brightly. ( There was a very large attendance at Eicbmond Park to see the sham fight and review. Many went out at 8 o’clock. It was estimated that 6000 viewed the manoeuvres, which were admirably carried out.; The attacking force under the command of Colonel Pitt consisted of the Maiborough Hussars, Westport and Nelson Navals, Nelson City Eifles, Eancitikei , Eoyal Eifles, Taranaki Boyal Eifles, Palmerston Eifles, Manchester Eifles, Hawera < Eifles, Stoke Eifles, Blenheim Eifles, , Waimea Eifles, and Blenheim City Eifles. They marched from the main road in two detachments to capture the camp which was defended by the Wellington and Wanganui Navals, the College Cadets, and the Blenheim Cadets. Captain Duncan, of Wellington, commanded the defenders. The defenders blew up the bridge leaving only two entrances to the camp. One of these was defended by the Navals with guns, and the other by the cadets. The attacking forces were unable to force an entry, and by arrangement the defenders then retired to allow skirmishing. All the movements were very successful. The review this afternoon was equally so. The Nelson College Cadets and the Navals were specially worthy of mention for precision, and the battery work was well done. The Hussars were particularly good in wheeling. A few slight accidents occurred. Eobert Boss, Samuel Waters, and W, Smith, all of the Wellington Navals, had slight contused wounds, and Trooper Ballantine, of the Hussars, had his hand wounded by the swinging of a gate during the review. Major Baillie’s horse, frightened by the guns, reared and fell dead. The Major was unhurt. All the men quit camp, at 8 o’clock, and the visiting companies leave by steamer about midnight. HOKITIKA, April 22. The Easter encampment broke up this morning, the visiting corps returning to their several homes, CHRISTCHURCH, April 21. At the Volunteer encampment after dinner on Sunday night the officers met round an immense fire and toasted Lieutenant-Colonel Lean, prior to his retiring from the command of the district. The Colonel’s health was proposed in ten different but highly eulogistic ways by different officers, all expressing the deepest regret at his retirement. Colonel Lean appropriately acknowledged the good feeling expressed. CAM ABU, April 22. The review and sham fight, which took place to day were attended by 360 volunteers. The weather was good, and everything passed off satisfactorily. A trial of the Maxim gun took place near the scene of the sham fight, and was watched by a large crowd. THE AUCKLAND BUNGLE CONTINUED TO THE LAST. AUCKLAND, April 23. The volunteers only returned from tho encampment at ten o’clock this morning. They were waiting on the station at Hamilton three hours in tho middle of the night for trains, exposed to occasional rain squalls, the reason being that tho trains were engaged in town for the races and could not be. sent out. Feeling on the subject is very strong.