WAKATU MOUNTED RIFLES.

Colonist, Volume XLVI, Issue 10568, 17 November 1902, Page 1 (Supplement)

WAKATU MOUNTED RIFLES.

About 2 p.m. on Saturday the Motupiko division of the Wakatu Mounteds, under Liotenant 0. Faulkner, arrived at Wakefield. They were received by SergeantMajor Healy, and irnmediatley went into camp behind the Hotel. Acting Adutant, Captain Kiernan, Captain Trask and Lietenants Ching and Clayden brought the rest of j their company up from Wakapuaka and Nelson later on. During the evening Sergeant-Major Healy gave instruction in musketry, firing exercises, and infantry drill. A cold night was spent under canvas. Next morning a lot of practical work was gone through, and Lieutenant C. Faulkner was put through bis examination, passing with credit. He will prove a valuable officer, and will be most useful, having commacd of a large district and a fair number of the men. . The various non-coms, present gave explanations of the rifle and its uses. After dinner the company went through various attack and defence formations, using blank ammunition, breaking up camp immediately afterwards. It is rather a pity that they could not manage to [hold their field day on Saturdays, when the Waimea Eifles could join with them, bringing about^ useful drill— infantry v. mounted. They just got away in time, as rain came on during, the night, and continues still. It must be "raining sovereigns 1 ' to the farmers. The sound of Tain made all our hearts rejoice. Wakefield, Monday, 15th Sept., 1902.