ST. PATRICK'S PAY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3577, 18 March 1886, Page 3

ST. PATRICK'S PAY.

Although not observed as a strict holiday, little .business was done m town yesterday, many people patronising festivities held m various parts of tho distriot, Tbe weather was against the Patron Saint's memory being celebrated m the fashion which all who hail from Erin would desire, as "at various times a thick driving mist ruled. On an occasion of this sort it ,wonld, wo think, be better to declare a general holiday throughout the district instead of making it a sort of half and half affair. Were this done one and oil could make up their minds to indulge m any amusements that were on tho card, instead of standing nt their shop doors or sitting on stoo's doing next to nothing. In other words, if wo are to haro a holiday lut us havo a decent" ono.' Let ' us eithor put all the shutters lip or rionoat all. , Thoso who -wished to enjoy themselves yosterday had a variety of choices. They could either go to the Pleasant Point or to the Waimate races, while for the evening several entertainments were advertised. At tho Theatre Royal the Colorado Beetles were well patronised, as was also the performance at tho Catho'io Boys' Sohool. Tlip camp formed by the C Battery Artillery, m tho paddock next to the Immigration Barracks, m Brown street, attracted a good many folk, among whom were not a few of tho fair sex, who wore anxious to see how their masculine friends or relatives wero quartered for the night. Some of tho latter wero strongly advised to " oome home,' 1 as the ground appoarcd to bo rather soft, but thoy wero unable to accept the invitation, stern duty forbidding them from resting their forms on feather beds. " As a whole, they 6eemed rather to liko sleeping under a tent than otherwise. The following are the principal events which took place yesterday s— : OUR /VOLUNTEERS. The C Battbkt m Casip. The members of the 6 Battery of Artillery went undor canvas last evening, for their annual ten days' training. The site of the camp is at the rear of the . Immigration Barracks, and the pitching of tho tents was commenced on Tue?d,iy,'Tinder the superintendanpe of Major Hamersley. The tents are arranged m theform of a~hollow square, the guard tent being at the northern side/ There are thirteen for the use of- officers and men ; a guards' tent, a.jneas tent for the officers, and one for the men, and a large canteen, the walls of which ore of wood. Each of the Bleeping tents are boll shape, arid are trencheed to prevott the damp from penetrating into tho interior. In the mess tentß are commodious . tables with ' . strong comfortable seats ranged around, and m tho sleeping tents are ve?y comfortable straw mattresses. Seen from any of the points leading to the camp the tents presents a very picturesque appoaranco. At 8 o'clock last night, the memWs of the Battery mustered at their headquarters, and after fulling m and tho roll had been called, marched to thecamping ground. A detachment under Sergeant H ughes. was told off to tike the howitie'rover, which, on arrival was unlimbered and plijcedj to the right of the guard tent. ; The mcii were then mustered, tho guard told off and sentries posted. Major Hamersley.wos m, attendance, and had with him Lieutenants Jackson and Smithson. Despite tbo fact the ; night was a miserably wet ono tbo muster was good, over thirty men going into oamp. After the guard had been mounted the men not on duty were dismissed, and at once proceeded to make themsolves as comfortable as possible, . The. arrangements for catering ore very completo, and Mr V. McGuinness, who has charge of thi3 department, has spared no effort to 1 get refreshments of the best' quality. The booking is to b» done m the kitchen attached to the Barracks, and every care will be token to ensure the meals being served at the appointed hours. , The ".brdors for the day " are published m another column, : and to ensure accuracy, each man m camp must make himself thoroughly conversant with them. This evening tho Garrison Band will play m the camp, and to enable 1 the time to pass still more pleasantly, i " camp fire " and other amusement is to be provided. Should the weather prove at all fine, bnr Volunteers will no doubt enjoy themselves very mucli, and at the same time ■make themselves well acquainted with the ups and downs of camp lifo.