OUR VOLUNTEERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3584, 26 March 1886, Page 3

OUR VOLUNTEERS.

• r—r GRAND FIELD DAY. Tho garrison corp3 of South Canterbury had another day of genuine, downright hard field day drill yesterday, and each man, of the town corps at any rate, entered into his work con amore. At on early hour yesterday the men m Camp went through th.eir usual drill, and aftor returning from their several aygcatious at mid-day made every preparation for the afternoon's manoeuvres. The programme, shortly stated, was really "outpost duty." Tho ordnance branch of the servico was to act on the defensive and the infantry, assisted by tho cavalry, on the aggressive. Since the half-holiday movement has been so successful, it has been very gratifying to lovers of volunteering to notioo how earnestly our young mon have backed up tho Colonel's effoito to make the South Canterbury Volunteers as efficient m their duties as possiblo, by holding battalion parades, field days, etc., on Thursdays. Town corps, of course, have 1 an odyontnge over country corps, m that work ia moro regular, and, therefore, though many I wero Burpaised yesterday at s,uch a corpß as tho Tomuka Rides, for instanco, not sending m a singlo representative, it is easily explained by the fact that threshing operations m that ' district aro just nowin full swing. The other country corps, however, mustered fairly well. To return to the field day and preparations 1 therefore, we find that the following wero on parndc : — No. of Officer Company. men. m command. Cavalry 18 ... Capt. Wright. Timaru Navals ... 40 ... Copt. Meason. C Battery ... ... 42 ... Lieut. Jackson. Tuunru Rifles ... 44 ... Copt. White. Ashburton Rifles ... 17 ... Capt. Douglas. Geraldine Rifles ... 11 ... Capt. Moore. Waimate Rifles ... 27 ... Capt. Sjtudholmo. Tho Navals and Artillerymen were the first to star* from the Camp ou the lino of march, which was mainly along College Road to the Otipua Road, where a hi>lfc w»s called near I Mr Archer's private residence. Tha. Battery 'a 24pr howitzer hod four, horses attached to it, ond was m charge of Sergeant 'Wi Ehghes. The defence force was m ohorgei ot Major ■• BTaroeraJey who, on his men -reaching -the '■ point named above, sent Sergeant Hughes on with the big gun, commanding him ±o take up a position on the hill to tht. S.W. of Mr .Cabot's house, and then divided Ilia forae into half companies. Lieutenant Jackson had i charge ot the men on outpost duty- on the hill i to the loft of tho road that runs' past Cabot's, - ond Captain Meason thoso on the right. The

rest of tho mon were down near tho stono bridgo m charge of Lieutenants Begg and Smithson. Tho Timaru and other rifle corps under tho command of Lieut-Colonol Bailey, mustered at Messrs Jas. Gracie and Co.'s Bazaar, and preceded by tho Yeomanry Cavalry as reconnoitring parties, marched out to tho attack. About 3.30 p.m. Lieutenant Jackson's sentries reported the enemy advancing m force, and soon afterwards Captain Meason's did the Bame. This turned out to be a troop of Cavalry who were received with such a warm fire that thoy had to fall back on tho main body. Soon after this Major Hamersley gave the • Bignal to his outpoßts to retire slowly, and directly after this the attack was general along the whole front, and from tho point where tho gun was posted the redcoats of tho cavalrymen and riflemen could be seen steadily advancing. The howitzor oponod a most destructive firo on tho attacking force as they crowded down the road into the valloy, and despite the fact that the onslaught was a terrific ono, Major Hamoraley's mon retired spleudidly, firing steadily and keeping very cool throughout. Soon the command rang out, " Retire on tho stone bridgo at the double," and it was a grand sight to sco how smartly our bluejackets and artillerymen obeyed it. It was at this time the Cavalry made a brilliant dash for the bridge, but as the Navals gave them a very warm reception, it is hard to Bay who got the best of it. Tho Rifles were now coining on m great force, and occupying the heights abovo tho bridge. The order to the defenders was, to onco more retire, ond m going off tho bridgo ono bad mistake only was made. This was chiefly due to tho Navals, who took up thoir position on the western bank of the crcok, m close instead of skirmishing ordor, and although they only remained m this formation some minutes, the officers of the attacking force wero not slow to see the good target thus presented, and "pepper" it sharply. Tho outposts still continued to bo driven m, tho attacking force being, of course, too Btrong for them, and with the howitzer retired m the most perfect order, firing m a very praiseworthy manner as they did so. .Arrived on tho top of tho hill tho outposts made their final stand, and after tho lapse of somo minutes, as tho rifles kept on crowding up the affair was at an end. Somo amusement was caused just beforo the finale by a company of Timaru Rifles, under Lieutenant Ferguson and Sergeant- Major Jones, trying to capture tho big gun, but they found Sergeant Hughes too wide awako for them. Tho Rifles, however, had the satisfaction of oapturing ono of his men, whom, them triumphantly boro bock to the main body as their prisoner. After the fight tho battalion was formed, and the several companies (five) told off. Quarter column was then formed on No. 1 Company, the battalion moved to tho right m fours, and afterwards headed by tho gun detachment and Cavalry marched past. Tho whole aftcrnoon'B work was well planned and admirably executed, the country choson being simply magnificent for military operations. Tho sight from the heights as Colonel Bailey, assisted by Major and Adjutant Newall, brought his force over the hills and along the road leading to the bridgo was splendid, and tho cool way tho men under Major Hamcrsloy's oilicora behaved filled everyone with admiration. Captain Wright and his small but compact body of troopers mado several brilliant dashes, especially just befoTC tho closo, when tho outposts yet again showed what they wero mado of, and rallied smartly round thoir officers, at tho same timo receiving tho Cavalry with tho cold steel. Tho big gun was smartly worked, and the horses attached to it bohaved vory well under their baptism of fire. The attendance of tho publio was very largo, but owing to the fact that most of tho fighting was dono under cover of trees, etc., the majority of them did not sco the best part of it. The weather was fine, and tho Bky being covered with heavy clouds, tho heat was much tempered, and out-door manoeuvres thus rendered very pleasant. Beforo leaving this part of our report wo desire to accord a word of proiso to tho small corps of signallers that was attached to Major Hamersloy's company. Tho corps performed their duties well ; saved a great deal of time and trouble, and it is only right that their chief instructor (Lieutenant Jacksonl should bo complimented on the efficiency displayed by them. After marching past the Colonel the Cavalry formed an escort, and the whole of the companies were marched back to tho camp m Browne strpet. Tho line of march was enlivened by tho sweet strains of tho Garrison Band, who met the column just as it was ascending tlio rise on to tho Otipua Road. The men arrived at the Camp at 6.15 p.m., and rffter Colonel Bailey hod called the officers out, given somo necessary order?, and complimented thorn on tho success of the ; afternoon's outing, all spare an'numi'ion was collected, and tho companies dismissed, .after refreshing themselves the men engaged m different amusements, but as rain began to fall heavily shortly after soven o'clock the " camp fire " would not burn, and no fun consequently took place. As tho whole of the Volunteers, however, had dono a very hard afternoon's work, tho majority wero no doubt not sorry that they could get " early to bed."