THE VOLUNTEER ENCAMPMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 154, 9 November 1868, Page 2

THE VOLUNTEER ENCAMPMENT.

Three years and a half ago the first encampmeut of Middle Island volunteer* was field at Hillsborough, and so generally acceptable was the novelty that the originators arranged and carrieii out another within the brief space of eight months Both were successful in a military point ot view, and each clearly illustrated the benefits accruing from such meetings. The furious branches of the service represented in Canterbury were taught to act in unison with each other, and the brief companion-' ship established friendly ties which have betui maintained both individually and collectively by the several corps to the present time Unfortunately, mercantile depression and Government retrenchment rendered a repetition m a similar scale impractic<<>ie. A more economical tnode of operation was advocated, but no attempt was made to grapple with the fhmieial difficulty until the northern battalion held an encampment at Woodend in January last. On tha 1 occasion the s>stetnof cateribg at Hillsborougli was vetoed, and with the exception of moat and bread, the men were called upuu to perform their own cooking and mess arrangements. Although incomplete in many detai s, it was st;ll a success, and the men were perfectly satisfied. The system was then more favourably looked upon, and hence the present meeting, which, being carried out on a proner basis, will in» doubt result in a more frequent repetition than hitherto. dince 'he last Hillshorough assembly, many changes liar*; occurred in the volunteer movement, but the comparison is in every respect a favourable one. A large addition in nume^ rical strength was obtained by the organization oi' several new corps in the northern district, and notwithstanding the reduction of General Government allowance, from £2 l()s to 12s 6d per man, together with the total withdrawal of Provincial grants, only ona of these has collapsed, whilst all the others have remained firm. True, one of the bed quarters companies is in a >-tate of uncertain existence, but this is rather the result of unfortunate company differences than want of spirit amongst the men, and when the process of re- formation is complete, a resumption of its old position is confidently anticipated. The official department is marked by more generally satisfactory changes. The men linve become alive to the necessity of com missions being granted to experience rather titan to mere social position, and vacancies are now invariably filled from the ranks. By this metiis a better relationship is established amongst the men, emulation more generally excited, and improved drill secured. The present encampment was generally regarded with favour throughout the province and fine weather only remained to be desired for securing complete success. Up to Thursday there wan every promise of this, but Friday brought a disagreeable change, ana threatened a complete opposite to the •Queen's weather" experienced at HillsDorotigh. Main tell and gloomy clouds gathered, but preparations were still pushed >>n with vigourous determination, if not with ttie alacrity which would otherwise have been the case. THE MtISTER. The head-quarter and northern corps were ordered to rendezvous at Christehuruh and Kainpoi respectively, and to march thence in campaigning order to the selected site Hal fpast one was the time fixed for Lhrittchurcti, ' and shortly before thut hour the assembly was sounded through the streets. Volunteers in full marching order and varied equipments were then immediate^' to be setn hurrying towards the drillshed, where a large crowd of spectators wus in attendance. For some time great confuxion prevailed amongst the mixed crov/d, baggage and camp necessaries being hustled abi/ut amidst innumerable jokes, the chaffing of civilians, and noisy commands of subordinate

officers, until order was gradually secured, the baggage waggonß loaded with their freight, and the concluding preparations made for starting on the brief campaign. Theße were completed by two o'clock, but it was not uutil the half hour had passed that the Lyttelton Artillery, with their two guns, atid headed by their brass band, marched on to the ground. Another half hour was then expended in the respective corps forming on their coverers in open column right in front ; this being done, the whole force at once moved off the ground, the Yeomanry detaching an advanced guard and following in sections of threes, with the Artillery mounted on their guns, and the Infantry in open column of companies. Tbe total strength was about 170 of all ranks, and Lieut. Col. Packe was in command, with Capt. Moorhouse, C.V.C., and Lieut. Pavitt, C.V.E., as Aides-de-camp. Ho was also attended by Count Von Geldern, in the blue uniform of the Bavarian Cuirassiers, and Capt. Rookes acted as Major of Brigade. The corps represented were tbe Yeomanry and Yeomanry Cadets ; the Lyttelton Artillery, two batteries; the Christchurch Artillery, one battery ; the Engineers and High School Cadets ; No. 6 Company, C.R.V., the rear being brought up by a train of six baggage waggons. The Yeomanry were headed by their brass band, as klso were the Lyttelton Artillery, whilst the fife and drum band of the Orphan Asylum headed the Infantry. The letter were especially noticed; their neat appearance in grey suits, together with the peculiar circumstances of their position, and realty excellent playing, eliciting universal attention, together with one or two rounds of cheering. Sergt. Brown, their tutor, deserves commendation for the manner in which he has instructed them. / THE BOUTE. . Passing up Montreal street, tbe columnX debouched on to the North road at ihe Junotion hotel, and a large concourse of spectators turned out to witness their departure for '• the front." Arriving at the Carlton hotel the Orphan Asylum band and High School t'udets fell out and returne I homewards, but without interrupting the progress of the mm body. The bands continued placing and strict order was observed, with little cessation, until arrival at Papanui, where a temporary hult took plice, and the first ' attack " of th* campaign was made on the creature corufurti dispensed by mine host of the hotel at a bar specially erected under the veranda. Having again fallen in, the order of march was reversed, and No. 6 Comp.vny rifles led the way. fin reaching the outskirts of the little township discipline was relaxed, and marching at ease became the order of the day. The pent-up humour of tue men then broke f<rth, and the remainder of the inaich was enlivened by songs, iv which " Georgiu," and " Cheer up Sam " were i evidently the favourites. Iv thir^ manner the distance was almost ip-fl perceptibly pafised over, until on arriv-fl ing at J'releaven'B another brief halt « whs raude, after whi«h the original order of 1 march — right in front — was resumed, and the last two miles of the journey entered uj-on. / Iv the meantime the northern corps tara assembled at the Orderly Room of No 5 (Kaiapoi) company of rifles, and started under eormiMixl of Captain Beswick for the camp. Ihe whole of the corps were very fairly represented, the muster being about 90 of nil , nt ks, ihvl the fife and drum bands of Kaiapoi and VVooilend were also in attendance. The j-»urney was accomplished in much the same • nanntr as by the head-quarter corps, and on arriving at Monk's hotel, where the road diverges to the cump, a halt was made, and nome battalion drill gone through. In this mumier they »wxited the arrival of their comrades, but after a lengthened delay, they moved on towards the ground. ARRIVAL AT THE CAMP. •■ At about twenty-five minutes to six o'clock the head of Colonel Packe's column came in sight of rheir intended quarters, marching down the track, leading to then). Ihe n irlheru corps formal in line and received tiuir comrades in orthodox military style. The mouuted corps having massed forward, the infantry full in according to numerical precedence, and the whole moved forward to the- lively ptrains of " Annie of the Vttle "by the Yei>/»unry band. Arriving on an open space in front of the ground, the column was halted, and men detached for the several duties attendant upon taking uj> new quarters in the field. A magical change in the appearance of the ground whs ira mediately effected. A rough, uucultiva'e']. and hitherto lonely plot of lund was craiufonued into busy activity, and with inconceivable celerity, v tented viliage of formidable dimensions atid perfection of appointment spruug up. Merrily were the tent pegs driven home, canvas lightened, and baggage unpacked, whilst the open space in ic»r was quickly dottet with mess fires under the presidency of elective cooks. Mie«e proceedings, by the excellent arrangements previously made by the Staff were carried <>'it with a freedom from confusion or it regularity, highly creditable to all concerned. Capt. Lean as Deputy- Assistant Quart r Master General, whs in charge, and evinced a most commendable energy in the discharge of his duties. He also superinted the commissariat department, and rations for the firat meal were served out, and under process of cooking vnth welcome rapidity after the lorn* march. Whilst these matters were iv progress, a guard was told off and placed in position, about two hundred y^riirf in front of the camp, and immediately on the track leading to it. A complete cordon of sentries was not however thrown round the tents, but only three were plarod respectively at the guard tent, the magazine, and the commanding officer's tent. THE CAMP. A brief examination of the hcaJe selec'ed by the responsible officials, resulted in a unanimous expression of approval in every

matter connected with it. Sound judgment in selection, and practical attention to the nicest details of camp requirements were everywhere perceptible, and we have no hesitation in saying that in any respect it could not have been excelled. It is situated about three-quarters of a mile from the Waimakariri bridge, and almost in an easterly direction from it. The track leading to it diverges from the main North Road, about 100 yards before arriving at the bridge, and takes the visitor through uncultivated land, broken here and there with low sandhill», flax and w Id irishman, until after inclining round a spur of tha former, a plot of level ground is reached. The tent of the commanding officer, with the flagstaff in front, occupies the most advanced position, and almost directly faces the visitor on arriving within view. At a slight distance behind, but in a line with it, are those devoted to the staff, with the officers' mess tent ou the left flank. In immediate alignment with the former, and in a parallel line are the tents for officers commanding corps, and b bind these in direct o der, are those ocoupied by the non-commissioned officers and men of their respective commands. On the left flank, and some distance removed from the regimental tents, is the officers' mess kitchen, wiih the regimental canteen still further to the left and rear. The magazine is immediately in rear of the Yeomanry tent, and the one devoted to the commissariat in rear of the right flank of the whole. The teDts occupied by the officers and men art disposed nine in a row, and varying from five to seven deep, the total number being about fifty. The river sweeps round suddenly to within a hundred yards of the front of the camp, and thus every convenience for v supply of good water is ensured. The ground on which the tents are pitched is in some places slightly uneven, but immediately in front of that occupied by the commanling officer, there is a level plot suitable in every respect for the intended purpose of a purad ground. The rear of the camp is formed by low sand hills down to the sea beach, which is distunt about two miles. The tents are pitched its nearly as possible, aouth-east and north- west, and although there is no eminence as at Hillshorough, from *hich to obtain a view, it still has a very novel and interesting appearance from the higher knolls of sand.