THIS DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 154, 9 November 1868, Page 3

THIS DAY.

A c'ear sky and dry atmosphere at break of d°j diapelle<> the Uat fear of rain engendered by i he unsettled appearance of Sunday, and the reveille was answered to with < heerfu! fmc.rity. 'I 'c tents were speedily emptied of their occui an is, arms and accoutrements cleaned, horses jtrooiued, and preparations cofMTipnctd od all side* tor the more attire duties of the day. From the additions to

numerical strength, the greater license allowed by the day as compared with Sunday, and the glorious sunshine immediately sue- ! ceeding daylight, the camp presented a more animated appearance than at any previous time. A stroll through the streets of eanvaß habitations, or a distant view from the rising ground, presented much of the picturesque, and could not fail to attract attention from eren the least imaginative. Preliminary matters being over, breakfast was partaken of, and a word respecting the commissariat arrangements may not here be out of place. The rations were distributed on a liberal scale, and comprised bread, meat (cooked), tea, butter, salt, and poatoes. The camp equipage being all in thorough military keeping— conical tents with complete sets of cooking utensils — every requisite was provided for cooking, and the men provided their own plates and smaller articles of table ware. All the provisions were of excellent quality, and it will he satis factory to the contractor — Mr J. P. Jameson — to learn that not a single complaint was lodged against him. The men were divided into meßsea of eight, and the meal times were perhaps as interesting a feature as any in connection with the camp. Seated in a circle round the tent poles, the rations were discussed in the most primitive manner, and from the very novi-lty of arrangement and amusing contrasts to every-day-:ife. were enjoyed with peculiar zest. It ia also gratifying to note that notwithstanding the difficulty of storage of provisions from one meal to another, absolutely no waste occurred, and in no respect haa the encampment been a greater success than this. The foregoing description, of course, applies only to the men, the officers messing in a body and being specially catered for by Messrs Coker anl Heath. An excellent table whs laid on each occasion, and indeed the cuisine in this respect would have done credit to any town hotel. The men's breakfast being over, the re r spective corps were mustered, under comm nd of the senior non-commissioned officers, and some preparatory drill pone through. On the parade ground, in front of the camp, tiie Engineers «nd Kifles were to be seea busy in company and battalion drill, Bkirmishing, *c, whilst in the re«r of the right flunk of the camp the three batteries of artillery were engaged at gun drill, and the Yeomanry were saddling their horses on the picketing ground. The latter, with the < 'adets, subsequently paid a visit to White's bridge, under the command of Major ,Wilson, CB.. and rehearsed the mano>uvr<?B to be executed during the sham fight. In these evolutions some tyro hours were passed, when the men t*e-e dismissed to their tents to prepare for the more interesting portion of the proceedings.