THE MILITARY SPORTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5904, 23 June 1897, Page 4

THE MILITARY SPORTS.

The military sports, which were to have been held during the afternoon, were advertised to begin at 1.30 p.m. It was, however, not until three o'clock that a start was made. Three events were then got off — a musical ride by the Canterbury Mounted Rifles, an artillery display by the E Battery, and an exhibition of bridgebuilding by a squad of the Engineers. These events were decided with very great difficulty, en account of the immense crowd, and as it was found impossible to keep the crowd back, the only other part of the programme that was proceeded with was the final display. This represented the attack and defence of a fort constructed of bags of chaff. The defending party consisted of the E Battery with two guns, the Lyttelton Navals and the Engineers. The other companies which had taken part in the demonstration, with the exception of the Mounted and Cadet Corps, constituted the attacking party. The Navals, Engineers and the E Battery kept up a steady fire, but the two former companies were driven back by the superior force; and the battery retired from the fort with their guns. The fori was then blown up by a charge of guncotton, which was supposed to have been laid by an advance party of the assailants, and the position was charged and won.