THE VOLUNTEERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6647, 20 November 1899, Page 1

THE VOLUNTEERS.

The annual encampment- at New I Brighton of the Queen's Cadets was visited yesterday by a large number of people. The attendance has been vtry good,' naving averaged 53, . out of a possible 40. Captain Lane is in command of his company, and Bombardier Coleman, who is in charge of the encampment, i 3 well satisfied with the discipline of the lads. The usual routine work has been carried out,, and special attention has bean devoted to attack practice. The Rev W. S. Bean conducted i)ivino service yesterday morning. He preached a patriotic sermon, and was heartily cheered by the boys on his departure. During the afternoon the Garrison Band played a number of selections, the rendering of which was heartily appreciated by the public. Tea and light refreshments were provided for the visitors. The ' encampment will be broken up on Friday. On Thursday a presentation by the noncommissioned -officers of the Garrison. Corps will be made to Staff Sergeant-Major Barrett, who will leave for Greymouth on the following day. The presentation will take the form of a purse of sovereigns, and care has been taken that Mrs Barrett should not leave without a msmanto. Members of the N Battery did .good work in their camp outside the Permanent Artillery . Barracks at Lyttelton last week. Tli2y had fine, bufc somewhat windy, weather. The attendance of the men is very satisfactory. Reveille is sounded at 5 a.m. and the morning parade begins at 5.15. Breakfast is served at 6.30, and after the meal the men go to their civic employments. Tea, is served at 6 in the evening, and is followed by a parade at 7. The non-ccm-missioned ofnears and men are lodged in a row of nine bell. tents, pitched on the lower terrace in front of the barracks, and the officers occupy two tents at. the west end of the building. Cooking is done by the Battery's cook in the barrack kitchen, and both rations and cooking are admirable. Yesterday the number of all ranks in camp was 51. An inspection parade was held in the morning, and general leave was given for the rest of the day. In the afternooai there were several visitors to the camp. The Queen's Cadets, mustering forty, under Captain Lane and Lieutenant Bates, went into camp at New Brighton on Saturday, and will remain under canvas till Wednesday. Bombardier Coleman is in camp with the boys, who put in some useful drill before leaving for work and after returning to camp. A jrjarade of the North Canterbury Battalion was held on Friday. Major Day, who was assisted by Captain and Adjutant Hobday, was in charge. The battalion was exercised in battalion drill at the North Park. The parade state was as follows: — City Guards (Captain Cresswell), 45; College Rifles (Lieutenant Merton), 42; City Rifles (Captain Fairbairn), 43; Imperial Rifks (Captain Chariewood), 41 ; Sydenham Rifles (Captain Smith), 38; Linwocd Rifles (Captain Drayton), 37 ; Cycle Corps (Lieutenant Finnis), 20; Bearer Corps (ColourSergeant Bishop) , 6 ; Garrison Band (Colcup-Sergent Mitchell), 26; grand total, 298. The Rangiora Rifle Company will go into camp at the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association's Show Grounds this evening, and will remain under canvas for a week. The open-air concert in aid of the funds of the Christchurch Garrison Band will be held on the drillshed grounds on Thursday evening. ________________