THE CANTERBURY TROOP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6711, 5 February 1900, Page 3

THE CANTERBURY TROOP.

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. Ninety men fell in at the eanrly morning parade to-day, when Lee-Enfield' rifles and accoutrements were issued by Camp-Ser-geant-Major Coleman to twenty-three men, who were the last to join the troop. Staff-Sergeant-Major Jones took 45 and Staff-Ssrgeant-Major Taylor 22 men in the manual exercise, when many of the finer points of the motions were insisted on, and real progress made. There Avas- an attendance of 81 men at the 9.30 foot parade, of which Captain Lindsay was in charge. The troop wais formed into three divisions, led respectively by Lieutenants Buchanan (Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry), Bourn and Tucker, Staff -Sergeanft-Majors Jones and Taylor superintending the individual work of the men. The division formations were on tho lines of the latest Britisih manual for mounted infantry, and were new to both the officers and men of tibe troop. Some of the work was rough afc first, but quickly improved, and the greater part of the marching, especially the most difficult portion, marching in line, was noticeably good. On the conclusion of the parade the straw bedding and tent furniture were taken from the old tents, and removed to those lately pitched pn the permanent site. It may be of interest to note that tihe eighteen tents into which the men have moved will accommodate the whole of the Canterbury Troop, and an equal number more will be required for the remainder of tho Third New Zealand Contingent. Two double lines of horses WiH be picketed between the ten* rows, and as each single line will be occupied by 50 'horses, it will «jadily be seen tliat 200 horses will be picketed here Avhen the men of tha Third Contingent are all on tie ground. Lieu-tenant-Colonel Slater applied to tlhe Rail- 1 way Department this morning for 80 oJd sleepers for the picket posts, awl his request was at onoe granted, the Department offering to deliver the sleepers at any point within the city. All the spare time between the morning parades was spent by the men in voluntary practice of the manual and firing exercises, me occupants of each tent being instructed by one of their own tent-mates. Aoting-Sergeanfb Walker, during the same parade, practised a large squad in extended seotion Work and firing. Lieutenant Hurst, of the Waimate Rifles, came in to join the troop, but finding that there twas no vacancy in tihe commissioned ranks, 'he immediately offered his services as a trooper, and was acoepted. Several horses left th© camp this morning in order to be stood. Only four more of the troopers' horses require similar treatment. A paragraph which appeared in 'a previous issue stating that Lieutenant-Colonel Slater had forbidden the trumpeters to practice upon their bugles is incorrect, as the order was not given .by him, Lieutenant-Colonel Slater holding tiat practice upon both bugle and trumpet is necessary. Several more saddles aoid bridles have come into camp. They have been lent by the following : — Mr Wigram, two saddles and one bridle; Mrs Robert Bamfield, one bridle; and Messrs H. R. Parkinson, G. Gosset't, W. Woods, Henderson and Tucker, one saddle and bridle €»eh. A quantity of green feed has been received by Mr Taylor. The large room of the New Zealand Natives' Association in the V.M.C.A. Buildings presented quite an animated scene this afternoon. At the invitation of the Mayoress, nearly one hundred ladies had assembled, and all were buisily engaged making "hold-alls" for the Canterbury Troop. A number of the ladies had 'brought their own sewing-machines. Mr Holderness, Government stock inspector, with Mr A. Crabb, M.R.C.V.S., and Mr E. D. O'Rorke, were busily engaged this morning in* examining horses offered for the Troop, and about half a dozen passed the test. One or two of, the best animals which bave come forward had to be rejected, as they were slightly over the regulation height.

THE FOURTH CONTINGENT. [Per Pbess Association;] DUNEDIN, Feb. 5. Up to noon to-day 77 hors*? had been' given or promised t^ the Otago Organising*. Committee, and the subscriptions received since Friday amount to £1500, including Watson Shennan £25, A. Moss £10, and H. E. Shacklook £25. Three Dunedin Hospital nurses volunteered, and two or three aro expected from the south. & Men are offering freely. Ten offers came mm as many minutes this morning. . -