Volunteering.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2054, 13 April 1887, Page 2

Volunteering.

THE NEW PLYMOUTH ENCAMPMENT. New Plymouth, April 10. On Saturday night the town was crowded with Volunteers on leave. They carried on high jinks, took possession of the Salvation Army Barracks, turning out the lights and creating a general uproar during the service. A picket of Navals was detailed from the camp to preserve order. After some time the men were got out of the Army Barracks. The troops paraded at 10.80 on Sunday morning for divine service, which was held in a paddock a short distance from the camp. A collection was made in aid of the funds for repairing old soldiers’ graves in the colony, and £25 was raised. There were great complaints in camp regarding the catering. The general dissatisfaction culminated on Sunday evening in a strong protest. About half past 6 o’clock the evening meal was served out in the usual manner, and shortly after that hour, just as the officers were going to the mess tents, a gioat crowd of volunteers were observed anproachiug from the other end of the camp, its tin- crowd drew nearer it was observed that limy had improvised a band of upturned tin

me a holies, penny whistles, &o. A number .e* .Mico carried groat junks of half cooked meat impaled on sticks, carried at the slope, oiliers curried boilers of tea, which they served out, and in front of the procession was the eliigy of the contractor for supplying the meals. The improvised band played the “ Dead March in Saul,” and the procession marched in slow time to the cooking houses. Here the unfortunate cooks ware pelted with the meat, potatoes, and cabbages which had just previously left their bands. The main body of the volunteers accompanied the band, hooting and groaning. The contractor, who showed himself at a little distance away, was followed and pelted. The demonstration was subdued by the guard, which turned out to restore something like order. General sympathy with the men is manifested, as they have been subjected to the most scandalous treatment, and have not had a proper meal in camp since their arrival.

Our special correspondent, who was present at the encampment, and on the journey with the volunteers, states that the account given by the Wellington papeis of the conduct of the men of the Wellington Brigade must have been prompted by feelings ol jealousy or some other invidious causes, as the facts have been distorted, falsified, and overdrawn. Both on the trip outwards and the trip home, although the journey from Wellington to Smart's Boad, Taranaki, occupied the one way 21J hours and the; return 19} honrs, the utmost good humour, friendliness and fellow leeling prevailed among the troops—all being evidently bent upon making the affair purely a trip ot pleasure and happiness. The railway authorities ou both sides gave every facility in their power, although their resources were taxed to the utmost, for the accommodation of the men ; end although some rode from Wellington to Longhorn, the terminus of the Manawatu Company’s line, in covered trucks, still they met with good accommodation for the after and most tedious part of the journey. The country through which the train passed after leaving Long burn was a striking contrast to what the With rarapa has been the late season, being fertile and good in every respect. The towns in that part of the North Island look flourishing and the people who turned out in goodly numbers at every railway station of importance lustily cheered the men, who duly returned the compliment. The tedium of the journey was relieved in every carriage in the long train with songs; and some of the melody supplied, gave evidence that there were vocalists on board of no mean merit The Navals amused themselves and the company in their own peculiar way, and their pelformauces were both jolly and harmless, indeed there was scarcely one quarrelsome man in the train to prove the exception to ths rule. After the train left Patea on the journey out the officers, evidently inbued with an idea to prevent any intoxication, posted guards over the hotel doors to prevent the men getting any more liquor before arriving at their destination, but this waa a precaution illadvised as it was unnecessary,as the very fact of the prohibition being put on, caused tbe desire, in many instances, to break tbe ! restraint, and consequently beer and spirits j oi.ro more profusely supplied to the train (ban before. Notwithstanding this the men ) II arrived at Sentry Hill, where the lino i diverges for ;New Plymouth, in the best of I condition after spending so many bouts in the i>-iiiu, and upon dismounting from the c. ii dig. ' it Sharp's road, marched into camp in ,i sol duly and very creditable manner, and

v,;; 1 quurtereJ in the tents by dusk. I'i. unions were libel aliy supplied, although tin; mi .it was too recently kb! •• I to he tenihi Iv cooked, but the bread, h-tior, and potatoes were good, and when in. nooks had settled down to their work the t;i and ouffee was properly made. There wore eight excellent garrison bands at the encamp, ment and their martial music was excellent, all keeping splendid time. The Wairarapa men, as well as the Wellington corps, on marching into camp, were cheered by the public, and the Papawai natives received three rounds of approbation ; they appeared immea ely popular, as indeed thev deserved to be. Every man from this Valley conducted himself as a decent soldier should do, and all came back in a moot creditable manner. The third battalion of the second brigade had the good fortune to be commanded by an excellent officer Captain Blythe of Napier who acted as l.ii-ut Colonel; the Msjore of the battalion w, re Captains Cameron and A. Donald, At the ortliminary movements on Dell Dloak on vlonday morning the Napier men, who were No 1 company, took precedence. The Grey•own and Mastcrtua woo who w»do up No if

company came next. On marching past their Commander Col Stapp in the morning, the old soldier said, “ Woil done, No 2, 1 cannot And ianlt with yon," and on countermarching he said, " Very well done, No 2, do that again thin afternoon and I will be indeed proud of you ” and the men of No 2 did it again before the General in the afternoon, moving like one man, and as an old soldier looking on observed "as steady as a brick wall." When No 3 the Featheraton and Carterton men came next, Col Stapp said “ Grandly done men, Grandly done,” and the Featherston and Carterton men finished their work in the afternoon equally as creditable as they commenced it. The Papawai meu were equally good and caused quite an ovation from the spectators. Indeed the Wairarapa as a whole may consider that their volunteers when properly braced up for duty have full capacity for carrying it out to perfection. The praise is their just meed and is all thoroughly merited their is not one word in excess. The movements it may be said were a marked contrast to the recent Gteytown review. After the manoevres Colonel Stapp said be was very proud of the whole of the Brigade under his command, and hoped to have the honour to again lead them. The Te Aro, Thorndon, and Newtown were remarkably ellicient for young companies, and the Guards, Navals, City Bides, and other old companies well sustained their prestige. The four companies of cavalry showed good training, so did the Artillery. We will give further details as to the relative strengths of companies in our next, also other interesting matters appertaining to the town of New Plymouth and the surrounding country. The sham fight on Saturday was not carried out strictly in acoordance with the programme owing to some precipitate action on the part of the aide-de-camp, which caused No 2 Brigade to be placed under heavy fire from the supposed enemy. The roads over which the men were taken for attack were very dusty, but the movements of the attack were mnch enjoyed, and the troops marched into camp with great appetites. On the arrival of the train at Featherston a number of the residents turned out to welcome the men home, and on reaching Greytown, the Greytown men were met by a guard of honor of their comrades who could not get away, commanded by Lieutenant Johnston. Acting Captain Porritt in the absence of Captain Cameron before the men were dismissed, expressed the pleasure and pride he felt at their success, and after three cheers given lor and by the Papawai men, the men retired to (heir homes. Timxru, April 10. The sham fight between the two brigades at the St Andrews' encampment took place on Saturday. About 1000 men from Csnterbnry and 900 from Otago were engaged, and there were abont 300 spectators present. Great complaints were made about the catering. THE AUCKLAND ENCAMPMENT. Accklasd, April 9. The sham fight which look place today, was the best, for practical work, that has been done. Colonel Mabon commanded the attacking, and Colonel Roberts the defending party. The feature of the day was the blowing up of a bridge by a party under Lieutenant Falconer, of the Torpedo Corps, the materials being thrown 150 feet into the air. It is stated that the men bad not been long in camp when a few unpleasant incidents arose, which are generally to be re. gretted, as prior to tnis everything was passing oil smoothly. It seems that one of the Tc Awamutu Cavalry men considered himself aggrieved by being kept too long on guard, and on being spoken to by his officer he refused duty- Two men then attempted to arrest him. Those he struck, but was soon overpowered aud lodged in the guard tent.