THE EASTER REVIEW AT TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1363, 26 March 1881, Page 2

THE EASTER REVIEW AT TE AWAMUTU.

"Tboofek" writes to us as follows:— Active preparations are being made by the officers and members of the Waikato [ Cavalry Regiment to secure the success of the forthcoming grand review and sham fight at Easter, and in no less degree the comfort and enjoyment of our numerous brethren in arms from the Thames and Auckland. The Waikato men look back with pleasurable feelings to the I hearty welcome accorded them by the Volunteers and citizens of the Thames, twelve months ago, and there appears to be a unanimous determination to return the compliment, with interest added, if that be possible. We do not think, however, that the visit of our neighbours will afford them anything like the real delight which our yoemanry experienced during their campaign across the broad plains of the Waikato, Piako, and Waihou, and down through the "hostile" country between the unfortified and easily-captured town of Paeroa and the unresisting capital of the Thames ! County; during the excitement inseparable from forced marches, river f ordings, and night pickets, the long hours enlivened with the cheery music of the Cambridge Band, and the singing of wild | choruses by the jollier and more musical members of the Brigade! We are not likely to forget the gallops along the smooth roads, the single filing around and about and over the mountain spurs, the | occasional pauses at some clear, sparkling, pebbly rivulet, or the memorable halt at those delightful soda springs at the Puriri ; nor is it likely that we will cease to remember the generous brotherly greeting which awaited us when we crossed the bridge into Shortland ! While, however, we cannot here provide so much enjoyment as we have noticed, we are at least in a position to give our friends a taste of what every soldier ought to be acquainted with, namely, camp life — made comfortable of course. The Government have, yielding, to the repeated appeals of the Volunteeis, purchased the necessary tents, fifty in number, which together with the requisite cooking utensils are now on their way from Wellington. The encampment will be pitched in Mr White's paddock near the old Mission Station and on the marge on the pleasant Mangahoi Creek, from which not only a plentiful supply of the clearest water can be drawn, but which will also afford the campaigners innumerable feasts of watercresses. Here the Thames men, arriving on Grood Friday will pass the time till Monday, being joined in the meantime by the Auckland contingent and the Cavalry, the members of whicli have ako determined to camp out, instead of, as was at one time suggested, taking up their quarters at the hotel. The work of pitching the camp' and performing the other tasks necessary will be undertaken by detatchments from each of the Cavalry Troops during the weeks preceding Easter. The programme on Easter Monday will be roughly, as follows :— ln the morning the whole force will parade for inspection by the officer commanding the district, Col. Lyon. The force will then proceed to Capt. Rutherford's farm, where the sham fight will take place. The homestead will be constituted a citadel for the nonce, and from its commanding position it is admirably adapted for such a purpose. The attacking party, consisting partly of Infantry and partly of Cavalry, will take up a position on the opposite hill, and the various evolutions will be performed in the hollow between. With fine weather we shall expect to 3ee a large attendance of visitors from all parte of the district, who by their presence will do all in their power to instil and keep aflame the martial ardour of the Auckland Brigade of our New Zealand Volunteer army.

Mother: "Now, Gerfcy, be a good girl, and give Aunt Julia a kisa, and say good night." — Gerfcy : " No, no ! If I Mas her Bhe'll box my care, like she did papa's last night,