FASTER VOLUNTEER ENCAMPMENTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1529, 11 April 1887, Page 2

FASTER VOLUNTEER ENCAMPMENTS

.-. -CKLANDj April 9. Ths Volunteer review and .ham fight |t.-.laj. wsb a great success. Ther- were |ICCO Volunteers euiaged. The infantry i acted very wel', and the cavalry and mounted infantry splendidly. Colonel Mahon was m command of the attacking • party, whioh left the Lake Takapun. encampment, with No 3 battalion and a two* gun battery. On attempting to cross Shoal B.y causeway they were encountered by mounted infantry under Major Harris, wh) worked splendidly, and successfully exploded a mine by Lieutenant Falconer, of the Torpedo Corps, blowing "up thebridge and stopping the advanoe of the attacking party. This was one of the features of the Jay's operations. The mine was exploded by electricity, and was oiarged with 1501 b of gelatine ootton, gun cotton, and guupowd.r m equal proportions. The ezp'oß.on threw the materials 150 ft into the air. After a sharp engagement the attacking party had some of their men outflanked and taken prisoners. The main body were repulsed, and retired upon Lake Takapuna A Battery bringing up their two guns, and galloping off t© avoid oapture by the cavalry nnder Captain Smith. Colonel Roberts commanded tha defen«i|ag party, and Colonel Lyon was nmplre in-chief. The only acoldent whloh occurred was that Bugler Nairn, of the Gordon rifles, was kioked on the forehead while holding the horae of a staff-officer. He is not serlrosly injured. It is stated the men had not been long m oamp when a few unpleasant incident! arose. It seems that one of the To Awamutu Cavalry considered himself aggrieved by being kept se long on guard, and on being Bpoken to by his officer he refused duty. Two men then attempted to arrest him. These he struck, but wai soon over* powered, and lodged at the guard tent;, Later io the day, it m stated, an offiaero. one of the naval brigades was plaoed nnder arrest by Captain Llroby for gross insa* bordioation. The charge against this officer will probably fo a m the subject of an inquiry. It is also understood one of the cavalry ba* been dismissed. New Plymouth, April 9. Ori Saturday night the town was crowded* with Volunteers on furlough. They cai r ted on high jinks. They took posßession of the Salvation Army barrack! taming out the lights and oreating a general uproar m tho service. A pioket of navals was detailed from the camp to preserve order, and after some time the men .were'got out of the army barracks, but the set vioes had to be dl.o ntinued. The Salvation Army was requested by the authorities not to hold service for fear ol disturbance, bat refused the request. Up to late at night the town wai orowded, and the streets were taken possession of by the Volunteers, but no acoldents ocoarred, and no harm was done to property. The arrangements for the sham fight at Pareora on Saturday were the best that hay a been made for any one yet held, and the fight Itßelf more nearly approaohed m its working oat to aa aotual engagemant. The idea of the fight was that the UTorthern brigade was covering Timaru, whloh was supposed to be threatened by an enemy represented by the Southern brigade. No arrangement was made, as on prior occasions, as to who was to be defeated, but the brigades were to stand on their own merits and the railway was not to be available. The division staff, acted as umpires. The fenoes were ordered tn be protected from damage, and the gates only were to be uaed. The whole of the mon worked splendidly, especially tha Artillery, under Captain Martin. There was an acoldent m the- oamp on Saturday to Private Clark, of the Richmond R.fl.s. He was jumping over a pile of rifles, when he fell and broke the small bona of his leg. It was speedily act. by Dr de Lautour, and the man is now doing well. He was afterwards removed to tho Tima tv Hospital. Nothing wis done m camp on Sunday but churoh parade, which wss held at 11 a.m. An excellent service was given by Divisional Chaplain the hey W. B.doliffe, and the les.ona were read by Colonel Bailey, The chaplain preached a short but eloquent Eest-r sermon. The camp was crowded with visitor} from Timaru, and a number of expresses '■ ran out with passengers, and quite an : array of ladles gracad the church parade.