THE "SPECIALS" CAMP AT ADDINGTON.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14832, 25 November 1913, Page 8

THE "SPECIALS" CAMP AT ADDINGTON.

A BUSY DAY. • There was a scene of great activity at the Show Grounds yesterday: Everywhere the "specials" were drilling, mounted men and footmen. Very quickly have they assimilated their training. Their movements were conducted with a military precision and smartness —remarkable in the short time they have been together, and creditable alike to their zeal ahd that of their instructors. It was a sight well worth witnessing, seeing the mounted men at work. The cavalcade was an imposing one, as column after column, advanced at the half trot. The mnjority were in their shirt sleeves, and very well mounted. The greater number of foot "specials" aro also sturdy, strapping fellows, who performed their drill evolutions with a keenness and a relish. All day yesterday reinforcements wero pouring in from the country and the town. A marked feature of the camp is the number of artisans who have enrolled. A representative Press" had a chat with half a dozen foundry men who have enrolled as special constables. They stated that they had been thrown out of their employment through the machinations of Labour agitators, and as they did uot see why they should starve through no fault of their own, they had enrolled as special police. They were hopeful that the strike would soon be over, in order tliat they might get going again. SPLENDID ORGANISATION. Colonel Chaffey has been careful to complete liis organisation before making any move. Arrangements have now been made for constant fresh relays of "specials" from the" city and country, to relieve any who may have to go back to _ttend to their farms or other duties. So complete are the arrangements in this respect that Colonel Chaffey informed the representative of "The Press*' that the strike could go on for twelve months without interfering with, or reducing, the supply of '•specials." SUBSTANTIAL GIFTS. Gifts continue to pour into the camn from well-wishers in both city and country. Yesterday morning a sympathiser sent £10 worth of tobacco to the camp, and shortly after a fanner presented Colonel Chaffey with a cheque for £50

to expend as he liked on something tangible for the men. Colonel Chaffey has decided to lay out the amount in tobacco. Tremendous cheers came from the men when a large assortment of gifts arrived yesterday morning from the ladies of Christchurch, and further cheers resounded when further gifts came from the ladies.. THE MAYOR'S VISIT. The Mayor (Mr H. Holland) paid a visit to the camp yesterday morning, his arrival being greeted with rousing cheers. ' The Mayor suggested yesterday that the citizens of Christchurch should contribute to the comfort of the men in camp at Addington by sending out anything that would assist in this direction. He himself was sending out fifty pounds of cake. BOXING CONTESTS. At the camp last night much interest was shown in the boxing contests which took place in the refreshment tent near the secretary's office. The referees were Colonel C. J. Cooper and Mr W. J. Moore, and the timekeepers Mr Frank Graham, jun., and Dr. Simpson. The results were:—Light-weights: G. D. Laurenson (9st 81b) beat M. Hogan (9st lib). Welter: G. D. Laurenson (9st 81b) beat T. Wreaks (lOst lib). Middle-weight: J. Gundrv (list) beat H Kidd (list). Heavy-weight: F. C. R. Upton (list 101b) beat C. A. Mowatt (list 71b). An exhibition which was greatly appreciated by the large audience present was that between Frank Graham, jun. (17st) and Henley (lost). The judges declared the contest a draw. A <spp:cial" attacked. Outside the Lincoln road gates, a couple of uniformed police, kept strike partisans at a respectful distance, but as it was, there were cases of men going out to the camp being interfered with and molested. One city "special" engaged a "taxi" in the city to take him cut to the camp, _rom what was afterwards learned the driver was apparently in league with militant strikers, for a motor-car followed, tha "taxi" slowed down and pulled up, and four men in the pursuing car, after attempting by threats to force the "special" to change his mind about joining the force, endeavoured to pull him out of the "taxi," the driver of which looked on unconcerned. Luckily, the "special" was able to hold his own until help arrived. This incident hapnened only a few hundred yards from the Show Ground gates.