A STERN NIGHT MARCH.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1895, 1 November 1913, Page 7

A STERN NIGHT MARCH.

WAIR AR APA CONTINGENT ARRIVE. WATCHED FOR BY STRIKE MEN. Not since the days of the South African war has Wellington belield ■so stirring a sight as was observed at midnight lasf night, when some 150. .-oua;'.i riders—from' the bush, the 'mountain, and the plains—clattered over tho woodblocked streets of the city on their way to the Buckle Street barracks. These were the men from the Wauarapa — from, the slopes of the Tararuas and the fiats of the Ruamahanga,' who have come to town in the interest of law and order in their home port. It had been hinted abroad during tho day that these men wero coming, and tho strikers 'were on the alorfc. They dispatched squad* of men to line the hills and tai'way '.rack between Thorndon and Ngahau-anga, promising tho farmers a lively reception which, however, did not happen. Not that the strikers shirked their enterprise—they were out on the road all night. Groups of half. a dozen took up positions on the h llsides and otihors scrambled ;ibout the railway ljne on tho seaward side of the road, and all were connected by scouts on bicycles. So they waited and waited, and as they waited the rain descended on them good an6\.hard, and as 10 o'clock drew near moit of them returned to town to seek their homes. The failure of their intelligence department had become apparent. The Call and tho Response. On the arrival of the oavaloade in barracks it was learnod 'exactly what had takon place and how.' Most of the members of the squad (which is under the command of Captain Cameron) only received the summons to rally in Wellington on Thursday— a good number not till midday,' 'when attending tho Carterton A. and P. Show. But such men need little tolling, and less time to act when the occasion calls. Some of those who clattered through the town at midnight last night had left remote stations at 4 o'clock in the morning, ridden into either Masterton, Carterton, 'or Greytown, and there caught a special train for Wellington,'" which also brought their horsos along in vans. And throughout the day neither they nor their horses.had anything to eat. But thoy .did /not comnlain ■of that —they merely mentioned it in the conversation of. hungry men, when tethering their horses to the lines in,the Buckle Street Drillyard. "; ■J- : ;'-\.-i-' -.'•';:-'•«-.::■•••": '■<;''

In Black Night. The special ■ traiiw arrived at Lower Hutt at «.k a TOfe-ffio-lb'fses 'were' got out or ,the vans, they formed in fours, arid left for the City accompanied by n scoro of mounted-.police,, who had "cone/out to meet them. - As it was riot desired that there should-he an encounter with the strikers a route had been marked : out which roughriders were to follow to avoid unnecessary- trouble. As it turned out, the weather took a hand, and the plan was not adhered to. The rain descended steadily and ..thickly. It is a : very rough road, whichi tapers off hero and there into a grass-grown track, and as;the night was black, it became apparent that-no one knew exactly where they "were. Perhaps the vanguard of mounted men ahead did, but as they had not returned to town at 1 a.m. it is assumed that they also lost the track, and have had a wot night among the hills. Of them later. Realising that it was futilo to go forward, it was decided, after consultation, to retrace their way as well as they could down to the Hutt Road. The way waslong and weary, and exceeding wet and slippery/ but after, a couple -of hours or so the road leading harbourwards was struck and at length to the joy of all tho lights of _tho idle .fleet in tho harbour were espied. . ...

"Company Formation! Forwardl" Once on the broad highway, order was. restored —company formation— forwardl And on thev came, wet and tired, but still in good spirits—a little bit pnt out at what was to them an unnecessary precaution for their safety, but still agreeing that it was all for the best. "Glattor, Clatter Through Town." The Wairarapa man reached the city at about 11.30 p.m. No one barred their way, but blinds were pulled up and late-homers Glared with quickening blood as the troop came clattering along ,the auay and up Willis Street. At tho Bank of New Zealand corner a few strikers shouted "Scahsl ■ Scabs! Scabs 1" One enthusiastic shouter happened to get too far out from the footoath, and was bowled over by a brush from a galloping horse. The experience did not improvohis diction. The guests of the Grand Hotel -flocked to the windows and balconies to witness tho midnight ride, and there were cheers for the brigade who had como so far to preserve law and order in the Empire City. . ■ At tho Barracks., Galloping gaily the troop went straight un Willis Street to Ingestre Street, along that thoroughfare to Taranaki Street, and so to the barracks yard at Buckle Street, where the gates were guarded by permanent men. "Who's in charge?" demanded the soldierly voice of Captain Powle?. "Cameron's in charge," offered n voice. "Here, Cameron, yoit'ro wanted!" And Captain Cameron, a noted fighting man, but genial withal came forward and consulted with (hptain Fowlos. Then the cavalcade entered the big gates. At the barracks all wasin readiness for their reception. During the day tho Manawatu troop had fixed up lines for tho horses, snd ar. th? word of command the troop como to a halt, dismounted, and in a thrice woro busy hitching their. sturdy mounts to fhe lines. Feeding. The generous man is gonerous to his horso, and every man saw to his horse before ho thought of himself. They smoked tho proffered cigarotto as they stood waiting to fill their food pans at tho sacks of oats and chaff in waiting. "Not too much food, .boys, for the horses I" said Captain Cameron. "Two double h'andfuls of oate and the same of chaff will do them for to-night!" And each man camo up, and be ho good eater or dyspeptic, no horso got more than tho four double handfuls —but how did they enjoy it. Tlion as some were feeding,' others watered their horses at the long trough on tho northern side of the yard. Some were even allowed to samplo the wet tufts of city grass that glimmered fresh and green in the electric light. Gradually comfort settled over "the scene. Tho men woro mustered: and addxo3»«l by Qwitftln.

| Powlos, who told them that there waa a feed ready for thorn with hot tea and coffee, but only 60 could bo takon at a time. Fifty were drafted off, and were soon at dinnor, provided in tho big now iron shed built for tho aeroplano Britannia. Hero were stored mountains of bread, carcasses of mutton, plenty of butter, and jam, and steaming hot tea and coffee. The fare was not much to boast.of, but to those men it waa everything. Then they moved out to make room for comrades, and after a final look at their horsos thev turned into camp-beds in the big Drill Hall. Lost Pollocmen. It was discovered on arrival in town that nino policemen, who formed tho vanguard, and'two of the men wero missing, as tho result of the ride in tho mountains. . Whero they wore no one could toll, but as soon aB the "mounteds" had brought the countrymen safe to camp they returned to find their comrades.