CONVERGING ON AUCKLAND.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1900, 7 November 1913, Page 8

CONVERGING ON AUCKLAND.

OVER, 2000 MEN MUSTER. (By TelegrftD'h.—Frees Association.) Auckland, November' 6. Over one thousand mounted farmers had reached t.ho camp at Otahulm by daybreak, and a few minutes after five o'clock an advance party of four hundred rode out four abreast on their way to Auckland. They took the Great South Road, passed through Renjuorn, and Novvmarkct, and, at 7 a.m., entered tho outer Domain from tho Parnell end. I'our rows of tents were pitched, fourteen in each row, and four hundred horses Were tethenered in the lines. Provisions had been carter to camp overnight by members of the Permanent Artillery force, but, owing to an unff.rseon difficulty in the matter of carting, there was a shortage- of horse fodder during the forenoon. At about midday, however, wagons arrived with cftmprosssd hay, ehaff, ete. _ Tho men who reached town this morning were sworn in as special' constables at Qtnhuhu yesterday, tuid are therefore under police protection, Major Patte-sai, who brought in the contingent from Hamilton, has been placed in cliarge. Further detachmonts'of mounted farmers from widely-separated districts are reaching the camp at Otnhuhu. At micl- ' day is Was estimated that . the two camps contained over 1200 men. Mr. Fraser, S.M., proceeded to Otnhuhu again this morning to swear in the remainder as ..special constables, and, if tho truce between striker® and the civic authorities oomcs to an end to-morrow without settlement, tho full force-will be concentrated in the Domain camp. ~,A contingent- from north of Auckland is expected to reach the city to-morrow morning. The swearing in of special constables was continued at the Courthouse to-day, and the number already enroled in the city totals about one thousand.. This is in addition to the 1200 men mounted, above. In the event of Serious trouble 300 of these are to leave their employment, and act continuously aiding the permanent force until the end of the strike. They will bo placed in a camp handy to the city.