The Nelson Encampment

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 126, 30 April 1889, Page 2

The Nelson Encampment

,\ On the evening of Thursday the 18th ._. %stant the West Ceasts Volunteers from. ">-Jt_ Palinerston r Feilding, and Marten took train en route for the Nelson Easter Encampment. Arriving, at Wanganni they were iaUen in by Captain Skerman, who> was in command, and after a few momentsdelay marched on board the steamersManawatu and Oreti. The- contingent of which the writer was an astour, went by the latter "fast and furious" vessel, there--fore his account of their "perils on the sea" will be confined to that lively and rollicking craft. She had on board -" J THE NA VACS' AOTJNAVAC AEULLERY, as fine and brave a lot of lads as ever trod a plank — on a wharf. Once outside of the Wanganni bar the Oreti showed she ! was quite at home on the rolling" deep,, and frisked about like* an amatory porpoise. This was al very fine for her r but: awkward for her passengers- In a very few minntes after leaving smooth water;, the manly countenances of the navalsjrightened up. They smoked pipes, they sang briny songs, they skylarked, they blew tin whistles, they tried their sea legs: (oh Lord, what a failure 1) they exhausted, their vocabulary of sea terms (an easy task), and good temperedly " played the goat" generally to their own and every, one else's enjoyment, bnt they booit showed they had reckoned without their* host, the Oreti. One by one they fled t<y the ship's side and — after the manner of their kind — said " Europe" in many keysThe lobsters or red coats had held out rather better than their brothers-in-arms,. but when they saw the discomfiture of the blue jackets, they collapsed to a man — and were all the better for it. In the early morning French Pass was safely negotiated and a few hours steaming in calm water brought our heroes alongside of the port WHABF AT NELSON, Heaps of people were there and plenty of hotels, but our hungry lads were unable to get anything to eat, and so had to go on to Nelson town, where their wants were supplied. The men being again collected were put in the train and in half an hour reached Bichmond, from whence the were marched with bands playing into the camp, where they were/it once quartered and made comfortable The first night under canvas is always a trial tonew hands, but there were no complaints and at gun fire all hands were up and: preparing for the inevitable drills and 5 parades. It is not the intention of the ■nriter to give any descriptive account of THE CAMP and what was done there from a military point of view, further than to say th» whole affair was well managed by Colonel Pitt and his staff, and that he received themost loyal support from the various ofliceas who were in command of the several! corps. A few of the HUMOTTBS OF THE CAMP will be far more acceptable than mere dry military details. It may be taken as a rule that where everybody is looking out for fun something funny is sure to happenOne HANDSOME SERGEANT who waß loth to partake of the meagre fare of the camp, took rooms at a hotel at Bichmond where he established his wife.. Although not on duty he took a turn round the teats, and as it was getting late? started for his more comfortable quarters,, but at the gate he- was met by a grim, sentry who called out the guard and had the " dear fellow" run in to the guard! tent where he shivered all night, in no> very amiable temper you may be sure. Later in the night, or in the "wee sm» hours ayont the twal" the COOK OF THE HAWERAS and Manchester Bifies was roused out and! told to get breakfast. He expostulated s at the untimely hour, bat when the bright; moon was pointed out to him as the sunhigh in the heavens, he got to work andl speedHy had bi» fires Hazing and sparkling under his pots. The officer of the* day ran to see the cause of the conflagration and explained the position: to "the doctor" who indignantly exclaimed " It was blasted irreverent to treat a cook likethat." AN ENERGETIC SUBALTERN. An officer who had Been toid off for duty in charge of the main guard, wanted to- visit some friends so he arranged with a brother snb to take his turn. The latter did so, but was not a complete success,, because instead of letting the men have any rest either before or after they had been posted as sentries,, he had them out in the open drilling them, as the sergeant said, "Like blazes." The subaltern whose duty was thus being done for him,, had by this time returned and seeing: something was not right reported himself,, and the too diligent one was sent to bed. By the way, it was funny to see the open, and childlike manner of the returningofficer, with which he carried a blanket andl pillow " to take on his post." A CONSIDERATE SUBALTERN. When the same post was visited on: another occasion by " Grand Bounds" nosentries could be seen at all. "Grand Bounds,'* after finding his command of "guard turn out" unnoticed, shoved his. head into the tent and, in his suavest. tones, asked " who in the name of wonder commands here." The officer in charge strolled out who, on being asked why the sentries were not posted, said, "he had - taken them in out of the wet." It goe» without saying this kind hearted fellowwas "put in the report," but whether he was hung, shot, or transported for this awful offence, the writer does not know,, and it doesnt muoh matter. (To he Continued.)