The Easter Encampment.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 276, 31 March 1894, Page 2

The Easter Encampment.

£y Rotomahana. Early on Friday morning the stirring sounds of the bugle drew the members of the Manchester Rifles, who were bound for the Encampment at Porirua, to the hospitable doors of the Empire Hotel, where the hostess, - Mrs Oliver, had a comfortable breakfast provided. Full justice was done to the welcome repast, and then 11 Smoke-oh " was the order of the day. The men had been warned that the train would leave Feilding at 2 a.na., but, no douot, for good and efficient reasons only known to themselves, the time was extended by the authorites until three o'clock. : Punctually at that; hour the men were comfortably ensconced in a carriage which had been specially provided for them, on their way to the camp. The Wanganui Rifles and Navals, with the Taianaki men, made up a good crowd, all "as happy as Larry " at the sure and certain prospect of their having a good , time. At Palmerston the local corps was picked up, and no other incident ■ of any great consequence occurred until the arrival of the train at Porirna. Here the several corps were met by Lieutenant Colonel Newall, who received them and, after a brief inspection, marched them into camp, where the arrangements were perfect, each corps being allotted its tents at once, so that the men were unharnessed and having their breakfast almost before they had realised where they were. I am not going to give any account of the military proceedings; but will confine myself to saying that the camp was conducted on distinct military principles, and was in consequence pleasanter and better for those men who had gone for the benefit of the instruction to be obtained. The canteen was orderly, well conducted, and only good liquors supplied, so that no drunkenness was seen within the bounds. The officers' mess was much better managed than at Johnsonville the previous year. All the food— the meat, bread, milk, batter, etc.,— was first class, while the cooking was simply perfect. Not a single complaint was heard. The Manchester Rifles had sent down their chef de cuisine, with an assistant to guard the treasures, the day before, so that they were well provided for from : the moment of their arrival. The plum pudding, a work of art and value, bad been previously prepared in Feilding and when served up was truly a tiling of joy, and the only regret of the partakers was that the beauty thereof would not continue for .ever. On Sunday when at dinner Dan was noticed to be tempting a fair damsel, with a morsel about the size ot a six pound shot, but she declined politely, so Dan with a courteous but deprecatory smile had to " place it " himself. It is not too much to say that the Manchester lads were a great attraction to the fair sex. The reason for this was the Bugler, George Haybittle, who was very much admired on all sides, and as there was not enough of him to go round, the girls had to be content with a choice from among the others. The men of the other companies, notably the Navals and Artillery men took a great fancy to George whose musical talnets made them " sit up " all the time. There were two men among the navals who gave great pleasure to the visitors to camp. One danced a Sailor's Hornpipe splendidly, while the other sang some comic songs in a style which excited shouts of laughter on all sides. Some spielers put in an appearance, but after one of them had received a " plug in the eye," and their apparatus pulled down under instruction from Colonel Newall, they folded up their tents and went silently away. The catch word in the camp was "I know your father," with variations. A Taranaki man was brought before the Colonel for being absent without leave. When Colonel Newall asked " What is your name, prisoner ?" Tho latter having given it, the Colonel ejaculated " Why ! I know your father." All hands smiled with effusion and the offender got off lightly, but it was some time before the popular Colonel found out what * the men had laughed at. Daring the progress of the skirmishing on Saturday forenoon, the Kharkees took a Naval prisoner after a sharp tussle, and sent him to the rear. The captors debated for some time whether they should keep- him and tame him, or kill him ana stuff him, but ultimately more merciful councils prevailed, and the captive was restored to his liberty and to the arms of his weeping comrades. During the attaok on the camp which was made on Monday, the rifles abstained from firing at the gunners in charge of Nordenfeld guns. Colonel Fox was not very well pleased at this moderation, but the fact was the riflemen had expended most of their ammunition, and what few cartridges were left they held back for the special delectation of the Navals. The Kharkee men reckoned they could bag the Artillery men any time they wanted to. In this probably they would reckon without their hosts. On Sunday a number of the men had leave to go to Wellington, but as a half a gale of wind was blowing and the dust was flying in dense clouds, they were glad to get back to camp where they could have gome comfort. It seems a wonder that the water carts are not kept going even on Sunday in the Empire City. People who are going to church surely deserve as much protection for their blessed eyes as do the wicked ones who engage in commerce on the week days. Possibly, the Wellington folks are even yet somewhat Puritanical. Still, no man or woman can really enjoy a church service with eyes, ears, and haijs^|ull of pungent dust composed_of*all sorts ~~ of filth. «fcHo\veverj- tiiat is no affair of Volunteers. The latter, to a man, enjoyed a hearty meal at the. City Buffet, where Dan was much exercised in trying to decide whether the cook of the Buffet or him of the Manchester Rifles was the greatest artist. Dan is pot sure yet I The Medical Officer in charge was Dr'Skerinan, but as, luckily, hjs services were only required for a few niinor complaints, he did duty as aide dc camp occasionally. When riding with Colonel Fox, he saw an ambulance party pick up an apparently inured man, so with his usual promoti-

tude the doctor galloped off to assist. On his way his horse failed to complete a jump over a morass, and landed up to the girths — bogged. However, a few struggles placed horse and rider on terra Jirma once more, and the ambulance was overtaken. Not to be idle, the men had made up a dummy, so the gallant doctor was sold. Disappointed he was not, because no man has a kinder heart than Doctor Skerman. In this connection, it would be " a sweet boon " to volunteers on this Coast if the battalion system were introduced. With Captains Watt and Skerman as majors the thing would be easy enough, and would not cost an extra penny to the country. The real objection is that Captain Watts seems to be the only officer the Wanganuite* will submit to. He is a firstclass commander of a company, and the men are quite right in sticking to him ; hut surety some arrangement could be made to retain his services in that capacity, yet utilize his knowledge in a higher rank. (To be continued.) Ranges! Ranges! Ranges! The "Scott" self -setting portable cooking ranges. The cheapest and most convenient in the market. Five-foot ranges M 10s ; other sizes equally cheap.— C. Youug, the cheap ironmonger, Manchester street, Feilding.— Advt. First class Tailoring in all its branches, under the inanngement of Mr W Cham bers, from Melbourne, is now in full operation at the Bon Marche, PalmerBton N. A large and choice stock of trentlemen's Tweeds and Suiting are now opened out and ready to select from, early inspection of which is respectfully invited by Ro6s and Sandford, Tailors, Mercers, and gentlemen's geueral outfitters, the Bon Marche, Palmerston North. — Advt. For continuation •/ Reading Matter sec fourth page.)