The Porirua Encampment.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 280, 5 April 1894, Page 2

The Porirua Encampment.

. — . ♦ By Rotomahana. (Concluded). I left off with saying that Captain Watt could be appointed to such a position as he could hold without resigning his command of his dearlybeloved Wanganuis. I bare now to deal with Dr Skerman who was such an excellent officer when Captain of the Rangitikei Royals. Actually he is out of harness, but as he has passed his examination as a Major of Volunteers, he could take command of the Marton, Palmerston and Feilding companies, when much good work could be done in the direction of the consolidation of the corps mentioned. But all this is by the way. On Sunday afternoon when the visitors returned from Wellington, a Taranaki boy who had not been able to get away said to Dan, who had hardly time to wash the dust out of his eyes: "How did you enjoy your pleasure trip to Wellington old chap " % Dan reflected for a moment, then, with a quizzical twist of his eyes, responded gravely "The man who would go to Wellington on Sunday for pleasure with a north wester blowing, would go to shoel for pastime." Dan is very profane some times. A great trouble fell on us all on that unlucky Sunday when" our bugler mistook a barbed wire fence for a cobweb, and tried to burst, through it. Poor George's hand was badly split, and no end of gore excuded from tjhe wound, but George had the injured part bound up in the handkerchief of a sympathetic friend and consoled his small self with the reflection that it wasn't half so bad as having ones 11 claret " tapped by a combative friend. But if George's hand was sore, it " was not a circumstance " to James' feet, which were terribly blistered by the marching and ran. ning over the hills in the sham fight. The poor fellow was absolutely knocked up for a couple of days after he got home. After the dismissal on Monday afternoon when the men were ordered to " strike tents," the scene was not without an element of sadness. The straw beds on which so many fine young fellows had rested their weary limbs, were given to the rude wind to deal with them as it listed, and as it rustled .and rolled the separate straws away one reflected like the pious bun-maker of Charles Dickens who said " here we are to-day, and there we are to-morrow." The cook of the Manchesters with that prevision for which he is so remarkable, had provided a comfortable tea for the men at four o'clock so that they were full and happy when they were marched off, but the Marton Royals were not so sensible. They dined so well that when they rose from their grassy seats, they felt as if they would never want any more food again, but two hours in the brisk air soon brought back their appetites, and as they had nothing left to eat, their Captain had to get permission from Colonel Newall to march them to Porirua to lay in a fresh supply. Apropos of this I noticed that during the continuance ox the camp, rather too many men spent their hours of leisure in the village of Porirua. Certainly it was within bounds but far more wholesome amusement could have been had in the camp. One thing I remarked was that the Kharkee and red uniforms were honorable exceptions to this rule, although some of them did overstay their leave in the Empire City. When the shades of night had cast their mantle over the assembled crowd of warriors — I consider that sentence very pretty — the officers of the several companies met for a few moments in the Hotel to drink "To our meeting next year "-—a toast which was duly honored — the gallant Captain of the Wanganuis being almost moved to tears, although unused to " the melting mood." Captain Watt (then acting as camp adjutant.) gave the word to "fall in," and in a few minutes all hands were a-board, bound for home. After the tram was well under way some few of the lucky ones settled down into slumber, whileothers, not so fortunate, were kept awake by higher-spirited companions who took a delight in wandering aimlessly about the carriages, rousing the would-be sleepers. However, everything has an end, so at last we arrived safely at Feilding, and with parting cheers we bade adieus for another year to the Taranakis, the Wanganuis, and the ! Rangitikeis, the officers and men of which are all good fellows and pleasant \ associates. I must compliment the railway officials, both Government and Wellington-Manawatu on the excellence of their arrangements. So complete were they that there was not the smallest hitch or accident. All of the officials were kind and attentive, and not one of the guards ran the slightest risk of being " turned over "—a little game sometimes indulged in, especially by footballers. But the greatest credit of all must be awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Newall, who had command of the camp. Nothing that could in any way conduce to the pleasure or comfort of those under his command was omitted or forgotten. Although strict in the execution of his own duty, and equally punctilious in seeing that every officer, non-com-missioned officer, and man, did theirs, yet every one found it a direct pleasure to obey. There can be no question that to the Colonel is due all the credit of making this Encampment admittedly the best ever held in the North Island, as regards military duty and instruction, the great success it was. I do not believe there was a single man there under canvas who did.not take away with him much useful knowledge, and many pleasant memories.