VOLUNTEER DEMONSTRATION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 933, 14 April 1879, Page 2

VOLUNTEER DEMONSTRATION.

[by telegraph.] Invercaegill, April 12. All day yesterday preparations were being completed. The local force fell in at 5 p.m., and the train arrived punctually at G. The Northerners fell in outside the railway station, and marched off in escort of the guides to their respective billet 3. The total number of Volunteers belonging to the visiting companies, exclusive of bands, is 712 or from 750 to 800 in all. The companies from Riverton and the Lakes arrived by other trains. To-day, the battalions fell in, one under Major Wales, another under Captain Hill Jack, the third under Major Lean, and then marched to the end of Dee-street, which, being two chains wide, made a splendid parade. There the ceremony of trooping colors was gone through. The battalions then marched by Tay-street in fours, preceded by bands, to the Caledonian Grounds, where they drilled under their respective battalion commanders, and were then dismissed. A sham fight will take place at Makarewa, whither the Volunteers proceed by train on Monday. The billet arrangements were very good, though there was some difficulty in getting some of the companies into quarters owing

to their wheeling off with other comn • and thus getting adrift from the n?' 1 guides. The turn out of the loci] ' to-day, the Rifles excepted, was po or C °!P reason being that, as it was Satu / many could not leave their ordinary' y ' cations. Easter Monday will, h'o\r V °" be a holiday, and there is sure to W turn out. The weather, though m! with occasional steady rain during ,i' early morning, is now delightful, and . at no time wet enough to be inconven'* 13