VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1232, 30 March 1880, Page 2

VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

Christchurch, March 29. There was an enormous attendance at the racecourse to-day, estimated at the lowest computation at 10,000, and said to be the largest ever seen on the ground. ; The weather was splendid, and not too hot. The strain on the railway resources was very great, especially as they were • joiily informed yesterday at four o'clock that volunteers would go by rail. Enormous passenger trains, over a quarter of a j mile long, were got off as quickly as and not go rough confusion rer suited as might have been expected. Some trucks got off the line, and oaused ; delay in coming back, but thete was no other mishap. On arriving at the racecourse platform, the men were marched on to the course and there fell out for a little while. The ammunition was then served out during this interval, and after a short spell the bugle sounded the " fall in'j" when the companies were divided into the following battalions ; Cavalry and Artillery on the extreme right 5 Naval Brigade next; two battalions of Infantry, one formed of mixed companies. After thfe centre battalion had been placed in extended order, Colonel Packe, attended by ; his staff, rode along the whole length [ bf. the brigade. Some excitement was caused by a member of the Wellington Naval Brigade being carried off the field into an oflice by some of his comrades. The man, who, with many others of his company, had been suffering from diarrhoea since his arrival, had fallen in-a fainting fit. He was attended by Drs. iDiver and Deamer, and soon recovered. •4t 1.30, the commanding officer and stas having taken up a position at the Union Jack erected opposite the Grand Stand, the brigade were formed into companies, and marched past in the following order : Cavalry, Artillery with guns, companies of Artillery, Naval Brigade. Wellington Engineers, Christchurch Engineers, and Christchurch City Guards, The steady marching of the Artillery, Naval Brigade, Engineers {Wellington : Company), and ChristchurcE Engineers, : would have done credit to regular trqops. Thisi second march past took place in close :

column order, between lines formed by the people, in which the' Artillery Companies, Naval Brigade, Wakari Rifles, Dunedin Rifles, Christchurch Engineers, and City Guards were particularly noticeable for their steadiness. A halt was now called, and after a spell, the men were puf; into position of execution of usual review movements, which it is needless to detail. When "the'; sham fight was finished the Volunteers marched back to town by battalions by way of the road. This evening there is a grand ball in the drill shed. Gkahamston, March 29. The Easter Review to-day at .Tararu -broughttogether 900■ men of all'ranks, including 150 cavalry, visitors from the Waikato ' settlement/ and - 50 Auckland Artillerymen. The former are under Major Jackson, and the -latter under Captain Pattie. The weather was fine, and the spectacle brilliant. There were artillery and big guns used, and a long programme was gone through. An interval for refreshments was given, during which all hands were entertained alfresco. This" evening the officers dine together, arid < the non-commissioned officers mess separately. Others also dine at various hotels by arrangement, the visitors being entertained by the local companies. Toiriorrow a race meeting has been got up specially for the cavalry visitors, and in the evening the festivities will be brought to a close with a citizens' ball, the cavalry taking their departure for Waikato early next morning.