PORT CHALMERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 11 August 1909, Page 14

PORT CHALMERS.

In connection with the mobilisation ot local Volunteers on Wednesday evening, the Port Chalmers Navals respond-ed promptly to the signals. Major Dodds's instructions were to make provision for the protection of the docks, to form outposts on the high ground north of Port Chalmers for observation and communication purposes, and to delay the progress of any hostile foroe attempting to advance from the north. To fulfil these conditions a sergeant residing in the Purakanui district was instructed that on the mobilisation signal being given he should take charge of six other members of the company who live in the same district, and place them on the various roads and at the entrance «,f the large railway tunnel. It had also been arranged that the 16 men residing at Sawyers' Bay should muster at the railway fetation. The railway locomotive that remains overnight at Port Chalmers was to be commandeered and despatched to Sawyers' Bay, so that in the event of word being received from Purakanui that the enemy were advancing, the Sawyers' Bay detachment could be railed up to the mouth of the Deborah Bay tunnel, from which they could gain the road in a matter of 10 minutes. The mobilisation signal was to be the firing of rockets, confirmed to the residents of the outlying districts by the burning of blue lights from Observation Point and Wickliffe terrace. At 20 minutes to 8 o'olock bhe order to moboliee was received from Dunedin, and 10 minutes afterwards the signals were fired and confirmed. The first Jot of men to parade at the Garrison Hall were despatched, in chaise of a lieutenant and sergeant, to the docks, where sentries were placed to prevent damage to the caisson or the dock machinery. At a-quarter past 8 o'clock 51 men were on parade, and communication had been established between Purakanui, Sawyers' Bay, and Dunedin. At half-past 8 word was received from Purakanui that men had been posted at all vantage points. At 8.45 there was a muster of 62 men of all ranks. The Sawyers' Bay men paraded to a man, and a gunner who lives three miles and 1 a-!half down the harbour side paraded at the Garrison. Hall at half-past 8 o'clock. The men entered very heartily into the Bpirit of the call to arms, and general satisfaction -was expressed with the promptitude with which all the arrangements were carred out. The crew of the defence steamer Lady Roberts were also mobolised, and a few minutes after 8 o'clock the men were at their posts and the vessel's engines moving. The deck was lighted by electricity, and the gangway was put out

i to accommodate the Permanent Artillery • men, who turned out from the barracks at j Deborah Bay.