EASTER ENCAMPMENT AT NELSON.

Patea Mail, 21 April 1881, Page 3

EASTER ENCAMPMENT AT NELSON.

Saturday in Camp was devoted to hard work, drill being.ihe order of the day from morning till evening, and at ten o’clock just before our lights were to be put out there was a night attack which kept the whole camp alive and a good many of the residents in its vicinity awake for a hour and a half. The Waitnea rifles were quietly sent out with orders to mount the spur, which forms the south-west boundary of the encampment, from the road, and thence to descend upon the camp. The night was dark and they were close down down before they were discovered. When the alarm was sounded there was a hurrying to and fro, and “ to arms ” was the ciy. The Wellington Naval Brigade were the first to turn out in complete battle array, and they were led by Major Ritt to meet the advancing foe. Meanwhile the other companies had fallen im and with the exception of one who was left to guard the camp, they were out under command of Capt. Webb, the Artillery taking with them four guns The action lasted for some time, aud if the hot fire poured forth by the gnus and rifles was a fair criterion, must have been very severe, although the carnage is not reported to have been very great. Ultimately the enemy were routed, and after a short time quietness once more reigned in the camp, but a few hours later it rained quite another kind of rain, and the waterproof qualities of the tents were submitted to a fair test. The storm which broke over the town shortly after midnight did not reach Brightwater in its full force until about 5 a. in., but then it raved in earnest and the downpour of rain and rush of wind were tremendous. The powder magazine was blown down, and the tent in which many of the Wellington Naval Brigade had taken up their quarters proved very leaky, but beyond that there were no casualties worth mentioning, although the sen-

lies had rather a lively time of it. About ton o’clock Sunday morning the weather cleared and the Volunteers turned cut for church parade, and marched to the spot selected, headed by the fine band of tiio Wellington Guards. The Rev. I. Jones officiated and preached a most eloquent sermon, taking - for Ids text Acts xvii 32. “ And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, and oliiers said, we will hear thee again on the matter.” For more than half an hour the whole of the force listened with rapt attention, and the impression created on all wiio heard the sermon was most favorable to the preacher. In the afternoon the Camp was visited by a number of people from town and surrounding district, and the two bands—tiie Naval Brigade and the City Rifles—played alternately for a couple of hours. On Monday the force was to be reviewed by Major-General Davidson, with a sham fight afterwards, during which the Wellington Engineers were to spring some mines on the hill on which defenders will be posted, the attack coming in the neighbourhood of the camp —Nelson Mail.