VOLUNTEER NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 113, 11 May 1903, Page 4

VOLUNTEER NEWS.

fa PRESS ASSOOIATIO*. MiSTERTON, May 10. Daring the encampment of the Mastarton Rifles and ddets on the show ground, complaints were made by residents in the vicinity that filing with ball cartridge had taken place. Captain Morton, being called upon by the A. & P. Committee, pointed out they held a Morris tube competition, the ammunition being Gaudet'a 303 practice ammunition, which was used at a range of 25 yards, was completely harmless af 80 yard?, and is in use at m >«t dril' balls and by many private reidents in the colony. The Committee decided to prohibit bill practice of any kind in future.

HAWKBA MOUNrKD BIFLB3. IN CAMP AX RACECOURSE. On Friday evening the Hawera Mounted Rifles went into camp at the Bacecourse for their annual training, having ridden in from Inglewood that afternoon. There are about 50 members of the Hawera and Inglewood divisions, Captain R. 8. Matthews being in cornsand, the subalterns being Lieuts. PercivaJ, Fairhall, and Morrison. Staff Sergeant-Major Burr, Mounted Instructor, is also in camp. Thtro is i-o doubt but that- the locality is an ideal one for tb.9 purpose, and th»t the toots have been pitched at a most convenient and eligible spot, immediately adjoining the entrance from the Racecourse to the Recreation Grounds. Bith officers and men are much pleased with the ipaj and very satisfied with their quarters, every care having bien taken to make camp life as comfortable as possible. The day's work is much as follow?: Beveille at 6 a.m., stables 6.30, parade 7.15, breakfast 8, stables 8.45, boot and saddled. 15, parade 9.30, water and feed hones at noon, dinner 12.30, boot and ■addle 1.30, parade 2, stables 4.30, tea SJO, guard mounting 7, first post 9 30, last post 10, lights out 10.15. So that life is camp is a fairly busy one. The camp will last till next Friday. The Oampany is carrying out its own commissariat business, and so far the arrangement has answered well. The men are a first-rate lot, and are capitally mounted, some of the horses being ex-1 oeptionally well bred. j All the mounted corps in the district, including the Alexandra (Wanganui), Wairoa (Waverley), Opunake, Egmon", Stratford, and Okatohave bean invited to take part in Thursday's tournament. "The Stratford Mounted Rifles march through on Wednesday night, and the Okato corps, probably in full strength, are to arrive on Thursday morning. The other corps, it is anticipated, will be represented by one or more squads, m that altogether the muster and entertainment on that day should be oae that will attract a very large concourse of spectators.

A HIGHT ALARM. Borne time after midnight the repose of the camp was rudely broken by a few adventurous spirits amongst th a local infantry corps wishing to give their mounted friends a taste of a real alum, • party got together and, creeping np through the fern, they managed to get into dose proximity of the camp without baing discovered, and opened fire on the tents with blank cartridge?. Needless to say the attack, so far as giving the slumbering troops a surprise is concerned, was a complete success, bat the troops turned out with remarkable smartness, and drove off the attacking party with considerable loss. The greatest loss the men in camp sustained was the stampede of their horses, which broke away from the lines and it took some time to recover them, as a number jumped the fences round the enclosure.

CHURCH PARADE. • In compliment to the visitors a church parade was held on Sunday at St. Mary's Church, thoie wishing to attend other churches being allowed to do bo. This parade was a great suceess the weather being fine, and there was a good turnout of both Volunteers and the public.. Indeed, hundreds of' til* latter were unable to get inside the Church, and with the band remained outride throughout the service. LieuiObkmel Ellis was in command of the Parade, hie staff consisting of Major Okey, Captain - Adjutant Taunton, Chaplain Bsv. F. G. Evans, Quartermaster Captain Cock, and Staff-Sergt.-Majore Burr and Sanderson. The local corps fell in at the Dull Shed and marched to Liardet-stree% ware they were joined by the Hawera Mounted Rifles who, headed by the Garrison Bind under Drum Major Goldwater, marched at the head of the 'Battalion. The Battalion presented a fins appearance as it marched through the town, th« Hawera mea being in khaki, the Bines and Guards in scarlet, the Cadets in blue and xed, the Fire Brigade in blue and white. The following isjtha parade state as kindly supplied by Captain-Adjutant Taunton:— Staff 7 Band ~ ~ 21 Hawera Mounted R:fles (Captain

Matthews .. ~49 Taranaki Biles (Captain Weston) 30 Taranaki Guards (Captain Cook).. 38 Ho. 1 Cadets (Captain Dempeey)., 37 J Ho. 2 Cadets (Captain Gray) .. 50' Kw Brigade (Captain Beiliinger) 16 ' Total .. .. .. 248 The centre of the church was reserved for the Volunteers, the service! being conducted by Chaplain Rev. F.j G. Evans, who preached an appropriate sermon from Joshua, v. chapter, 13 and 14 verses, « Art Thou for us, or for our adversaries, and He said nay, but as j Captain of the Hosts of the Lord am I' now come." Suitable hymns, amongst which were "Onward Chris'ian Soldiers'' and "Fight, the Good Fight," were sung. The service, which was a ▼try impressive and interesting one.j concluded with "God Save the King."

AFTEBNOON AT THE CAMP. Daring the afternoon hundreds of townspeople visited the ramp, and vrero ,Tery hospitably treated. The noncommissioned officers had thoughtfully provided afternoon te?, which w-g preajded over by Mrs 0. Leec'n, assisted by several other ladies, and a Very pleasant afternoon was spent. The Girrison Band attended and played a capital ■election of music durirg theaft-rnoon. jB» Hawera men were loud in their praise of the kind treatment tbey had received at the hands of the Jockey dub, and gave the visitors to the camp a vary hearty welcome.

p- To-day, m:unted and dismounted |4riU will take pljce, the men being |lnpi pretty hard at work, it being inlanded to make the most of the time.