QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 149, 28 May 1879, Page 2

QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY.

DECLARATION OF AVAR. TEMUKA IK A STATE OF SIEGE. The Queen’s Birthday opened upon a mostunfortunate state of affairs, so far as Temuka is concerned. The quiet inhabitants were one and all congratulating themselves upon the escape of the ravages of the Colorado beetle, and were looking forward to the enjoyment of a holiday on Saturday last, when 10, and behold! a cry was raised that an invading army were in sight. This alarm made everyone fly about as if they were demented. The officer commanding the district hurriedly sounded the alarm, and our brave Volunteers speedily responded to the call. Earthworks were (rapidly thrown up, which gave our gallant defenders confidence. Entrenched behind these works were placed the artillery, covering the approach of the enemy. Our men, after a little breathing time, began to look to their ammunition. This being found to be short, the men’s hearts were like to sink within them. Thinking of their wives and little ones, and the girls they left behind them, being entirely at the mercy of the enemy, and the almost certainty of themselves being taken prisoners and sentenced to immediate execution —or what wonld have been worse, doomed to work in gangs on the Timaru Breakwater for the term of their natural lives. In this emergency the commanding officer despatched two of his mounted pages —one of which, in a former campaign, had lost a leg, and the other is still suffering from a gun-shot wound in the hand received while defending the Royal Hotel. These gallant and welltried servants of our Queen and country ordered a full supply of ammunition from the magazine. When this was accomplished, our patriotic defenders marched out to meet the foe, vowing vengeance upon all and sundry who dared to approach the gates of the city. The boom of cannon was heard in the distance, which, mingled with the crack of musketry, put our men upon their metal. After a quick march, led on by Captain Young, who was here, there, and everywhere, where his presence could inspire courage in His littte army, a small detachment was sent forward to engage the enemies’ outposts, while the reserve force, under Lieutenants Findlay and Chapman, kept well under cover, concealed from the enemy. Soon the invaders were seen coming over the heights of the town belt, when our outposts opened fire upon them with deadly effect. For a time utter confusion seemed to prevail. After the smoke cleared away the enemy could be seen carrying the wounded to the rear. They were not conquered, however, but after again forming they made a most determined attack upon the Temuka Bridge. Our plucky little band, however, gave _ them a very warm reception, and not until their ranks were considerably thinned did they give way, disputing the bridge foot by foot as they fell back upon their reserves. Unfortunately, these were planted at too great a distance, the consequence being that before they could be brought to their aid, the army were in route, and the bridge irrecoverably lost. Commander Jackson, who led the invading army with great tact and determination, kept his men (under Lieutenant Warclcll) well in hand. Captain Jackson, who has a very military appearance, was continually under fire, sometimes his steed being within a few yards of the cannon’s mouth, but so great was his command over him that he was as steady as the gallant artillery who kept firing off in quick succession volley after volley. The earthworks speedily thrown up were now taken advantage of by the Temuka infantry, while the artillery were determined to do or die; but it was found utterly impossible to hold out against the Timaru Armstrongs and a much more numerous force that opposed him, and after a good deal of firing from behind flax bushes which doubtless lessoned the casualities considerably, Captain Young, seeing the great slaughter that seemed to be going on, in mercy to his shattered little band, and in the hope’of obtaining better terms for the town, raised the white flag. The signal was at once acknowledged by the firing ceasing along the whole line. Filing of arms then commenced, and Captain Young finished up one of the hottest contests which has yet been witnessed in South Canterbury by at once handing Captain Jackson his sword. It is gratifying, however, to have to report so few casualties on the Temuka side, broken arms being the only serious damage done, and the spirits of the men are not subdued. It is not likely that the war is yet at an end, the peace is only a hollow peace, drawn from our men at the point of the bayonet, and rumours are already afloat of the war again breaking out in spring, when the Temuka volunteers will most likely attack the Timaruites, and drive them from their stronghold upon the breakwater, and release our men, who were taken prisoners, bringing them back to their own city, with a large number of the enemy prisoners to work upon the Milford Harbour Works, thus teaching them a lesson. That although the Temuka army are less in number and may be conquered by being taken by surprise, are yet able to cope with them in the open field, and pay them back with interest for all the losr and inconvenience caused by the present invasion. After the contending parties came to terms the conquerors demanded to be led on to the spoil, the artillery limbering up on both sides in a most masterly manner. At twelve o’clock both armies, or what was left of them, assembled in the open field, near the Grovernment school buildings, and after firing a royal salute, they were put through drill by Captain Jackson and Captain Young. The excellence of the drill of the Temuka force was quite apparent, even to the uninitiated. The Temuka volunteers marched in splendid order, heads erect, shoulders back, foot to foot. We regret we cannot say so of the Timaru volunteers, the march was very irregular. This amongst the cadets would have been nothing to wonder at, but w r e certainly did expect to see much better* marching from the volunteers, but instead some of the members took up an attitude as if they were flying from the enemy, their heads forward and bent as if they had their knapsack upon their back, and rollicking as if upon a ship’s dock. Wo do not wish to write in a discouraging strain at all, but it would be unjust to our 'volunteers hero, who have been so indefatigable in their aims for perfection, not to give them a fair mead of praise. The sham fight on both sides was a very creditable get up, and had the day been fine would have provided a great deal of enjoyment. The quickness in firing, the grand manoeuvring in the paddock which divides the Temuka township from the river, was really worthy of praise ; the quickness with which the artillery lumbered up show'ed that the drillmaster* of the Timaru company in this arm had not been slack in the discharge of his duties. Wo hope soon to see our volunteers return the compliment by knocking at the doors of our Timaru friends, and w*e wish them a better day for the performance.