THE EASTER ENCAMPMENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1324, 7 April 1885, Page 2

THE EASTER ENCAMPMENT.

The weather for the Easter encampment at Winchester has been all that could be desired, and everything has passed off most, successful ly v The men seemed to enjoy camp life immensely, and were apparently sorry that proceedings were brought to a close so soon. Each night there has been a camp fire, around which they gathered and made themselves merry. The fire on the first evening was proyided by Col, Lean, who, with his staff, seemed to enter into the spirit of .the proceedings heartily. At the camp fire excellent songs were sung and many capital recitations given, and the time passed merrily. The firewood on Saturday and Sunday nights was provided by the officers. But all were not satisfied with the camp fire amusements. Many of the men came to Temuka and made the town pretty lively, but, go far as we can learn, did not misbehave themselves. They marched with the Sal vation Army procession, joined in the songs, and made a fearful lot of noise, but otherwise deported themsslves well. Oo Sunday,too, many of (hem visited Temuka and were present in the Salvation barracks, joining lustily ia the singing. On th« whole they made the district pretty lively, for besides what they did themselves they attracted a large number of visitors from Timaru and the surrounding districts, Saturday was a great field day as well as yesterday. At 6 a.m. the reveille sounded, ,; and at 7 o'clock the vatious companies paraded for an hour. Then they partook of breakfast, and got ready for general parade at JO o'clock, when the whole forse inarched out of camp under command of Colonel Lean. The O.Y. Cavalry, under Captain Wright, were despatched as scouts, and reconnoitred tiio district all round to within about. l£ mile 9 of Geraldine, with the result that they discovered that the enemy was advancing in large numbers down the. Geraldine Flat. Finding the enemy too' numerous they fell back and supported the guns. Their movements-were sau| to ''" have been very good. The C. and E. Batteries, consisting of two 241 b Howitzers and one 121 b Armstrong gun, were under

command of Captain Rarnersly, and the Timaru and Lyttelton Naval Artillery, together with all the rifle corps present, formed as a battalion of infantry under Captain Newall. The Naval Artillery mustered very strong, there being 60 of them present under command of Captain Laing-Meason, of Timaru. Information of the approach of the enemy having b"en received, the army marched up the Smithfield road to the Hae-hae-te-moana, where it was supposed the imaginary enemy was met, and action commenced at once. The infantry deployed under cover of the Artillery, and extended for attack up the bed of the river. The fight lasted for about three hours, when the enemy was completely routed. The men then partook of a lunch which they had taken with them in their haversacks, after which they returned to camp. At 6 a.m. on Sunday morning the reveille Jsounded, breakfast was served out, and at 9 o'clock parade for Divine Service was held. They formed a hollow Bquare in front of the camp, in the centre of which an altar was improvised composed of a couple of chairs with the big drum on the top of them, the whole being covered over with "the Union Jack of Old England." Here the Rev. Mr Hamilton officiated, and delivered a very appropriate sermon, his text being "Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesua Christ." He said the massing of volunteers excites special interest at this juncture, when laar is imminent with Russia. They appeared to be on the eve of a great outbreak, which would probably involve other nations, for Europe is bristling with arms, and is, in fact (as a newspaper correspondent has said), one "vast camping ground," waiting only the blast ot the trumpet which shall "let slip the dogs of war." There was, however, a prospect of such a catastrophe being averted, and that by the great moral prestige which England has gained in the eyes of the nations by the loyalty and enthusiasm of her colonial dependencies. Russia, no doubt, would shrink back appalled at the discovery of a latent energy and force till now unsuspected. War might be a national calamity, but national dishonor was a worse thing, and as long as evil reigned in the world there must be Defenders of Truth and Justice. We might be proud of our Queen and conntry ; proud of the glorious freedom and liberty which have been handed down to us as a sacred heirloom, and it is our duty to guard it as such. It is England's glory that she fights only on principle, viz., "to defend the right," and she is justly proud of her lion-hearted commanders by land and sea—her Nelson, Wellington, and Gordon. But what gives England her supremacy amongst the nations 1 It did not lie so in much the physique of her soldiers and sailors, but in the moral strength of which they were representatives. They were representatives ot a Christian land, a land of Justice and Mercy, toleration and Christian forbearance; and if these principles were the secret of England's national strength and superiority, should uot each individual soldier or sailor be a Christian? Do we not honor the names of Havelock, Hedley Vicars, Haldane, and Gordon (England's latest hero), who nobly proved, individually and in the men whom they commanded, that it was not the drunken or the blasphemous man who made the best soldier, or reflected credit upon either aim of. the service? Whilst fighting in defence of Queen and Country, the Christian soldier also fights in defence of Christ and His Truth, and this warfare is unceasing. All good soldiers were volunteers. Pressed men do not, as a rule, make good soldiers : they seldom wear or fight well; and when men were forced into a religious profes»ion from such low motives as slavish fear cr dread of God they never brought much honor to God. In enlisting His soldiers the only pressure used by the Great Commander was " Love," and, being liberated from the service of Satan and Sin, the soldier willingly fights against vice, wroDg, and iniquity. In order to fight effectually he submits cheerfully to a course of training and instruction by "enduring hardness." In answering the question " Why should we endure hardness ?" the rev. preacher reverted to his own endurance of hardness in a 12 years' service in the Royal Navy. They might rest assured that military discipline, which enforced obedience and selfrestraint, was admirable for any man, whatever bis occupation might be ; it was a certain check to the self-will, conceit, and self-indulgence, which are so prevalent in the Colony. The voice of England is potent to her sons to call to arms and to hardships on active service. The same signal still called, and thrilled the heart to tho core—" England expects that every man this day will do his duty"— and the order of the day spoke powerfully to the feelings—" The eyes of England are [upon you." After a few more telling remarks, tie rev. preacher concluded his address by exhorting all to " Endure hardness as a, good soldier of Jtsus Christ.

After service the Artillery had about half-an-hour's drill, and in the afternoon Captain Dundass drilled the C.Y. Cavalry Corps for another half hour. At about 1 p.m. on Sunday a very large number of visitors were present, many of whom were ladies and gentlemen who came there as the invited guests of the officers who entertained them at lunch. About 50 guests, besides the officers, sat down to a capital dtje&ner, of which Mr Kett, of Timaru, was caterer. Viands and wines were abundant, and of excellent quality, and tho officers were most assiduous in their attention to their guests. The Timaru and Christchurch bands .under their respective bandmasters played some capital selections ot music, and in the evening,they played conjointly, while some of their members sang some sacred music. Both bands played splendidly, and were greatly admired, but it was generally admitted that of the two the Timaru one was the best.

Yesterday provod to be the great day of .the encampment. The day being Easter Monday was of course observed as a general holiday, and this gave all and sundry an opportunity of witnessing the proceedings. Of this opportunity they availed themselves to the fullest extent. From an early hour the road from Temuka was alive with all kinds of vehicles, crowded with persons on their way to the scene of the encampment. It was so with Geraldine and other roads. From all directions people might be seen hurrying along, all making for Winchester, whichj very soon presented a lively appearance. Two trains also brought large numbers from Timaru. The first was a

special train which reached Winchester about 10 o'clock, after having picked up passengers along the line ; the second was a Bpecial train which left Timaru at 11.10 a.m., and, without stopping anywhere except at Winchester to let the express pass, reached Orari shortly after 12 o'clock, and brought with it a large crowd of excursioniste. Those who arrived at Winchester, however, were doomed to be disappointed. Arrangements for holding the review at Orari had been made on the previous evening, but this was not generally known, and consequently a large number of people went first to the camp oniy to find that it was almost deserted, and that the whole strength of the army had marched to Orari. Of course these people made their way as beßt they could to Orari, where by 12 o'clock an immense crowd had gathered, but many arrived only in time to see the proceedings brought to a close.

In the camp the reveille sound at 6 a.m. as usual, and breakfast having been partaken of at 8, a general parade was held at 9, when the cavalry marched out of the camp under Command of Captain Wright, to scour the country round in search of the enemy. They went up the Geraldine road as far as its junction with Pekham's road, where their extreme left was posted. From this position they extended to the Waihi river-bed. Vedettes having been posted all along the line and communication having thus I been kept up—the skirmishers then advanced, and having sighted the enemy exchanged shots with them, but finding them too numerous fell back on the advance of the whole Army, and henceforth conformed with the field movements. The Artillery also marched out of camp shortly after th<s cavalry and proceeded on the road to Orari. After having gone some distance beyond the railway crossing they sighted the enemy in large numbers coming from the racecourse, and at once opened fire on them, The Infantry under Lieut.-Col. Lean left the camp and proceeded to where the Artillery had commenced to fire on the enemy. On their arrival the Artillery ceased firing, and the Infantry, under Captain Newell, took a position consisting of a fiehting line support and reserve. The Timaru Naval Artillery, under Captain Meason, extended from their left; the Christchurch College Rifles prolonged the line to the left and advanced, coming soon in contact with the enemy. The left of the line was prolonged by bringing up the left support which consisted of the Sydenham Rifles .under Captain Joyce, and shortly after the line was prolonged to the right by bringing up the right support, which consisted of the City Guards. The reserve having then been drawn upon to form supports, the line advanced firing, and took cover behind a ridge, which kept them well sheltered from the enemy. Here they formed a wavy line at right angle to the advance, and volleys were poured in by companies from the right, under cover of which the reserves advanced at the " double " and reinforced the line, taking up the form of firing in which the line wa3 engaged—that is, volleys by companies from the right. During this time the artillery had kept up its firing at the enemy with shell, doing it much damage, and the cavalry held a position at the rear of the right wing. Shortly after the reserve had reinforced the line of battle, the position of the enemy was found to be within charging distance. The lino then straightened itself from the wavy position it had occupied, and, the order to charge having beep given, the enemy's position was taken by storm and held; the cavalry making a dashing charge from the right flank, and following up the enemy at full gallop. After completely annihilating the enemy, the cavalry returned, and tho infantry was formed on markers in column in rear of the position, and the whole force shortly afterwards moved to a space opposite the railway station, where they halted and piled arms. During the engagement Lieut.-Colonel Lean sent Major Slater to Captain Hay hurst complimenting him on the steadiness of his corps, and the excellentmanner in which they had deported themselves throughout the movements. To their credit be it said also that they were the best behaved in the camp, and their officers feel proud of the manner in which they conducted themselves during the whole time. The flag of the Temuka, Corps marked their position in the camp. It was planted in front of the officers' tent, which was to the right of the line. This was the only colors in the ! camp. After about an hour's rest for refreshments, fall in was sounded, and the whole force marched back to camp. On the way the road was thronged with traps and horses, and so reckless did some persons behave that it was surprising some serious accidents did not occur. As it w»s, leveral traps got knocked about by the shafts of vehicles coming behind driving into them. In many instances they well deserved all they got, for a number of them crushed forward needlessly, as many as three and four traps being abreast on the road together with the Volunteers marching four deep. The conduct of a great many of the drivers of vehicles some of whom were Ptaid old people was really discreditable, and some of those whose traps got damaged richly deserved it. Constable Morton made desperate efforts to prevent a crush on the Geraldine Road bridge, and succeeded to some extent. He also exerted himself well in keeping back the crowd of horsemen at the gateway enteriug into the camp field, and perhaps it was owing to his presence that accidents did not take place at both places. Arrived at the camp, Lieut.-Col,. Lean addressed the Volunteers and congratulated them on the success of the encumpment. Tt was the most successful camp of instruction yet held, and he felt sure they would all benefit by it. It was always his wish that the encampment should be kept up for a much longer period, but this could not well be done as many of them could not very well stay away from work. That day was the most succsssful field day they had had, it was very creditable to all concerned, and in dismissing them now he said he wished to thank the officers and the men for the manner in which they had co-operated with him, and the che«rfnlness with which they had always obeyed orders. The men then distributed themselves about the camp for about an hour conversing with visitors and amusing themselves in various ways. It was impossible to estimate the number present, hut this we can say, visitors were ) present from all parts from Timaru to Ran-

gitata. About 5.38 p.to. touts were struck. and ehortly afterwards the Teniuka and Timtiru tnon marched to the railway station and returned home by train, with the exception of a detachment of the Timaru cavalry and artillery that went home by road. The Christchurch men returned home by special train which left Winchester at 9.30 p.m.