THE EASTER ENCAMPMENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1567, 12 April 1887, Page 3

THE EASTER ENCAMPMENT.

Up to Saturday la»t very little worthy of not* took place at the Volunteer encampment i a South Canterbury All the volunteers taking part in it had arrived by Thursday night, and were billeted in lent* previously erected by fatigue parties, who had been hard at work since the previous Monday. The volunteers were divided into two Brigades, one being Stationed on the southern bank of the Pareora river, and the other on the north bank of the Otaio, about 2£ miles further south. Both camps were well planned and pleasantly situated. Water and straw wer* plentiful. At the Southern camp a small printing press was erected, and the day’s doings were chronicled in a little publication entitled “ The Camp Gasette.” The number of viaitors was not large, the distance between the camps and the railway station being too great. The Northern Brigade was about 860 strong, sod the Southern 900. Several efficient bands were present. The Northern Brigade was under Colonel Bailey, and was divided into three battalions of infantry, and one of ordnance. The battalions of infantry in* eluded Ist Canterbury, under LieutenantColonel Tosswill, Major Joyce and Captain and Adjutant Francis; the South Canterbury' battalion, under Major Douglas ; and the North Otago battalion, under Lieutenant-Colonel Sumpter. The ordnance battalion was under Major

Hamerslsy. The first was composed of the City Guards, College (Christchurch), Scottish, Richmond, Irish, and Kaiapoi Hiflo*; th® second comprised ' the Ashburton Guards and Riflee, Timaro, Temuka, and Geraldine Rifles; the third—- , No. 1 Oamaru, the Olepopo, Hampden, Palmerston, Waikouaiti, and Naseby Rifles f j.the forirth—the Oamaru, Timaru, ■ Christchurch, and Lyttelton Artillery, *• the Oamaru and Timaru Navals and Engineers. In addition to these there was aleo the Canterbury Yeomanry ■c i Cavalry • and ..Mounted Rifles. The Brigade staff was composed as follows Brigadier*- :Colonel Bailey; Brigade- : Major, Major. Newall; Brigade-Quarter-master, Major Young, Captain Bryars, Lieut. Mollish, and, Lieut. Bailey <A.D.O.s). The Southern Brigade, under Lieut.Colonel Wales, was divided into two battalions of infantry, and one of • ordnance, and the Cavalry. The first battalion of infantry consisted of-the City Guards, North Dunedin, Waiksri, South Dunedin, Highland, Caversham, ■ and Irish Rifles, The second battalion, of the South District, Bruce, Bust Taieri, 01otha,.Waitahuna, Tuapeka, Kaitangats, West Taleii, Peninsular, Invercargill, Arrow, Gore, and Cromwell Rifles, The ordnance, of .’the. Port Chalmers and Peninsular Naval. Artillery, the B, G and v;-M Batteries, the Engineers, and the Invercargill Artillery and High School ‘ Cadets. The Cavalry was composed of the Otago and. Southland Husaars, The following was the stafft—Brigade Staff Brigadier, Lieutenant-Colonel Walea ; Brigadier-Major, Major Gordon; A.D.C., Captain Valentine; Quartermaster, Major J. J. Atkinson; Brigade-Sergeant-Major, Sergeant-Major Atkinaon; Brigade-Orderly Room Clerk, StaffSergeant Williams; Quartermaster-Ser-geant, Sergeant Thomas, Lieutenant-Colonel Lean, being in charge of the division consisting of the - two brigades! occupied a position between thwffli

On Saturday a sham fight was held, when the men acquitted themselves well. The arrangements for the sham fight are said to have been the best that have been made for any one yet held, and the fight itself more nearly approached in its working out to an actual engagement. The idea of the tight was that the Northern brigade was covering Timaru, which was supposed to be threatened by an enemy represented by the Southern brigade. No arrangement was made, as on prior occasions, as to who was to be defeated, but the brigades were tc stand on their own merits, and the railway was not to be available. The division staff acted as umpires, The fences were ordered to be protected from damage, and the gates only were to be used. On “ cease firing 1 ' being sounded the battalion officers were called together, and Colonel Lean expressed great pleasure at ihe creditable way in which operations bad been conducted by both arms of the service. It had won Hie approval of the umpires and and the • taff; the mistakes made were only incidental to want of orferience in field operations, and the object of the encampment was to correct these mistakes. The time they had in the field was too limited to allow of a great deal being accomplished, but they bad learn f a good many lessons that day. On Sunday the Rev. W. Gillies and the Rev. W. lUddiffe conducted divine services in the camp, which were well attended.

Yesterday a sham fight and march past took place. The sham fight began at about 9 o’clock and lasted till 11 o’clock, the result being that the Cantsrbury men beat the Otago contingent. After the men had refreshed themselves the march past took place, and when the men returned to camp tents were strnck, and all returned to their respective homes, the Temuka corps reaching home at 8 o’clock, the Geraldine corps in due course afterwards. It was generally admitted it was the best and the most satisfactory encampment ever held in New Zealand. A namber of slight casualties kept tbe medical staff present pretty busy, but only one serious accident happened at the encampment, Private Clark, of the Richmond Rifles, having the misfortune to break his leg while attempting to jump ovar bis rifle. On the way down from Christchurch one of the Northern volunteers fell off one of the carriages, but was not seriously hurt. Some of the Southern volunteers while on the journey up are said to have broken glass in the railway carriages to the value of about £l2, besides doing other damage. ’Hie conduct of a number who visited Timaru on Saturday and Sunday evenings was not at all good, aad some of them interrupted the service at the Salvation Army barracks on Sunday, and the police had to be summoned before order was restored.