OUR VOLUNTEERS.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3165, 10 April 1879, Page 2

OUR VOLUNTEERS.

The Waikato Campaign. Sub-Lieut. Donby and Quartermaster Symington returned from Hamilton early this morning, having successfully concluded the business of securing billets, &0., for the Thames Volunteers. The arrangements made are that the column shall leave per Botomahana at 11 o'clock on Saturday night, arriving in Auckland early on Sunday morning. Breakfast at Is each will be ready punctually at 6 a.m. for each company at the following places : —Hauraki Engineers, Auckland Hotel; Thames Scottish Battalion, Thames Hotel; Thames Eifle Bangers, McEwen's City Buffet; Thames Native Volunteers, ! Powell's Blue Post; Thames Naval Brigade, Eudean's Hotel; Thames Scottish and St. George's Cadets, McEwen's City Buffet. A conveyance will be waiting to take the baggage from the Botomahana to the railway station. A special train will convey all hands to Hamilton, starting at 7 a.m. sharp. On arrival at the Hamilton station conveyances will take the baggage of each company to their proper billets, which have been arranged by a committee of the citizens of Hamilton, and the offi--cers of the Waikato'Cavalry, as follows : —Five meals and lodging to be provided at a cost of 5s each man: (Not half the usual charge in Waikato.) The billets in Hamilton are arranged as follows: —H.E.V., Gwynne's Hotel; T.S.V., Pearce's Hotel; T. 8.8., Gwynne's Hotel;

Thames Nature Volunteers, the Barracks (food to be provided free) ; T.N.8., Dawson's Hotel: T.S. and St. George's Cadets, Victoria Hall (food to be provided free).

The people of Hamilton are most anxious to give their Thames friends a cordial reception, and have gone into the affair with the evident intention of doing their best to make it a great success ; but, as it is simply impossible to find bedsteads for so many, especially as the town will be crowded with visitors, it will be absolutely necessary for each man to take a thick rug or blanket, as the nights are pretty cold now. Guides will be told off to direct each company to its proper billet upon arrival at Hamilton, and we hope every one of our Thames Volunteers will go, as the trip is inexpensive, and will be something to be remembered as the most enjoyable outing they have had up to the present time. The country is looking beautiful just now, and there are numbers of Thames men all along the line, who will be pleased to meet old friends. The Thames column will be met on arrival by the Hamilton Cavalry, who will escort them to the town, a distance of about a mile and a-half, the bands playing alternately. A halt will be called opposite the Bank of New Zealand, when column will be formed by the left, and then hollow iquare, faoing inwards, when a short address of welcome will be read by His Worship the Mayor of Hamilton, after which the companies will march to their respective billets, where a good dinner will be waiting for them, which, although it may be rough and ready, will be hearty and plentiful. Church call will be played at 5.45, for those who like to attend prayers at a short special Church Service for the occasion. "KeVeille" will be sounded at 6 a.m. on Monday morning, breakfast at 7 o'clock, and the fall in at 9 a.m. The review and sham fight will take place in Mr Jolly's large paddock, a very fine and suitable position half-a-mile from the town, and close to a beautiful lake. After the mimic warfare is concluded, the whole will return to their billets, have dinner, and during the afternoon the men will be free to enjoy themselves, and will return by a special train to Auckland in the evening, arriving at the Thames per Kotomahana early on Tuesday morning. These arrangements meet with Col. Lyon'a hearty approval. The only thing which cannot be guaranteed is that the present splendid weather will continue, but we hope it will, and then every one of " our boys " should go and thoroughly enjoy themselves.