The Visit of the Waikato Cavalry.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3508, 23 March 1880, Page 2

The Visit of the Waikato Cavalry.

At a meeting of the Hamilton contingent of the corps, the Chairman, Lieut. Whitaker, stated that the following were the arrangements made :—That on Friday each troop was at liberty to make a start | at what hour and by what route it chose, but they would all rendezvous at Paeroa before 6 o'clock on the evening of that day. 'i his would leave about 25 miles to be done on the Saturday, which would enable them to arrive at Grahamstown about 3 o'clock on the afternoon of that day. Arrangements had been made for the supply of fodder for the horses, and for a .steamer to arrive at the Thames landing to convey any ladies whose friends belonged to the .Cavalry who wished to proceed to Grahamstown and see the review. This steamer would be at the Omahu landing at 1 p.m. on Friday, and any member of the Cavalry would thus have the opportunity of taking his lady friends to the Thames.^There were certain matters of detail which it was very necessary every member of the troop should thoroughly understand and attend to. Each man must provide himself with a blanket of some dark coior which would be carried at the saddle bow. These would be left at Paeroa so that they would not be , encumbered with them at the review, each trooper, too, would have to provide himself with a leather rope 10 yards long and a nose-bag. The Chairman said that as there would doubtless be some festivities at Grahamstown, he would recommend members to seod on their oak-leaf stripes and any other requirements, such as changes of linen. For this purpose Trooper Henry would proceed by way of Auckland to the Thames, taking with him a box for the carriage of these things- Each trooper would have to make his parcel up separately and label it, and all such parcels must be sent to the charge of Trooper Henry any time before 9 o'clock on Wednesday evening, and would he left in cha.ge of the landlord between now and then. He recommended them to rub up every bit of metal about their harness or accoutrements, to get their horses into as good condition.as possible in the meantime, and accustom them to hard feed, and above all to see to their feet and get their shoes removed and put in order so that none of them might come to grief upon the road.

Sergt. Hunt suggested the trimming o! the horse's tails to a uniform length, The tail should not show below the hock,

The Chairman, said he fully endorsed the suggestion. It was a most important matter. Nothing—not even the color or sizes of the horses—conduced more to an appearance of uniformity than the one length of the horses' tails. These should not be cut off square, but pulled. Sub-Lieut. Johnson proposed, " That the hair of the troopers should be cut in military style as well as the horses' tails." —This was also agreed to.

The Chairman stated that as this inarch to the Thames and review would constitute the regular half-yearly drill, those who did not attend would not only render themselves liable to fines, which would be strictly enforced, but would also forfeit their pay. He hoped Inhere would be a general roll up. i'liey had a really enjoyable trip l^efore them. There would be plenty of sport upon the road when they met and camped with the other troops, and doubtless some little amusement at the crossing of the Waihou Hirer. The welcome they would receive at the Thames would, he felt sure, repay them for all trouble.