THE WAIKATO CAMPAIGN

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3839, 19 April 1881, Page 2

THE WAIKATO CAMPAIGN

(FBOM OUB SPECIAL BEPORTEB.)

It is not my intention, in taking up the above subject, to indite a complete history of ihe doings of the Thames men during the trip, but only to relate those incidents which are likely to be interesting, amusing, or instructive to the general reader.

THE TRIP UP.

The trip up was almost devoid of incident. Many endeavoured to snatch a few moment' repose, but the crowded state of the steamer, together with the " larking" proclivities of a number of the passengers, was not conducive to the successful wooing of the drowsy god. At Auckland wharf the Scottish Battalion was joined by several of its old members who now refide in the provincial metropolis, and after a few minutes' delay we were marched to the long trains, and were soon whirling southward. Plebeian New"^market, snobbish Remuera, Drury, Huntley, with its coal mines ; Rangariri, where " the gallant Mercer fell," and all the other little settlements historical in Maori legendary lore, or in connection with reminiscences of the first steps of European colonisation, are soon passed, one or two of " the boys" being left behind at one of the stations. They however came up in the next train, so that no harm was done. At Hamilton a large crowd assembled and cheered us lustily. Captain Whitaker, with praiseworthy foresight and kindness, had provided a couple ef barrels of beer at the station, and I don't think much was left behind, notwithstanding that there was only three minutes to consume it in. An hour Jatdr we were all in camp at Te Awamutu. FIBST IMPRESSIONS OF TE AWAMUiU. Imagine expansive, undulating downs, divided by hawthorn hedges into meadows, "with verdure clad." well kept farmhouses, with orchards and willow groves, and you have a mental picture of the village of Te Awamutu. When calmly reposing utder a moonlit sky the scene was the most thoroughly English I have yet saen in this country. Te Awamutu was an important post during the Maori wp.r, and its neighborhood is rich in associations and memoirs of the sanguinary struggle. At Orakau not far distant, one of the bloodiest battles of the war wts fought, and under the shadow of the little church at Awamutu, hundreds of brave men who died for their adopted country, lie buried. Their last resting places are marked by rude little wooden tablets now rotten and tempest stained, and generally in a most neglected state. In one 'of these neglected graves lies the remains of Sergeant W. Taylor, who, being wrongfully taunted with cowardice by the gallant but reckless Yon Ten»sky, rushed on to certain death and so obliterated the stigma with%is .blood. I really think the Government, or some of the Forest Bangers might subscribe to erect a stone tablet in memory of our brave defenders. Ac Rangiawhia I saw the clump of acacies in which Potatau, the first Maori King, was crowned, and quite near our camp was the river in which a bathing party of the 18th Royal Irish were ambushed. 'So it will be seen Te Awamutu has plenty of associations of a military character, rendering it appropriate as the scene of our burlesque warfare. The village possesses two first' class hotels, and the popHlation is about 3CO. All the settlers agree that its progress is retarded by the Church Mission Society owning so large an extent of land in the district.

CAMP LIFE

Our camp consisted of about ICO tents, chiefly " bran new," and of excellent workmanship. The Thames Battalion waa divided into messes of 15 men, each of which, appointed one of their number to act as fatigue man, whose principal duty was to receive the provisions from the Quarter-master, end see that the animal comforts of the mess were attended to. On a gentle eminence at the entrance to t Tiie camp stood the guard tent, fro v which the sentinels were posted. Before the first premonition of dawn had struggled through our canvas domiciles the stillness would be broken by the " All's wells " of the sentries, passed from post to post. The food was plain, but of excellent quality, and I heard scarcely a grumble at that generally much reviled institution—the commissariat.

AN OLD DODGE.

At times it was difficult for a man in uniform to get past the sentries, except on duty, and many were the subterfuges adopted to get into town, of course the " old soldiers " being the instigators generally. Three thirsty souls, Sergt. A., with pr:vatjs B. and C, wanting a drink badly, fell in as a fatigue party and marched .past the sentries. Having " whiskied" at Devin's, they gravely marched back and were dismissed by their ingenious commander.

"WHAT BOUNDS?"

Corporal A ■ ■■m narrates a good story of an incident that occurred during one of his nights as corporal of the guard: One of the Auckland Navals, who had never been instructed in sbntry duty, was on guard when the visiting party or " rounds " came to No. 2 post. " Who goes there," challenged the novice. " Eounds," was the smart response. The boy in blue scratched his head, pondered a minute, and then sang out to his mate in the guard tent, " Say, Bill, 'eres a chap as says he's Eounds. I vote we run him in." At this juncture Corporal A m arrived on the scene, and explained matters.

THE CAVALBY,

The appearance of this splendid body of men has been greatly enhanced by the helmets which have replaced the old and unsightly caps. These head pieces are similar in shape to those worn by several of our local companies, the exception being that instead of a spike a white horsehair plume adorns the apex. The uniform of the Waiuku Cavalry is a blue tunic with white facing* and a peaked cap. Their mounts were well drilled, and the officers

were apparently well up in their duty. The Waikato men were particularly kind to our men, mounting guard for them the first night, and many a barrel of beer purchased for their exclusive benefit, was shared with the men of the Battalion and the Brigade. It is considered bad form for infantry officers to " shout " for their men when in the field, consequently they did not do it. The kindness of Captain Whitaker, Troopers McNiccol, Buck, and a host of others, will never be forgotten by the Thames men.

THE BEVIEW

Was, of coursa, a grand affair. The marching of our men, was good, but the skirmishing very inferior. In one of the Cavalry charges a trooper fell, and miraculously escaped being trodden to death under the hoofs of the squadron. One of the spectacles of the day was the Major of the 2nd Infantry Battalion. He was not a " dab hand " at equestrianism, and, in addition, his horse was one of the most skittish on the ground. Every movement of the Bactalion startled the horse, which curvetted and pranced round, to the evident dismay of the rider. Major Withers administered a quiet snub to a well-known caealry officer for giving an order to one of the infantry battalions which should have been given by the Brigade-Major. The astonishing dexterity with which the Auckland Artillery handled their ordnance rendered them the cynosure of all eyes, and lam sure our Navals' mouths watered as they com pared the trim' rifled breach loading cannon with their obsolete old weapon— fit for nothing but to lie at the angle of a redoubt.

YESTEBDA.Y AFTEBNOON

The boys held their grand carnival. Bestraint being virtually at an end, they assembled in front of Lewis' hotel. First of all some of the Auckland Scottish, assisted by our boys in blue, took Carter's coach by storm, and were in the act of harnessing up when the venerable Carter arrived on the scene, and by a vigorous application of the fortiter in re style of reasoning saved his property. Then Seaman W called a wheelbarrow into requisition, and Host Lewis was wheeled through the street nolens yolens. Sergt. McGovern, the staid commander in chief of the Hamilton police, was then seized behind aod thrust in the 'barrow in a most undignified manner. On one of the constables coming to the rescue, he was laid helpless alongside of his chief. Mr James Mackay, the ex-Native Commissioner, next excited the ire of the boys. He charged through them on horseback six times, slashing at the surging crowd vigorously the while. He was, however, pulled off his horse, and laid non compos mentis on the fatal barrow. Mr Mackay promised to " shout," and was let off. Several cases of beer and v spirits were laid on the green, and the struggles of the motley uniformed throng to get a bottle was most amusing. In the evening Vols. L.M. and G.L. had a little fun on their own account by forming themselves into a picket and clearing the hotels at the bayonet point.

THE BETTTBN TBIP.

The Government kindly sent up some cattle trucks in which to bring us home but Major Murray said he would not allow the men to go into them. Several, however, had to use the cattle pens and they growl most deeply. lam afraid the trip has put the set on Gelly's volunteering. He got wet through on sentry duty one night—and then to be sent home iv a cattle truck. We arrived in Auckland before five tnis morning, and were alongside the Goods Wharf at 10.30. I have to thank Major Murray, Capt. Watson, and the other officers, for their great civility, and the assistance they rendered to me. a