WAIKATO MOUNTED INFANTRY.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 447, 13 June 1899, Page 2

WAIKATO MOUNTED INFANTRY.

<> The No. 1 Company of the Waikuto Mounted Infantry commenced their annual week's instruction on Saturday last. It can hardly be designated an encampment, as the men are not camping out, but simply putting in bo many hours' drill per day, those living within a reasonable distance going home, while the remainder arc billetted at Mr John Bettley's boarding establishment, where they appear to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. The weather for the opening day was anything but propitious, so much so that the muster was very .small and anything in the nature of drill was out of the question. Sunday, however, broke fine for the church parade The meu, soii'e thirty or forty in number, fell in at Sydney Square, and headed by the Hamilton Band, marched to St. Peter's Church. The event aroused a good deal of interest and the church was well filled. The Rev. R. O'C. Biggs conducted the service, and delivered an'eloquent sermon, lietitting the occasion, which could not fail to inspire those who had the pleasure of listening to him. On Sunday afternoon advantage was taken of the fine weather to put in a few hours' useful drill, at Fnnkton, in apaddock kindly leut by Mrs Jolly for the purpose. Two parades were held yesterday, at which between 40 and 50 men were present. The drill is beirjg conducted by Captain Coleman, of Wellington, who. it will be remembered, paid the Waikato a visit last year for the same purpose. The captain, we understand, is well pleased with the progress the men have made, and his task is naturally much less arduous than on the occasion of his former visit ; but he is somewhat disappointed that there is not a larger muster. Parades will be held every day this week, the company preferring to have a week oa end in order to qualify for capitation, instead of puting in the required number of separate parades during the year. After finishing the week here Captain Coleman proceeds to Pirongia and Cambridge to instruct the Nos. 'I and 3 Companies in turn.