CHOICE MEN FOR THE FRONT.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 448, 7 January 1869, Page 3

CHOICE MEN FOR THE FRONT.

!The New Zealand Advertiser states that the Constabulary recruits who arI rived at Wellington by the Alhambra |and Airedale left for Wanganui in [the s.s. Wanganui, on Saturday evenling. They looked a very fine body of I men as they inarched up to the Militia . office in the forenoon, but they gave i ample proof of their rowdy character : before they left in the evening. They had been billeted at the Empire Hotel, and apparently aware there are no \ grog rations at the front, they were determined to have a good " drunk " before leaving. This laudable inten tion they fully carried out, and when the hour of embarkation approached very few of them were in a condition to traverse nnaided the short distance be! ween the Empire and the wharf. The scene in the vicinity of the hotel was an extraordinary one. There must have been at least 109 men in various stages of intoxication. Some perfectly helpless, some inclined to maudlin sentimentality, but the majority inclined to be combative. Free fights seemed to be popular, and, as few of the patrons of that species of amusement were physically able to do much harm, the results were more ridiculous than . dangerous. There were, however, several serious casualties in the clothing line, but this did not much matter, as there was of course a new suit of \ uniform ready to be donned when once landed in Wanganui. No one in particular seemed to be in command, and not a single officer was present. Several cabs were calkd into requisition to convey our gaUant defenders to the wharf, and on these they were piled up in the most surprising manner, a good many coming to grief and rolliug off before they had gone many yards. At the wharf, Major M'Barnet was superintending the embarkation, and it was well that he was there, for one of the men, either less drunk or ■ more vicious than his comrades, or _ else fancying that he had actually arrived on the field, where they no doubt burn to distinguish themselves, drew his knife and was about using it in an unpleasantly energetic manner on those arouud him, when he was pinned by Major M'Barnet, the knife wrested from him, and he himself transferred to the care of the police. Instead, therefore, of facing Tito Kowaru he will have to face his Worship Mr Crawford. Major M'Barnet proceeded ho Wanganui in temporary command of the reinforcement. We scarcely envied him his task.