INSPECTION OF VOLUNTEERS AT HAMILTON. PARADE OF THE HAMILTON CONTINGENT TE AWAMUTU VOLUNTEERS.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1202, 11 March 1880, Page 2

INSPECTION OF VOLUNTEERS AT HAMILTON. PARADE OF THE HAMILTON CONTINGENT TE AWAMUTU VOLUNTEERS.

This fine body of cavalry — strong enough now to form a separate troop, but still attached as a contingent to the Te Awamutu troop, paraded in Mr Jolly's paddocks at Frankton on Tuesday afternoon. At 3 o'clock the force, with the admirable Band of the Hamilton Liyhc Infantry Volunteers, under Lieut. Johnson, mustered in line to the number of 45, when in a few minutes Colonel Leckie, accompanied by Colonel Lyon (the officer commanding the di«trict\, and Lieut. Whitaker (com manding the contingent), came upon th* ground. There wa*» a fair muster of thn general public, in carnages, on horseback, and on foot. The men were well mounted and presented a fine soldierly appearance. On Colonel Leckie riding up to the line, he was received with a general salute, the Band playing the march from Nortna. The contingent then marched past by squadron, ranked past by sections, ranked past by files, galloped past by squadron, performed pursuing practice at the halt and walk, and then proceeded to post practice, riding at speed past four heads placed on posts, and endeavoring 1 to strik" off the heads as they passed with right and left stroke alternately ; beyond th* posts were two jumps which had also to be taken. This exercise afforded the most amusement to the general public. In many instances the head was cleverly and skilfully cut off; but by far too many made up for skill by adopting too slow a pace, and putting but little dash into the stroke. Then, again, the majority of the horses point blank refused the first jump, a low one, but having an ugly appearance, being a stout plank of 9 or 12 inches. In passing the last head Sergt. Hunt, in cutting the head off, struck his horse's ear wiLh the sword, and the animal commenced buckjumping, and then rearing up was apparently coming back upon itrider, when Sergt. Hunt nimbly extricated his feet from the stirrups, and slipped clear of the falling animal. The contingent then went into skirmishing practice, the right skirmishing and the left acting as a support. This brought the manoeuvres to a close, and the contingent wheeled and formed three sides of a square, when Colonel Leckie addressed them, expressing himself well pleased with their general appearance, and with the efficiency of both men and officers. The only fault he found was that they had not thrown sufficient spirit into the post practice, which ought to have been performed at a full gallop. Colonel Leckie also paid the men a compliment on the manner in which they galloped past, and the excellent line they kept.