THE VOLUNTEERS AT PAPAT0ET0E.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1991, 11 April 1885, Page 2

THE VOLUNTEERS AT PAPATOETOE.

Ouu Te Awninutu ennespondent sends us the following information :— The Te Awaiftttti cav.ihy ueie warmly welcomed by the troops who were on the camping ground at Papatoeloo when they arrived. As a military demonstration it was not, as far at J c m leai 11, .1 success, as there were only about 3.10 of all i.uiks present. As a social gathering it was however, successful. The cavalry were thoroughly pleased with the trip, for it was the means of creating a friendly feeling between the various corps. With the navals especially the troopers were prime favourites, and nothing gave gre itcr pleasure to the former than to be allowed to ride the tioop horses to water. Sonit» of their csploits of horsemanship were highly ninn-hipr. Some of the city voluntcei.sweieas much svt home on horseback as the tars. One of the red coats got on one of the Waiuku horses, a rather fiery oninml, and it bolted with him for twov miles nlong tho road before he could pull it up. At the sham fight on E.ietcr Monday the punctual pait of the spectators was composed of the settleis of the district. Very few of the city people were present, owing to counter attractions at the Eller->lie 1 ace-., and the f.ict that no excursion trains wcie mil to Papitoetoe. If the Government wUh tn make volunteering a unccesa they must enlist the sympathies of the whole c immunity. It is not sufficient that the men themselves should take an interest in it. Jf facilities for being present on review da va weie afforded the public, those who had fiicnds and 1 datives in the ranki would tike an interest in the proc^dings. It was a noticeable fact that there were few, if any, jepresentatives of the win chouses and banking institutions of Auckland in tho rank-. No doubt it woald baa grevt me (iivcmence to the employers to let their employes attend on t\wiu occasions but if Auckland were v isited by an pneniy these are the people who would suffer most ; self-interest therefore -hoiild pi ompt them to protect themselves a-> much a«v possible in the event of a hostile vi-it. The majority of the country cor|i> aro composed of farmers, and it is no sin ill inconvenience to them to leave their work to attoml dull and reviews, and as it is all a measure of .safety for tho public, other*, besides tho men themnelves should share the temporary inconvenience, and it is only ii,jlit that those who have the most intuiest should bear a share of the expense hi keeping up a force. Supposing \ olunteers got twelve days drill a year, it would cost the Government say £10 per man, a cheap prica for a soldier. Military authorities say it takes tlnee years to make a soldier. Now Zu.il.ind cannot uffoid a standing auny, nor do wo lequire one — at present, at any r.ite— but wo can afford the next best tlnng to it, a volunteer force as well drilled as cii enmstances vv ill allow. These reviews would b.i moie popular if they were held nearer Auckland ; the domain paddock, for instance, if lar^o enough— the review Kinuud in the Phueinx P.irk in Dublin is only 15 Irish acres in extent— Ellerslie or some convenient place near the city. Before the camp broke up the two cavalry corps invited all the Auckland men to " liquor up," a little attention, trifling though it vva>», which was highly appreciated by the city tu«n, as it vv.ia an indication of good fellowship. They proposed the health of the wives and families of the cavalry men. Quaitermaster Roche replied on behalf of his corps, and took occasion to point out the mistake of the Government in not showing more interest in thr volunteer movement, and lie rogietted the apathy shown by the Auckland merchants, also, as they had the greatest, intere&t at stake. He e\pected to have seen at least a thou&and men present at this meehug, and hoped when the y met again there would be fully that number under arm". He suggested that the camp should bo held no\t time nearer Auckland, remarks in which the men fully concurred. A tug of war between twenty-five each of the navals and cavalry, 111 which the latter had tho bM of it, ere ited great amusement. The thiPC Johnsons from Raglan— veiitablc giants— decided the business. They held every inch they got, until finally the troopers fail ly dragged the navals after them. I saw one of the troop horses that was ridden without shoos in the review, into Auckland, and back again by way of Oneliung.i and Mnngare, and he was none the worse for trip, his feet being very slightly worn by the journeys over the scoria. He is an old horse, and never has been shod.