OFF TO THE FRONT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2167, 16 April 1908, Page 1

OFF TO THE FRONT.

DEPARTURE OF THE VOLUNTEERS. Tlie wharf presented .a very busy appearance yesterday afternoon, when the East Coast Mounted Rifles and the Gisborne Rifles (Infantry) embarked on board the Toroa for Napier, en route to Johnson ville, near Wellington, where the annual Easter manoeuvres are to be held. The departure of the men 'Was reminiscent of the sending off of the South African contingents. Though there was an absence of tears and waving of Union Jacks, small groups of dainty maidens could be seen in convenient places with gentlemen in kharki in their midst biding a fond, but, to be hoped, temporary farewell. . The steamer left the wharf shortly before 5 o’clock, and proceeded out'to the bav, where she was anchored to wait until 7 p.m. until a launch with those men who were unable to get away in the afternoon came alongside. The anchor was weighed shortly before 8 p.in., and the boat then' proceeded to Napier, .where tho moil will disembark and take a special train in the evening to Ngaliauranga, four miles from Wellington, wlienco they will march over the -hills to Johnsonville. The horses were all got on board without mishap. The East Coast Rifles, forty strong, aro under the command of Captain Tombleson, with whom aro associated Lieuts. Evans and .Hamilton. Two signallers who will compete for Major Russell’s prize for the best pair of signallers in the cauin are also being taken. Tho Gisborne Rifles aro under the command of Captain Beero, and are sixty strong. A number of the senior .Defence Cadets aro being taken to make up the number. The comnauies form part of the 4th Regiment Wellington Rifles, and will go into tho Defence camp under Colonel Eutliio, the attacking camp being under Colonel Watt. EASTER MANOEUVRES. Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 15. Colonel Robin, C.'B., Chief of the General Staff, returned to Wellington from the south yesterday. Ma-

jor Humo, R.N.Z.A., loft lor the south last night to act as Coast Defenco Commander and Artillery Stall’ Officer during the ’Easter manoeuvres of tho Canterbury district. Colonel Tuson, Quartof-muster-GoncraJ, left Wellington for Auckland yesterday morning’ to bo present at thbv’Eastor manoeuvres in tho north. (Major Hughes is to attend tho Eastor manoeuvres on the West Coast. ’ About two thousand mon will bo engaged .in tho Easter manoeuvres around Wellington. The force lias been divided into two (Red and Blue) under the command of Colonel Duthic and Colonel Watt respectively. The former will go into camp at Johnsonville, and tho latter at Palmutamii, near Porirua, harbor. The theory is to bo that the Blues are a hostile force landed from warships, and arc intent on marching to the city. It is tho duty of tho Reds to check them. There is wide expanse of country at the disposal of the invaders, and it .is expected that the operations will he interesting and instructive. AUCKLAND, April 15. ,

During Easter coast defence manoeuvres will be carried out at Auckland, Wellington.. Lyttelton, and Dunedin. The Adjutants of several of the New Zealand" forces wrote to the Harbor Board yesterday afternoon, stating that it was intended. t 0 rehearse certain war conditions, including examination of -vessels entering the 'harbor rf"*thd'"Boa[i‘d - did not object. This is to be carried out by ail “examination vessel” for several hours each day. It is not intended to inconvenience harbor traffic, the examination being done from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. on the nights of the 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th, and 1 from 3 n.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The Department asked the aid of tho Board in tho matter.