The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1882-08-01 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEER ENCAMPMENT AT-PARKBTONE.

The almost closing sm-; in oonnection with the
visit of the Dorset Battalion of Volunteers to this part
of the nuunle7i took plane cm Friday, when the grand
review Mae pee sad was a most success' id termina-
tion W the authorised official programme,., Lb.
Since the entry of the main Imo, on ,"fh"*.7., their
numbers have been swelled by oinethiog Wo 300
additional arrivals, and on the field day the total on
parade was 712. The gallant Brillion headed the
muster roll, their number being 113, the Poole running
a good mooed with 93• then followed Weymouth 78,
fiberborne and Shaftesbury each 66, Dorchester 64,
Winiburne (whose disbandment hal happily been
thought of twios by the War Olio authociUm—and
mooed thoughts are always mid to be the best), 57,
lilitodfurd 47, GiLliogbarn 46, fiturmituder 40 and
although they may happen to come lest in point
of numbers they are not the least, for after but • short
establishment, Care Bodge was enabled to bring
38 men into the
About 1,000 poems were present to see the
manoeuvres, whkie took place in Naas Park, kindly
placed at the disposal of the battalion by Sir James
tklqnhoun. Weikel Marshall, of the 39th Regimental
District, was the reviewing officer, and the by no
IMesas unimportant post of A.D.O. wag filled by Lent.
of the Dome Militia. The iliOnlber for
=whiz Charles Schreiber, and lady Charlotte
were primmest, together with the Mayor, B.
Cdnlosits}radcbc.otheen.alltrilsAbsefinittoy., Chat-
field enOsd
about mid-day, and by those oompeteut to judge, the
evolutions were said to have bon gone through in the
most creditable meaner. At the °mastodon, about a
ample of hours having been oceapied in the proceed-
ings, the battalion was drawn up into square, and the
Inepectingefficer, addressing Colonel Steward and the
men, expressed himself in the most complimentary
terms. It was the that time, he neli, be had had the
honour of inspecting them, and he had been much
shock by their soldierly appearance sad bearing. No
doubt Colonel Steward had carefully attended to their
drill, but eating they had only been out bee days, be
must admit he was astonished with what he had seen.
This was the mole satiefactoy as at the present crisis
there was no knowing what might be reiptired of them
—the regulars would be required abroad, together
with y the Militia, and then doubtlessly they,
the Volunteers, would have to ;garrison the towns.
lie concluded by saying he should have great pleasure
In making • must favourable report respecting them
to the authorities.
Immediately after this the battalion was dismissed,
and there was thus, so far as the military duties were
counseled with it, an dad to the Volunteer west.
The afternoon, however, was pleasantly filled up
with • number of sports, which were heartily enjoyed
by the spectators, and gave rise to • good deal of
friendly competition anion the man. The prizes
were not very valuable, but they Baffled for the
occasion. The 100-yards fiat race was won by Privets
Chaffin, of the Sherburne corps, Private Bartlett. of
the Bridport, coming In second; eight started and it
was • capital race. Private Chao was again success-
ful in the race whkh followed—Li mile fiat ram—and
Private Bartlett again had to cry second. Six entered
for this race. For that mirth-provoking attempt in
pedestrianism—a three-legged race--tbe humour of
which consists in tying • leg each i 1 two competitors
toolbox ; 8 couples entered, the Shofteibury carrying
off the honours (Privates Imber awl Bilbao), while
the Wareham tuinbiet in second (Privates Pope and
Day). Sherbono for a third time had its honour
maintained by Private Chafilo, who beat half a dozen
other competitors in the half-mile fiat race. Bridport
and Dorchester, as represented respectively by
Corporal Homey and Private H. Taylor, made a
good second and third. The "veterans' race" was
looked forward to with much interest somewhat
upoo the same principle as people go to see the one-
armed and one-legged cricket match—se no one under
the gay young age of 50 mold complete. However, it
was • disapicirament. Three were required for a
start, but did not c .me to the post "./.11.T.," we
believe, was a hot favourite. Then came
an
aristocratic item in the race card—the officer.'
race, three hundred yards. The entries were Major
Williams, (staff). Lieut. Rawlins, (Wimbarne), Lieut.
Georo, (Weymouth), Lieut. Bamford, (Wareham),
Lieut. Still, (Bridport), and Capt. Marrs, (tithing'
ham). The distance was 300 yards. Major Williams
and Lieut. Still made all the running, and the Lieut.
succeeded in peeing the winning poet by about •
noes. Then there came "tugs o' war" betwees ten
men of och company. The final beat was between
the Bridport and the Sturminater, and the Vale man
had to lower their colours to their southern opponents.
The captains and enbelterns afterwards indulged in
this little game of "pufl soldier, pull sailor," and
on two occasion. the Captains were the victors.
The Heavy Marching Order RIZ*, for which there
were seven entries would have filen to Sherburne
without doubt, had not Private Coelho been handi-
capped 30 yard.. However, he kept up the credit of
the company, Private Mate, of the liridpoet, carried di
the prize, Private Bugler, of the Stunninater, being •
(sir second. The sport. concluded with a quarter
mile fiat race open to the bandsmen. The whole of
them competed, but only a few finished the course.
Bugler Churchill, of the Dorchester Company, came
in ant, Private Green, of the Shaftesbury, world,
and Private Moors, of the Dorchester, third.
In the evening there wan • grand display of fire-
works on Hospital Island which had been entrusted to
the welLknown pyrotechnic managers of the Crystal
Palen, the Masers. Brock. Tbe early portion was
most successful, but about nine • d•••• fog SWOPt over
the place, and an ignominious ending was the reale
On Saturday the battalion left and marched in
splendid order through the town. The Poole Company
undertaking the duty of taking down the tents, as
they had previously that of erecting them. The men
looked all the better for their week's outing, and
without doubt, they carried sway with them the best
wishes of the inhabitants of "the Ancient Borough."