Possibly members of the Canterbury Engineer Volunteers undertaking bridge building and entrenchment exercises.
The uniform of this Volunteer shows the letters "CEV"
1892
Canterbury Engineers.
On Saturday the annual inspection of the Canterbury Engineer Volunteers
terminated with a practical afternoon's work in the various branches of military
engineering which would be required in the event of war. The Hon the Defence
Minister, and Mrs Seddon and some members of their family were present. Lieut.
Colonel Gordon, with Majors Slater and Francis, watched the operations. The
waggons comprising the transport left the Drillshed yard at 10.3.0 a.m., under
the charge of two non-commissioned officer, the remainder of the corps being
ordered to parade at New Brighton at 3 p.m., but to arrive as much earlier as
possible, so that the necessary preliminary work of unloading and arranging the
stores, laying a telephone line, &c, could be accomplished before parade
time.
At 3 p.m., on the arrival of the Defence Minister's party, the men were
told off to their duties mounted and foot signal men, submarine and land
miners, telephone men and electricians, field work and bridging parties. The
strength of the corps present on parade and detached was forty-four, making,
with twenty-six members of the band, a total of seventy men. The work having
been commenced the band started playing, and continued from time to time during
the afternoon, in a style very much appreciated by the large number of people
assembled to witness the operations. The arranged plan was that an enemy, having
attempted landing, was off the coast waiting a favourable time to renew the
attack, and the Engineers were sent to the front to keep the commanding officer
informed, by signal men and telephone, of his proceedings, to retard his advance
by destroying bridges, placing submarine mines and land mines, and, at the same
time provide for the advance of the local forces by placing a bridge across the
Avon, that, while available for the defenders, could be readily removed in case
the necessity should arise. The work was all carried out simultaneously, Captain
Falconer, the Inspector of Engineers and Submarine Mining, being inspecting
officer and Captain Webster commanding, with Lieutenant M'Gee as subaltern.
The land mine, containing 50lb of gunpowder, was successfully fired, but
owing to the nature of the soil and being too hurriedly placed, did not produce
very great effect, although some of the soil was thrown a distance of one
hundred and fifty yards. Mrs Bean, daughter of the Hon E. J. Seddon, fired the
mine. The submarine mine, which was fired by Mrs Seddon, gave a very startling
and suggestive illustration of the power of 70lb of gun-cotton, and what would
be the condition of anything placed over it. The water of the river was lifted
in a huge column for about a height of one hundred and sixty feet. Mud and fish
were thrown high in the air, fish being picked up in considerable numbers; one
huge eel, 18lb in weight, was thrown to a height of fully forty feet, and fell
on the bank.
The bridging was accomplished quickly, and many people, including ladies,
crossed over. Owing to the limited stores the only possible plan was a raft
running between bridge ends; this did the work effectively. The corps'
photographer, Sapper Wise, took several photographs during the afternoon.
The signalling and telephone work were well carried out. The telephone wire
was laid from the tramway bridge along the left bank to a spot about twenty
chains down the river. The flying bridge was thrown across at this spot, and the
two mines were fired in its vicinity. The New Brighton Tram Company carried all
the Engineers free.
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