Overview
Thurs Nov 6
Heavy rain during night – showery + windy day. Up at 5.30 – Uncle Bert, Tom Vincent following Freyberg + my good example joined us on horse-lines for a bath. Then usual routine work. Wrote Maud. Inspection of sleeping quarters by permanent officers. At 11.30 the squadrons on duty fell in and again proceeded to wharves via Taranaki St + Jervois Quay. Hector McDonald rode onto pavement in Taranaki St + felled an offensive individual. We lined up in Featherston + Buckle Streets + Custom House Quay to protect wharves while the new union loaded “Athenic”. There was a large crowd about all the afternoon, principally spectators and “foot” specials – men from various W[ellin]gton offices. Some friends we saw purchased food for us at midday + later firms + people in crowd supplied us with biscuits + fruit. Tucker
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was also provided by Gov[ernmen]t. Rly [Railway] Depart[ment] Bldgs [Buildings]. Once or twice we had to drive the crowd back but most of our time was spent in diverting vehicles + pedestrians into Lambton Quay. At 5.30 pm at large crowd of “foot specials” marched past cheering (the first days loading being accomplished) + the mtd [mounted] “specials” moved off to camp via Jervois Quay + Tory St. Bad language + insults at hotel corners but no violence – the crowd seems thoroughly cowed. I was put on fatigue duty at 10 pm, hay-feeding horses but no fodder turned up, so got off.