THE MOUNTED MEN AT ORINGI.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1744, 8 May 1913, Page 6

THE MOUNTED MEN AT ORINGI.

. i CAMP PLANNING. rim ac.mi; in oupkklinkss.(By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent) Oringi Camp, May 7. Itovcille ushered in a cold and wintry day. Heavy rain fell during the night, and, iu some cases, found its way through the canvas. About ll> a.m. the weather cleared, and, though at times it looked threatening, it remained line for the remainder of the day. At S o'clock all ollicers attended u lecture given by Colonel liusscll, A.D.C. (Officer Commanding). The day's work was discussed, and the order of training laid down for to-day. It is the. intention of (lie Headquarters Stall' to hold these lectures every evening. During the day the men were" instructed in squadron drill, and much work was got: through. It is interesting to note that the horses (judging by their actions) are enjoying the work every bit a 5 much as the men. In speaking to a Dominion representative, Major Young, veterinary surgeon of the cam]), expresses himself pler-.sed with the good all-round condition of the horses. To date there are only twelve on tho sick liisl, .and their complaints) are by no means serious.

Staii'-Sergeunt Young and his two assistants are making the animal inspection of rifles. Owing to the scalteml nature of the centres furnishing the Wellington Counted liilles Brigade, the only opportunity which the armourers have of making a'thorough inspection is at the annual camp, and uiis necessarily makes tlio work rather strenuous. The rifles of two squadrons are examined each day, and, in all probability, the inspection will.last a week.

At the first appearance, to the layman the Oringi camp is but a confusion of bell tenls, marquees, horse lines, cookhouses, latrines, etc., and not till he has been there some liltlc time docs lie realise the amount of thought which must have been necessary to foresee and plan every detail' months More tho Territorials arrived. In February last Oringi and the surrounding country was thoroughly surveyed, and a contour map drawn by a Stall' Officer and assistants. Tho site of llie camp was then chosen. Jlanv conditions are necessary to make an ideal (raining area. It must he close and handy io a suitable water supply; there should be a wide, open, flat surface for drill; also low hills and scrub country for skirmishing; and last, but not least, the camp must be within a reasonable distance of a railway station. Oringi fulfils all this. It is surrounded by the Oluakerctaki stream, and a branch of the Mnnawotu Kiver. Tlio surrounding hills fringe a basin of almost perfectly Hat country, well over five miles in width, nnd still longer in length. Within half a milo of the foot hills tho country abounds in scrub, and fallen logs, and, finally, Oringi Station is in the centre of the basin. All tho ofiicers w-lio have been spoken to oil tho subject agree that it would indeed bo hard to find a more suitable training area.

After the situation of the camp was settled it was planned and drawn up onuaper, and. not until every detail bad been attended to, did the actual work of erecting tents proceed. This was commenced in Hie beginning of April. The camp is laid-out 011 Hie same principle as a town.' It is in the form of a huge oblong block pierced by two streets dividing the camp into throe parts, and .the ' whole facing the Otuakcretaki stream. Every lino -of tents holds a winadron. with the officers' tent- in the rear, and each section formed by the streets holds a roriment, the three forming a brigade. Between the tent lines are rope pickets, to which the horses are fastened. Facing the camp is a largo corrugated iron canteen, where almost anything may be had for a price. Then tliero are two marquees for tlio amusement and entertainment of the territorials,- and the several cooking houses for the different regiments (including an Aldershot oven). At the back of these are the showers stand, washing basins, latrines, etc. Further back still, on the banks of the stream, is a. 10 h.n. engine and pumping plant, which provide water for the whole of the camn at the rate of 12,000 gallons per day. It is interesting to note that over a mile of piping has been used for supplying the camp with water. In the rear of the camn are the officers' regimental messes, lecture nijirnuce. and orderly marouees, v;'here all clerical work is carried out. At the back of this is situated (he staff headquarters, which is distinguished by a red (lag by day and a red lialit by night. Away ,1-0 the right, in a corner of tbo field by itself, is the hospital corps, while on llie left, closo to tlio station, is situated the brigade supply stores, where the whole of the rations and fodder for the brigade is issued. A post and telegraph station has been erected for the convenience of the camp, and is kept constantly in use.

. 'Such are the outstanding features, but only when one views tho camp from an elevation (such as the surrounding hills afford) can one fully realise tho planned orderliness and symmetry with which tho camp is laid out.