AT THE BARRACKS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1921, 2 December 1913, Page 6

AT THE BARRACKS.

"SPECIALS" IN GOOD SPIRITS,

It is a novel sight to see two hundred hungry men at their food. It is a common everyday 0110 at tho Mount Cook Barracks, whero between 500 and GUO "specials" aro still encamped. Tlio element of danger with which their duties wero fraught in tho early stages of tho striko has passed away, and °ho camp has settled down into a quiet, steady routine of work, strictly planned and carried out. Their duties aro entirely changed from what they wero a month ago, when the full strength of tho force summoned from tho country was needed daily to guard tho main entrances to tho wharves throughout the day, and at times well on into tlio night. A detachment of men turn out at an early hour to patrol tho streets adjacent to tho ' waterfront, with AYaterloo Quay and tho Post Ollico Square as assembling points. From this squad, details of four break off at intervals and patrol the streets, covering a wide rango of the city throughout tho day. No place where there is likely to bo any suspicion of trouble is left unvisited during tho day, and if men aro needed at any particular point thero is always a reserve ready to gallop off to tho spot, cither from Bucklo Streot or from tlioso 011 duty at tlio wharves. At 1 p.m. a cold luncheon is served in tho big drill hall. Each man as ho passes into t'ho messroom takes an enamel plate and mug, and takes his scat at a table about 50ft. in length. This is well loaded with cold sliced beef, mutton, lamjj, brawn, pressed beef, and tongue. With a dressing of picklcs and sauces, mounds of this provender disappears as if by magic, - whilst t'ho men pass tho merry jest as nimbly and as often as they do tho salt. Then when each has finished ho brings Lis plato and mug to tho big wooden wash-up troughs, w'liero they aro well cleansed in hot water and dried beforo being stacked once more 011 a table near tho entrance. T'ho big nioal of tho day takes placo at 6 p.m., when a capital hot dinner is provided. A good man is good to his beast, and tho 'specials' always see that their horses aro fed and made comt'ortablo beforo tlicy themselves repair to tlio mess-room. There is at present a shortage of green food for tho horses, and any supplies from adjacent farms would bo warmly welcomed, as it is almost essential to .tlio country horses' health to havo 0110 feed of green stuff per day.

Oil tho "specials" aro absolutely loyal to their work. 011 more than 0110 occasion men havo been asked if they would return to their homes (as tho numbers of "specials" are being reduced), and it is generally with difficulty that tlio required number can bo induced to loavo the camp. This is an indication that should ever the necessity ariso for their presence in town again thero will never bo a lack of volunteers.