RAILWAY ENGINEERS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2170, 8 June 1914, Page 3

RAILWAY ENGINEERS.

BRIGHT HOPES FOB THE FUTURE. Speaking at the brcaldng-up social gathering held at the close of the eata-p of the Railway Bnginfi.c-rs, on Saturday night, Colonel G. Barclay, who was in command of the camp at 'Mabanga Ray; said that tho oaffip will be historical in the records of tho Railway Battalions, because- it was the first gathering of the kind, and if tho s-uwess which had resulted could bo taken ns a guide to tho future success of their battalion they could have no misnivmgs. (Applause.) Continuing, Colonel Barclay said: "It- has be#n r«y lot to attend many volunteer camps, but I have never attended" one which has given nio .greater pleasure than the ono which we Save Jtist held. Every officer and every N.C.d. carno therewith the intention of perfecting himself in his Military dutfes. Tbs Department gave them certain facilities and they kno* that they wore not .there for pleasure. I aw certain that thoy made up their minds to assist tho Department by becoming effieie-nt-ofneers and N.C'.G.V Continuing, Colonel Barclay saM that when the men dispersed throughout tho country the knowledge which they had gained would be of immenso vjijhm. They were groatly indebted to their instructors. (Loud applause.) Captain Edwards, of the Royal Engineers, had displayed great interest in them. The men ill camp also appreciated ■ the- energy displayed by the Stalf instructors. ~ (Applause.) Uo felt sure that the efficiency andgeneral knowledge of -the- men in oa.tnp had been due, to a great eatont, to the interest which had been taken by the instructors. Tile eorps was a comparatively new one, as thoy had not been in active operation for twelve month*, but ho could say, that- owing to tho interest taken by the. officers and theN.C.O.'s, the future was bright indeed. He hoped that one of tho aims of the men after tiipy dispersed would ho to inculcate, throughout tho rank and file of tho battalion, that it shotsld hi tho endeavour of every man to tonko tho corps the host and "most efficient in the Dominion. (Applause.) la the Army every man took prid© in the corps to which he was attached, and" ho hoped that their members would" be animated by tho same spirit. (Applsuse.)