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SHIFTING CAMP

TAUHERENIKAU TENTS STRUCK

SOLDIERS' NEW QUARTERS

During this week two of the temporary military camps in the Wellington district are being vacated. The troops in camp at Tauherenikau left that camp yesterday for the new camp at Featherston, and the last of the tents at May Morn will be removed on Thursday. These changes are due to the Featherston military camp being so nearly completed' that it is fit for occupation. It is not intended, however, to do awav with tents altogether, and a- camp of tents to take about 2000 inen will bo set up on the opposite sido of the road to tho new camp, the idea being to give all troops several weeks under canvas as part of their training. An Early Start. Although there were only 1400 men, all of them mounted troops, in camp at Tauherenikau, the baggage and stores for a much larger body of men had to be transferred to the new quarters. When the 10th Infantry went on leave, they left their kit-bags behind 'them, in charge of baggage guards. An. early start was decided upon by the Camp Commandant, Lieut.-Colonel N. P. Adams, who takes complete charge of the new camp. Reveille was sounded at 4 o'clock yesterday morning. Strangely enough, in spite or the knowledge that ill wet and windy weather, the tents were not an ideal shelter, many expressions of regret were heard from the soldiers, that they wero leaving the tents for the hutments. The glorious summer weather, 110 doubt, .influenced the opinions of many, though there were some who said they preferred tents at 1 any time. After reveille, the camp was a scene of activity and upheaval. Breakfast was served early and every Army Service Corps' wagon was ready for its loading bi' the time the men had completed their toilets and packing. Owing to a heavy dew having wet the tents, they were not struck until the sun had risen and dried them thoroughly. There was no hurry for them, or for the'bulk of tho stores, the personal effects of officers and men and camp requisites being tho first to go. A Busy Road. By nine o'clock the road between the two camps—the new camp is two fniles .nearer Featherston than the old one— ; was busy with vehicles, including Army Service Corps .wagons, hired expresses, and lorrieß, motor-cars, and push bikes. Many of the soldiers had bicycles in camp with them, and some of them rode to their new quarters. One who did so was a bandsman, and he pedalled along the road with a trombone stag over his arm. Fatigue parties of men, some with picks and shovels, ' also marched. Four squadrons of mounted men rode into the horse-lines of the new camp with a clatter of hoofs and gear, two of the squadrons having ridden straight through 'from Papawai, seven miles away, 'after finishing their shooting there." When the 10th Infantry leave Featherston Camp it will be essentially a camp for mounted and Army Service Corps men, and its total accommodation when the tents are set np will be nearly 7000 men, the hutments taking 4500 troops. By the end of this week that number will be in camp. ' . ■ I Furnishing the Hutments.

The marching of' troops and squadron's of men in the welljpaved streets of the new camp, the rumbling army wagons drawn by army horses with hogged manes and close cropped tails, and the hurrying to and fro of officers, were signs that the camp was passing from civil to military control. At s'is o'clock last night that control would become complete. Yet the 'sound' of the carpenters' hammers and saws, ajid the smell of paint and the sight of ladders will remain in the camp for a while. About 450 men are still employed in giving the. finishing touches to the ,work. At the lunch 'hour yesterday, while soldiers wero rapidly passing their furniture and belongings from a wagon into certain hutments, many of the workmen gathered round to watch.

i "Here, catch this gently," a soldier on top .the load said. He threw a filled kit-bag with violence at the man on the ground, and nearly knocked him down. A tambourine followed, then a bicycle, and a box of tinware. The rifles were already in the hutment, together with a concertina, heaps of bedding and blankets. When the wagon had unloaded the goods for one hutment it rumbled on to the next. Everything was well arranged, the only hitch which occurred being in connection with the canteen. Tenders for the catering in the new 'camp were called- for last week, and on January 31 the huge canteen alongside the main road will be opened under this arrangement. In the meantime it was hoped to havo a. temporary one in one of the big dininghalls, .but the negotiations unfortunately fell through. The camp staff will however, have a canteen going in a few days. " Yesterday,-by strenuous efforts, meals were provided for all hands,: The military have so far occupied hutments on'one side of the camp.. The workmen are gradually removing their quarters in the other half . .to tents, and 'at the end of the week will all be under canvas again. • ' ■ Appearance of Camp. The painting of the camp buildings is nearly finished, and the remaining portions are changing colour rapidly under .the hands of the 80 painters who are on. the job. The hutments and dining- ; halls-are painted, cream, with maroon facings, and the cook-houses a dark j grey. The streets look clean and hard, and the spaces between the hutments have also been rolled and cleared of all' debris. There is a good deal of finishing work yet to be done, but the ■workmen engaged will make short work of it. It must be mentioned that most .of. this work is extra work decided upon after the plans were approved. A good deal of building will also have to be dono in connection with the tent camp, across the road, where the cook-houses and dining-halls will bo wooden buildings. The cook-houses are to be removed by the Public Works Department from Ta,uherenikau Camp, and re-erected on the new site. •' A Military Highway. When the new camp is finally taken over by the military, the portion of the Greytown-Featherston road within its boundaries will bo fenced off, and a guard placed at each gateway. Vehicles will be allowed to pass right through, but must not panse without permission. ' The line of 6hops on the road-6ide opposite the camp is almost continuous up to the huge canteen. Then comes the WaiTarapa Patriotic Society's Hall, the Eoman Catholic, the Church of England, ■ and the Salvation Halls, and beyond them the hospital. All these and the railway sidings opposite will be brilliantly lighted at night l and with the street lamps in the camp and the hutment lights will make the scene a remarkable one. It may not he too much to say that Fcatherston Camp is the best built and equipped training canip south of the. Line.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19160125.2.29

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2677, 25 January 1916, Page 6

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,178

SHIFTING CAMP Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2677, 25 January 1916, Page 6

SHIFTING CAMP Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2677, 25 January 1916, Page 6

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