CAMPS AND THE MEN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2692, 11 February 1916, Page 6

CAMPS AND THE MEN

BARONET ENLISTS

THE LATEST APPOINTMENTS

The following officers have arrived at Featherston Camp, and have been posted to the undermentioned units:—Captain Fnirbairn, 3rd Rcservo Coy.; Lioutenant H. N. Fosterm, C Companv, 10th. Tlio following officers have returned to Featherston from - sick leave: Lieut. Lockhead, Second-Lieut. Penilefather, B Squadron, 12th; Second-Lieut. C. G. Johnson, B Squadron, 10th. papawai Camp. Major Johnston has been appointed to the command of Papawai Camp. Staff 'Sergeant-Major J. Keen, N.Z.P.S., will proceed to Papawai Camp and take over charge of all camp equipment, stores, and the sanitation of the camp. Wealthy Baronet Enlists. Among tho Kaiapoi draft of the thirteenth reinforcements, which left on Tuesday for Trentham, was an English baronet, with an income of £50 a week. Ho is, says an exchange, a grandson of a famous poet. Featherston Promotions. The following temporary appointments have been approved by the Camp Commandant:—Lce.-Corpl. W. Samson and Lce.-Corpl. G. EL. Richards, E Coy., 10th, to be corporals; Pte. C. E. Bird, l'te. N. D. Illston, Pte. J. N. B. Lockett,? Pte. G.'Massey, Pte. S. Freeman, Pte. F. E. Jones, Pte. H. M'Donald, and Pte. T. W. Hinks, E Coy., 10th, to be lance-corporals; Slioe-ing-Smitli Corpl. A. Keegan, D Squadron, lltli, to be farrier-sergeant: Shoe-ing-Smith F.. M'Knight, D Squadron, 11th," to be corporal shoeing-smith; Pte. A. C. Higgins, D Squadron, 11th, to be shoeing-smith; Shoeing-Smith A. G. Simmons, B Squadron, 12th, to be 'shoeing-smith' corporal; Pte. J. L. Guilford, Pte. M. L. Williams, Pte. S. F. Banfield, Pte. M. J. Walsh, Pte. S." N. Chatfield,' Pte. C. M. Reston, Pte., E. G. Chapman, Pte. C. B. Smith, Pte. D A. Martin, Pte. J. A. Tate, and Pte. F. J. Stells, A Squadron, 12th, to be lance-corporals- 1 Camp, Hour-Cong. When the Public Works Engineers and their staffs left the military camp at Featherston, and moved into a tent camp near -at hand, they took with them their big gong, consisting of a length of railway 'iron, suspended from two posts, and at meal-times its loud clamour can still be heard booming across the level paddocks. The camp .military authorities have adopted the novel idea of thus making a gong, and a shorter piece of similar iron is hung on a post near the guard-room. During the day the hours and half-hours are sounded upon it ,with clear/ ringing notes, one stroke given for the half-hours. Some confusion might be expected when' half-past twelve,' one o'clock, and lialf-past one are announced with one stroke of the hammer oil the iron. But at one o'clock, four smart trumpeters stand near the gong, and as the bar is sounded, .they burst into a stirring cavalry call, which warns the men to get ready for parade at a quar-ter-past one. Bands and Fire Brigade. Trentham Camp has a permanent camp band of fifteen members, all of whom are employed also as permanent orderlies, the combined duties making their lives rather busy ones, especially when, after a-route march, they hurriedly put their instruments away, and, without a moment's rest, hurry off to wait at the officers' mess. At Tauherenikau the number of permanent bandsmen is only five, and their other duty is that of firemen. The new camp Is especially well provided with firelighting appliances. In each of the Four main streets there are underground concrete'tanks, in which water is stored for. : usei :in case of fire. A manual (ire-engine with hose and otliei gear is in readiness, and the five bandsmen are its crew. In addition to these 'precautions chemical extinguishers are placed at convenient places in cabinets with glass doors. If an incipient fire should be discovered it is only necessary to break'the glass, open the door, and take out the extinguisher, which is ready for instant use. Troops on Leave. During the past two days numbers of soldiers have been passing through Wellington'on their way south and north on extended-leavb. . Those men belong to . the 10th , Mounted and ' 10th Artillery Reinforcements, the former coming from Featherston and the latter from Trentham Camp. On returning from feave about-tlio end of next week, they will go' to Trentham, to which camp the 10th Infantry will havo proceeded from Featherston by route march over the Rimutaka .liill. This , march will begin at 4 a.m. on Thursday, February 17, so that the ascent of the hill will bo mi\de in the cool of the morning. The Tenth Reinforcements are regarded by the Camp Commandant at featherston, Colonel N. P. Adams, as being-in . the best of condition, and quite equal to any previous reinforcements, ', It is expected that the infan* tiry will make a good trip over tho hills,