"THE PATH TO GLORY"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3095, 28 May 1917, Page 6

"THE PATH TO GLORY"

TITIVATING IT UP A BIT

MAJOR LAMPEN'S ADMIRABLE IDEA (By "Sylvius.") Between the railway line and the entrance proper to Trentham Camp there is about a quarter of a mile of drab, unimpressive road, which is a cloud of dust in summer and a "slough of despond" in the winter. Outside the barrier (where u guard keeps a suspicious eye on all who pass) is a straggle of miscellaneous eating-houses, shops and stores, to lend a little variety and life to the scene, but inside tho barrier the sides of the road have been drab, stony patches of poor land that do not tend to' form the most picturesque of introduction to tho now famous camp. AIL this is to be altered. Major Lampen (the new Camp Adjutant) has said so, and what the adjutant says goes! He is determined 'to show that Trentham ■ Camp can grow other things than soldiers, and that "the path of glory"—as tho camp road has been somewhat ironici ally christened—is soon to "be made to smil» as the fairest of gardens. Maior Lampen is nothing if not definite. When he gets-his head down to a scheme he butts away until it is done. The work he intends to have done is not going to interfere with anyone's work in the camp, but "the path to glory" is a favourite loitering place within bounds even now; it is where the men meet their friends coming from the train, and is the road down which all visitors must pass to reach the camp. So Major Lampen has decided to flank both sides of the road 'with trim flowerbods. Down the south side (where a Mart has already been made) it is the intention to lay out these beds in various shapes, with the aid of borders of cemented stones, and each one will have a distinct name and identity to be preserved, the Afaior hones, as lonr as the camp is a camp. The first bed inside the barrier on the right-hand side will be called "Samoa." the next "Egvnt" fc n ,/3 e , z '" "Gallinoli," "Chunuk «Si» OS* W ." He "«." "Armen- !,'■£"?•,. Fl f s - Pozieres," "El Arish," fiafa, and so on-a spot at Trentham to mart each great engagpment iu which the New Zealand Forces have been engaged. Major Lampen contemplates having a big flower bed near the main entrance to the camp, to be called "\nzac, which will take the shape of 'the geographical outline of Australia, and ivithin that outline will le two island beds in the shape.of the North and South Islands of New Zealand, which all lvill concede is a very happy idea. On the northern side of the same road -between the road and the Wellington Kacing Club s property-the same idea is to be prosecuted, but here the beds are to be named after the various unitsInfantry, "Mounted Rifles," "Engineers," "Medical Corps," "Dental Corps," "Artillery," "Army Service Corps, etc.. and it will be the special pride and joy of the representatives of those units then iu camp to see that these beds are kept in order throughout the year. In .that direction competitions may be arranged later on for the best la"l-o»t bed.

It is pleasing; to learn that Maior T ar>nen is being encouraged to persist In his efforts to transform the drab into the beautiful on all sides. Some of the Trentham nenple with gardens are presenting plants and seeds, and Major Lampen hopes to gain the kindlv aid of ?oroe of the nurserymen of the Hutt. not to do aTiy actual work, tut to snpplv the wherewithal "to "lake the <'°sert blossom as a garden." . Evpryoni likes to see a bit of garden, and tho scheme Hint Maior Lampen has in hand will certainly give HO per cent, of the men who are yet to pass along "the path to glorv" a little nlesinre, and will heir, to embellish with its fragrance the nostralgia of Trontham