NATIONAL HISTORICAL MUSEUM

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3178, 31 August 1917, Page 3

NATIONAL HISTORICAL MUSEUM

CHRONICLE'S OP NEW ZEALAND REINFORCEMENTS. Quite an interesting though unpretentious gift reached the National Historical Collection on.- a recent date. The little parcel consisted o f three booklets describing the long voyage of "the 22ndV; while yet another and larger booklet deals with the chronicles of the "23rd's." In these pages there are, of course, many jokes and witticisms which, while caviare to the men concerned, are Greek to the outer world. But there is also tho side which he who runs may read, and this speaks of tli'o lcindly activities of doctors, chaplains, and Y.M.C.A. officials, and the happy inspiration of a bi-weekly ' Fre&ch whose voluntary instructors were cheered by an average attendance of 72. There is a oheerhil record of well-arranged sports meetings—sometimes held at a deck angle producing un-' expected results—concerts, and social hours, all of which boguiled tho ihonotony and deepened the sense of comradeship among the wanderers. Last but not least are the messages of thanks and appreciation to the generous donors of so many comforts and pleasures. As a spontaneous, uncensored, record of the life led "in transitu" "by the men who left us to take their place as soldiers of tho King in 1917, the picture thus committed to tho National Historical Collection is full of interest and value.