NEW BEER GARDEN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20109, 1 December 1939, Page 6

NEW BEER GARDEN

OPENING AT BURNHAM ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION FREE DRINK FOR SOLDIERS A gift of beer from a Christchurch brewery added to the success of the opening of the beer garden at the Burnham military camp on Monday evening. Soldiers from every unit crowded the garden for the opening ceremony, and their enthusiasm expanded when the announcement was made that, for the earlier part of the first night, the drinks were “on the house.” The paddock adjoining one of the old staff homes, a relie of the days when Burnham was a training ground for other purposes, was gay with the colourful sun umbrellas. The scene was fresh and new; the newness was advertised by a sale ticket being left to dangle from one of the umbrellas. Small tables and chairs were on the grass, but the accommodation was inadequate for the rush of patronage. Rush to Bar A quarter of an hour before 6 o’clock, the soldiers, direct from their dinner, began to arrive at the garden, and at zero .hour they went over the doorstep into the bar with a rush at the command of the camp commandant, Major H. M. Faster. The announcement that the beer was to be free for this one evening had a hearty reception. Drawing the beer straight from the wood, eight hogsheads being on tap, the staff of bartenders had a hectic 10 minutes before all the soldiers had been supplied. As they received their free ration, the men moved out to the lawn, where the official opening ceremony was conducted by the officer commanding the .Southern Military District, Colonel P. H. Bell.

“This is one of the horrors of war,” he remarked amid cheers, as he held a foaming “handle.” “The wet canteen has been approved and I am sure it will be a great success. Colonel Bell asked the soldiers to make a special effort to use the beer garden as they would their own place and to see that all proper decencies were observed. A special appeal was made to the men not to “souvenir’’ the handles, Colonel Bell telling them that there was a shortage of glassware in New Zealand. Nurses Drink The toast of “The King” was honoured with the first drink by officers and men, who joined in singing the National Anthem. One other toast was also drunk at the call of Colonel Bell, it being to the representative of the brewery which had given the free issue of beer. Hearty cheers were given when three red-caped nurses from the camp hospital were escorted to a table under an umbrella. Each carried a “handle” of beer, which she drank in the company of the officers and men. The camaraderie which marked the opening of the garden was impressive. Although the men were not limited to one or two drinks of beer or “half-and-half,” they behaved themselves with a decorum fully expected by those who had advocated the establishment of wet canteens in the camps.

The garden was open till 8 p.m., and for a time was floodlit.: The hour will probably be extended ' until 9 p.m., while consideration is also toeing given to the garden being opened from 4.30 p.m. to 5 p.m., so that men coming off duty may obtain refreshment.