WITH THE COLORS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1918, Page 4

WITH THE COLORS.

By Clias. R. FI. Parham, 37th Reinforcements.) (Continued.)’ August Ist—l am sorry that I have been unable to write a letter to you for nearly a week. First of all I was ioo busy, then I didn’t feel up to it as I had a bad headache. I think I must have got a cold in the head; anyway I felt too thick-headed to write. Now I am getting all right. At the same time I had an atTack of. indigestion, which was a very persistent. While writing this I have got “light duty.” That is, I am excused from going on parade, but have to do any odd jobs that there are. Probably L J will be interrupted very soon, as tbe Quartermaster is always hunting up some one of the light duty men, to do a job for him. There is a fair amount of news to tell you, but I expect that my doings on Sunday will interest you most. , Haviug obtained leave (which I mentioned in last letter that I was about to apply for), I left camp immediately after breakfast, 7 - 45 a.m. I bad saved a couple of slices of bread from previous meals, and this I took with me in case 1 was unable to get any tucker where I was at dinner time. The walk to Ames bury through tbe dewy fields, with the bright morning sun shining on them, was very pleasant. The poppies among the corn looked fine. I thought of how you would enjoy being here. In a held through which I had to pass there was a biplane The pilot was trying to get the engine to go. I had a close view of the delicate looking machine. When the engine presentlystarted, it rapidly rose and soon disappeared. Arnesbury is a very picturesque old place. The real old style of inn, is still there; hut it is curious to see immense Tliorneycroft transportmotors whizzing past in long lines. A couple.of dozen must have passed while I was standing waiting for the bus. As I arrived at about a quarter to nine, and the bus was not due till ten, I had plenty of time to have a look at an old church. Judging by the buttresses, this is a later Norman building, say (TOO years old. There was nobody there, so 1 couldn’t ask to see the old records. There are many ancient grave stones in the yard, hut I could notread the old ones—too weatherworn. About thirty soldiers climbed on board the bits, as soon as it appeared. I was surprised at the speed at which it travelled. The large fields of ripening wheat looked very line, and so did the barley which we passed. When in sight of the spire of Salisbury I noticed a fairly high terraced hill. I was convinced that they were ancient earthworks, and said as much to a soldier next to me, who had been several years over here. He didn’t know! It was afterwards I was told that this was Old S"rnm. The rings of earthworks and ditches were made by King Alfred the Great. The foundations of the old Cathedral (which we-e moved to where Salisbury Cathedral at present stands) are still there. An old well is also uncovered. Many interesting things have been and are being still dug up. It is said that it was at Arnesbury that the • Lady of Shalott’ was busy weaving! Queen Guinevere also lived there, it is thought. There was an extremely wealthy and important mona&tary hereabouts. I think there is part of it still to be seen. This morning the 38th Reinforcement anived. Again I've been interrupted, this time to r clean knives etc. I am extremely interested to lie in the county where there are so many interesting remains. f. just now thought of Tennyson’s linos: “ On either side of the river lie Long fields of barley and of tye.” Lady of Shalott. This is just what there is, to this day. The bus pulled up in the old market square, at about 25 minutes past ten. I walked along a narrow and crooked street, passing under an old monument dating probably from tlm time of the Crusaders. I thought it was a drinking fountain and walked through under it. They call it the Poultry Cross. I looked in vain for the tap. ’There are stone seats in the centre, and these are extremely worn. I had no time to examine this curious and beautiful monument, hut I intend to go again to Salisbury when I get the chance. Seeing the top of an old church I tried to reach it, but in turning to the right, .1 passed a very ancient looking church, called, I believe, St Thomas. 1 therefore went

in to investigate. Almost immediately people began coming in, and the chimes started to ring. I was surprised at tho number of immense windows in this church. In fact the walls apparently consisted merely in buttresses, or the tides of the arched windows. The windows really formed thegreaterpaitofboth walls. The arches were round, and narrow stone mnllions reached up to the top of ihe windows, where they ended in beautiful convolntio s. The roof is really 7 interesting. Ancient oak beams support the tiles. Shields are carved on many of the beams, and on either side of the nave the rafters are coloured and ouce bore the sign of the various Merchant Guilds. There are a number of angels also carved on the beams. A huge arch in front of the altar has painted above it a real old fashioned picture. There is a grim looking castle, with heads sticking out of all the windows. Below this there is a huge dragon busy swallowing the crowds of people who arc running down hill past the Castle.

Iu the afternoon was taken by some friends to the Cathedral. We passed through aii old arch on our way. There is a figure in a nitch, ■ over the the key stone of this arch, of King Edward VII. Presumably the original statue was taken, or torn, down by Cromwell’s soldiers. There is a large house near by, built by Sir Christopher Wren. The chimneys are very curiously constructed. The Cathedral is a splendid old building. It. was moved by the Normans from Old Sarum, of which I told you earlier in this letter; ’ and which is li to 2 miles away, where was one of Alfred’s strongholds.

I heard that there were 3(>5 windows in the building,'and also that, there were as many panes of glass as minutes in ’ a year. Many tilings which interested me, I have noted down an the hacks of postcards t am sending. I will send these hv instalments in case the boat should he torpedoed. The outside of the Cathedral is very weatherbeaten and mossgrown. The west ikor by which I entered is very large. All the front of the building is covered with nitches and in these are figures representing the different characters of the Bible (Saints, Apostles, Prophets, etc., etc ). A magnificent sight presents itself to view when you get well inside the door. The roof is marvellous and the tall pi Mars clustered together, all down the nave, are very striking. In the floor are many large slabs, on which are carved the epitaphs of many ohl people. Postcards give a very poor idea of the magnificence of this splendid Cathedral.

The screen, stretching across the aisle (or is it the nave? I don’t know the proper term.) is very beautiful. It is made of finely' worked brass and is very intricate. I have never imagined anything so splendid as the long arched roof, which is s leu stretching down, as one stands near the chancel. On either side of this central portion of the building, there is a ro v of tombs of old_ Lords and Crusaders. Right in the end wall to the left of „the west door is a lai’ge (ablet to the former owner of the Norrington Estates. The pillars are gracefully grouped on both sides of the nave. The organ is large but new. The music was fine. The main roof is white, but. that above the eh nr stalls is beautifully colouied and ornamented. I noted, near an altar, a slab to the memory of a relition of Lady Jane Grey (the nine days’ Queen). I may add that there is a cross of gold and silver, that the pulpit is a font-like structure and the beautiful ‘hunches’ of pillars are of a beautiful dark stone. In front of the door by which T went in, and on either side, are fiue lawns of grass, and beautiful old trees, either elm or beech. Across the lawn, the clergy live in old houses. One of these iiouses is known as “King’s House.” You will he pleased to know that, it is so called because King Charles always stayed there when he came to Salisbury. On the right the Cloister wall is to he seen. Cromwell’s soldiery tried to batter down this wall with the guns. They were ’unsuccessful, hut the marks can stlli he seen in the stones.

On a p.c. : “As many days as in one year there be, As many windows in this Church we see : As many marble pillars here appear (8700) As there are hours throughout the fleeting year, As many gates as mo. 11s one year does view. Sfrange tale to tell : yet not more strange than true.” People here are very cordial, after the “first barrier is down” (or “ the ice broken”). 1 expect a mail from New Zealand as the 36ths have arrived. 1 have not yet seen the llev Rice, hut I understood in Trentham that he was coming with the 38ths, t will be pleased to r.ee him. You may he sure I have not. altered my opinion “ there’s no place like home.” Hope 1 shall be able to get down far “ south ” the next Christmas, if not this one. It would be tine to camp near Lakes Mapourika and lantheand get, fish ! That’s the kind of camping I like —somewhat different to this. (To be Continued.)