THE FOXTON ENCAMPMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1048, 25 May 1912, Page 3

THE FOXTON ENCAMPMENT.

Everything in connection with the camp is now going along swimmingly, one or two minor difficulties that were experienced at the commencement having now been completely overcome. The weather experienced so tar has been ideal for the purpose and this has helped to a great extent in making the encampment so successful. There were one or two minorcomplaints in connection with the providoring on the first day, to a large extent accounted for through a number of necessary conveniences not having been ready for the caterer at the commencement. These difficulties have now been overcome and the cookhouse and everything connected with it is giving entire satisfaction. The food supplied is really firstclass and the men have no room for complaint in this connection. The meat for the camp is being supplied by Mr Woodroofe and the caterer expresses himself as particularly pleased with the quality of same. , On Sunday afternoon at two o’clock a church parade will take place. The services will be held under the trees on the east side of the grandstand and will be conducted by the Church of England and Presbyterian ministers. A cordial invitation is extended to the general public to be present. The men are conducting themselves in an exemplary manner, the officers expressing themselves as particularly pleased with their conduct. The discipline also is excellent. Old instructor, who have been present at other camps, state that in this instance the men have settled down to their work much quicker than is usually the case. In other camps that they have been in the instructors say that they have never known the men to so readily adapt themselves to the new conditions. His Excellency the Governor (Eord Islington), will visit the camp on Tuesday alternoon. The Governor is at present at Waiwera and when returning to Wellington will 0r... . ..jc journey at Palmerston North, anc motor from there to the camp, afterwards motoring to either Shannon or Levin and continuing bis journey to Wellington. Yesterday afternoon Colonel Purdy, Director-General of the Army Medical Service, accompanied by Colonel Mackie-Bell, principal medical officer, visited the camp and made a thorough and complete inspection of the sanitary arrangements. They expressed the opinions that everything in this connection was perfect and they had never previously been m a camp where the arrangements were so complete. Colonels Purdy aud Mackie-Bell motored back to Shannon yesterday afternoon, catching the New Plymouth Mail to Wellington irom .there. The marquees erected by the Presbyterian Church aud Church of England Men’s Society are well supplied with books, papers, magazines and writing material and these conveniences are much appreciated by the men, who are freely availing themselves of the opportunities for reading aud writing. The Manawatu Mounted Rifles brought their piano from Palmerston and anyone musically inclined has an opportunity of improving his accomplishments in this connection aud at the same time adding to the enjoyment of the others in camp. An unexpected contingency cropped up yesterday moruiug, it being found that the water had frozen in the pipes. Before the men could wasn u was necessary to pump hot water into the pipes to thaw the ice.

Surgeon - Major O’Brien, who has supervised all matters in connection with the sanitary arrangements of the camp, left lor Palmerston North this morning, his place at the camp being taken by Surgeon-Captain Peach. SurgeonMajor O’Brien, who is the senior medical officer, will again visit the camp on Sunday and possibly again before it breaks up. So far there has been practically a total absence of accidents, the oply incident really coming under this head being the case of Trooper Gibbs, who was rolled on by his horse on Tuesday. We are pleased to report that Trooper Gibbs has now completely recovered. The Borough Council has granted permission for some of the officers horses, six in all, to be put in Victoria Park each night.