MILITARY CAMP.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2963, 17 November 1925, Page 2

MILITARY CAMP.

The men of the 17th Battery N.Z.A. who arrived at Foxton from Wellington towards the end of last week came by train as far as Levin and were brought over from Levin by motor lorry. By the week end the men were all settled down and everything in camp was ship-shape. A church parade was held on Sunday, when the men marched from the camp to town, headed by the Foxton Silver Band. The troops were dismissed in town and attended the various churches. - During the afternoon the majority of men off duty found their way down to the beach.

On Saturday and yesterday live shell practice was indulged in with the six-pounders as a preliminary to the practice with the big guns tomorrow and following days. The two six poundei - s were taken about a mile down Robinson’s run and tired across the lakes in the direction of the sea.

To-morrow morning the heavy six inch howitzers will be fired from a position at the rear of the racecourse, near the Foxton-Himatangi road. On Thursday the battery will take up a new position at Motuiti, in front of the Chinese gardens. On Friday the position will again be shifted and the guns this time will be located .between Messrs. F. and 0. Robinson’s, Beach Road.

A cordial invitation is extended to the local public to witness the firing of the guns.

To-morrow afternoon the officer commanding the Battery cordially invites all residents of Foxton to an “afternoon at home,” to be held at the camp at 1.30 pirn. It is proposed to put on a military display by the latest Caterpillar Tractors, as well as novelty items and track eveuts, including a 440 yards championship by members of the Battery against all comers. Foxton athletes are specially invited to take up this challenge. A handsome trophy will be awarded to the winner of this event.

The list of sports items includes the following:— 75 yards Military Handicap, 1 mile steeple-chase (spikes), cockfighting by sections, 120 yards Military Handicap, 100 yards Spike Handicap, 440 Foxton Championship, Long Jump (17th Battery only), section Relay Race, 1£ miles.

From the above it will be seen that the officers and men are setting themselves out to give local residents a real good afternoon’s entertainment to-morrow, and it is hoped that there will be a good attendance.

There are 170 men in camp and the battery consists of five sixinch howitzers and two six-pound-ers. A noticeable feature of #he camp is the absence of horses. The two five ton Holt tractors do all the hauling work and there are only half a dozen horses attached to the Battery. The health of the men in camp has been excellent and one and all consider the racecourse an ideal site for a camp.

Large numbers of men have been off duty each night and visited the various places of amusement in the town. Their .conduct while on parole has been par excellence and has drawn forth favourable comment from local business people. The 17th Battery will break camp on Saturday when the 7th Battery from Palmerston North will arrive.