IN THE UNIFORM.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 93, 19 April 1912, Page 5

IN THE UNIFORM.

DRESS AND THE DEFENDER OF

THE EMPIRE

TERRITORIALS AT HAWERA

The matter of dress is always an important thing in matters military—indeed, some cynical people, viewing the extravagant dress of a certain section of .soldiers, hold it is the most important. The fact, however, remains that be as soldierly as they will, men do not create an impression of unity and solidarity unless they tire uniformly dressed. This was noticeable on Wednesday with The majority of the Xltli Regiment in tho camp at Hawera, most of the men being without uniforms. But uniforms are being issued as quickly as possible, and the close of to-day should ‘see the whole of the force clothed properly. Yesterday II Company got their uniforms, the first in the camp, and the improvement was very noticeable. ,

There arc two reading rooms on the ground, one under the C.E.AI.S., and the other contjoiled by tho Presbyterian church. Every facility is provided for reading and writing, and in each room there is a piano.

Chaplain-Major Evans (New Plymonth) is in camp. A church par-. a.dc will he held at the camp lat 10.30 a.m. next Sunday.

It has been found that the one incinerator mentioned yesterday is sufficient to do the work of the whole camp, and no more are to be erected. Captain Home (New Plymouth) is in charge of the medical corps. The G.0.C., General Godley will visit the regiment on Wednesday next, on which day the regimental sports are to be held. Following is the daily routine : 6 a.m., Reveille, G. 30-7, Physical drill. 8- Breakfast. 9- Parade. 12.20-1, Dinner. 1.30, Orderly room. 2.4, Parade. 6-5.40, Tea. 6, Guard mounting. 9.30, Tattoo. 9.45, Last post. 10, Lights out. In Regimental Orders dated yesterday,. Colonel Alalone notifies the existence of the two reading rooms, and expresses thanks to the controllers. A concert is to be hold in the grandstand at 7.30 o’clock this evening. Boxing and wrestling contests will take place on Tuesday next at 7.30 p.m. At the early morning parade yesterday, Colonel Alalone gave an address to the men, outlining what their conduct should he in camp. The morning was devoted to squad drill, and the afternoon was filled in with visual training and skirmishing. Tho wohb equipment which is to he issued to all the men is a somewhat complicated thing to look at though really it is simple. It is made of a light canvas, and holds everything which the soldier on active service is called upon to carry. It consists of a net-work of straps, the main ones being the supporting straps over the shoulders and tho waist-band. Everything is so arranged that all the weight falls directly on the shoulders. A feature of the article is that there is only one buckle to unclasp if it is desired to put it off, and this is situated in the centre of the front of the waist-hand. The advantage of this is evident. A network to hold the water-bottle is on tho right of tho waist-hand, and this is balanced by a haversack on the left, the haversack being joined to the equipment. Above the waist-hand in front are pockets for the carriage of a hundred rounds of ammunition. With the bayonet attached the equipment weighs in the vicinity of eight pounds. As soon as the men got used to their construction, they should have no difficulty with them. On the ground there were on AA rednosday a large number of noble specimens of the Scotch thistle, and many remarks, some lengthy and some succinct, but none of a complimentary nature, were heard as men, walking in the dark, collided with those puncturing vegetables. There were fewer of them in evidence yesterday.