IN CAMP AT ORINGI.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 24, 2 June 1913, Page 3

IN CAMP AT ORINGI.

O 1 (From Our Own Terry). Friday. Things are going exceedingly well. The Fates have indeed been good to us and have served up for our especial benefit weather of the made-to-order-kind—the air perhaps a trifle crisp in the mornings, but the day invariably opening out beautifully. It rained a little last night and we put an extra stroke on to the pegs in case the wind increased. But the threatened gale passed off.

Attending to the Inner Man. Coffee is served out at about 6.30, after which physical drill in the sharp air gives one a healthy appetite for the porridge (without milk). Lunch is served for the midday meal and a hot dinner at night. We can't complain of the treatment. The canteen is well patronised in the evening for supper. Our Boys Win at Football. The football final came off yesterday, and your "Terry" hit the mark. The XI Taranaki Regiment completely outplayed the-Vllth by 11 points (three tries and a goal) to nil. Our boys were not often on dangerous defence. Our adjutant kindly treated the fifteen at the canteen after the match. Round the Camp Fires. On Wednesday night and also last night big camp fires have been going and real good times spent. The officers and sergt-majors have kept up their end of the programme very well. Irishmen (or is it Scotchmen) always get the best of a joke, but for camp humor I think the following (told round Wednesday's camp fire by a sergt-major) will take some beating. A "casual" in the camp is blamed for it, anyway. The said casual was not wearing his great coat, and was asked by an officer if he had one. "No," replied the Terry. Not being addressed with the customary "sir," the officer asked "No, what!" "No coat" came the gruff reply. There were several good ones besides, but the laughter that greeted that put it an easy first.

Spiritual Comforts. Besides the Y.M.C.A. marquee previously mentioned, the Presbyterian Church also runs a reading-room. There is a piano in the latter place, and it was from this tent that the big noise mentioned in my last letter proceeded. A service of song was being held, but at 'the tirire I'was not aware of it. However, later on, I went along and helped the noise a little . more.' I hope no one is holding me responsible for casting- reflections on ; their singing *>powers. If so, I humbly apologise. j if j l :«.,n J ■• '' iI f■ i■ : ' ■• '■": Breaking Camp. The camp shows signs of being ready to break up to-morrow, and to-night we are being packed together and as many tents as possible* pulled down. We-jwep paid, to-night—what hard-earned m"6ney(?)—and as a big surprise were told that leave would be granted on application—the adjutant approving, of course. This was hardly expected, but we take it that it was the result of the good behaviour of the camp as a whole. I have not heard of any one abusing his leave privileges, as a result of which no doubt leave has been granted fairly freely, but to-night not many have gone to town. They have evidently seen enough of Dannevirke. CAMP CANTEENS. There has been a good deal of comment in Gore regarding what is described as the "hard drinking" of a number of the men who have heen under canvas at the military camp near Otami for upwards of a week. When the camp opened we were given to understand, says the Mataura Ensign, more than necessary latitude was afforded some of the men* to indulge in liquor. A representative of the Ensign who visited the camp the other day and asked one of the men "what sort of a night he had put in," was informed, "I don't know; I was out with the bulls all last night"— a remark that does not require interpretation in this part of the world. The reporter's question, he it said, was only intended to refer to the weather. Whether this was merely youthful graggadocio in this instance or not we do not know," says the Ensign, "but the fact remains that certain rumours are in circulation which must be inquired into hy the authorities. Some complaint has also been mado regarding the commissariat, the men stating that they had not enough to eat at times and had to buy provisions at the Mandeville store."