THE ENGINEERS AND THE MAORIS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1918, Page 2

THE ENGINEERS AND THE MAORIS.

IN THE . SUNNY;-SOUTH, 1 . sj AMID BEAUTIFUL SO&ROUNDINGS. (By H. T. B. Drew, 2nd Lieutenant.) On the banks of the Stour, between the old town of Christchureh and Boscombe, and about three miles distant from tii" great seaside resort of Bournemouth, is the camp where our engineers, tunneliers,. and Maoria receive tlieiv training in England.' Fronting the camp, across the slowly running Stour—which is about the size of the New Zealand. Avon—spreads a sweep of broad green river meadow, up which at high tide creep little "streams and inlets"; and for a 'background, on a gentle slope two miles away, rise the houses of the ijown of Bournemouth. On the right of the camp, a mile or two away, are more hills, where the trench work'of the engineers is done; while to the left is the sea, and the tower of old Christ-church Cathedral tolling oif the years and the centuries as they pass over this beautiful sunny Bouth. Very fine surroundings, indeed, are these of the New Zealand Engineers' Reserve Depot. We occupy part of the Royal fingintb' training camp, whose permanent Vbturacks wo adjoin. Many years ago it 'was a great military centre. Tradition says th 6 artillery that was used at Waterloo went from here; and one day, many years hence, legend will rttcrd for the interested how the white and brown inhabitants of the Southern Antipodes were made subtle here in the arts of military engineering against, the extinct Hun. Here -the officers and- men of the engineers, tuunellera, and. me Maori pioncera are sent on arriving in England. The course of instruction which -they attend at the adjacent Royal Engineers' sohool extends over three months. It is a most useful and essential training, for at the school are all the appliances necessary to the full instruction of Field Engineers. They learn field work, tresselling, pontooning, railway construction, hut building, bridging, van construction, erection of suspension bridges, demolition of railways, trench construction in all its branches, and the use of explosives. The Maoris require this course to fit them for the important work that falls to pioneers. In all Engineer companies are a proportion of drivers, who receive whatever instruction they still require in the Royal Engineers' stables nearby. Royal Engineers' horses are used. Similarly, the tunneliers have whatever there is to learn imparted to them here, though, not very much of this class of work is now being done at the front. We have the advantage of all the school engineering outfit, but have our own extensive system of trenches. The river Stour offers good practice for rapid practical bridge construction. Across it you sec various descriptions of bridges run up and rapidly taken down "again. In this'class of work New'Zea- . landers in -recent examinations secured average marks of GO per cent., as against 50 per cent, by the others who were receiving instruction. Major Barclay is in charge of our camp. From here we supply, besides reinforcements for France, officers and men to carry out special work at our own camps and depots. During the winter months all engineers and other departments attached to them here—lmperials as well as overseas—go into billets in the towns surrounding. For this purpose the Bournemouth Military District, whiqh includes Boscombe, is divided up and apportioned. Officers and men are allotted to houses in certain blocks, where they have their rooms and beds. Our quarters are at Boscombe. The non-commis--ioned officers and men have central messing rooms, at which they all attend meals as a parade; officers can draw rations and mess at the houses they occupy. • Householders prefer this, because it gives them command of extra rations, as the army issue is greater for soldiers in training than for civilians. Men mußt be in their billets every night at 10 o'clock unless they possess lata;passes, of which they are allowed on» per week. Watch over them and their little ways is kept by the military police, who make regular rounds of the houses for the purpose, of finding out. 1 LIKE BUDS IN SPRING. In March, with the return ox spring,, oiice again, like the buds of the trees, they issue forth into the open air, and take up their quarters under canvas on the ground already described. There is regret at leaving the comfortable billets, where people are so kind, but the tents—like Indian nvakquees—nevertheless look inviting in the warm spring sun, and in the Stour there is bathing in the mornings, among the swans und the waterlilies, and boating in the spare time. Regrets at the change soon disappears. Besides, evening leave permits frequent visits to Boscombe and Bournemouth. THE DAY'S WORK AND PLAY.

During the billeting period for tie parades the troops fall in at Fisherman's Walk, a broad esplanade leading to the beach a few hundred yards away Here roll 3 are called, and. the parade handed over in the usual way to the commanding officer, and then, with the hand raising the echoes and calling the people to their windows and front doors, comes the two-mile march to the camp. 11l the neighbourhood this is a popular daily event, fov notwithstanding their long residence, the New Zealand troops do not seem to lose any of the kind feeling of the people, which is a good sign as to bekavioup, and can? not be said of all troops. Attractions have been numerous. In billeting times the New Zealand Y.M.C.A., under a very live padre, ran one of their best institutions, the ramifications of which will be well known now from previous articles of this series. In addition they have at Boscombe a large hospital and annex, with seventy beds, for the accommodation of New Zealand soldiers who come down to 3ee friends, and for others who Visit this seaside resort —for London is losing its attractions for the soldier—and with cheap lodgings available he now prefers the seaside. With its usual enterprise and initiative the Y.M.C.A. has taken advantage of this fact and offered the encouragement of this hostel. In Boscombe, ajs«, weekly Whist dWves ■ and concerts are held in the winter I months for our men, and a good cinema i show ia-put on for them three nights a | week. When under canvas these attractions I are still available, but ■Hie cinema and 1 the concerts take place in oamp. The British . Y.M.O.A. 'also has a tat t nearby, with its bilßad tables and ' games. The B®v. A. MttohaP,,.w%-1%

energy personified, also runs the New Zealand soldiers' club in camp, which is a very fine institution indeed. The padre also arranges the sports meetings, whlcb;«re a prominent feature- of tie camp. A marquee is under the care of ladies of the Kev.Zea.Uind War "Contingent Association. Recently the padre organised a boxing tourney in which returned £2O •to the camp funds, and his winter garden "stunt" brought in another £SO. In this way he has established & fund, and made the camp entertainments and amusements and the necessary appointments eulf-supporting. IFarties ot convalescents from Brokenhurst Hospital visit the camp every week, and are entertained at afternoon tea. Under the educational scheme lectures are given on various subjects by lecturers supplied by the Bournemouth Science Society, and this course is to be extended 'and will include practical workshop "stunts." THE MAORIS. At present two battalion of Maoris are quartered here. Captain Tohiwi is in command of them, but is responsible to Major Barcley. CF&ffSral Richardson's idea in sending the Maoris here instead of to Sling is to give them the advantage of the best climate in Britain. They are well under control and very popular with everybody, especially in billets, where their behaviour has been exemplary. The Rev, Wainohu exercises a good influence over them. It is surprising how they are in demand at private houses, where you will find them on the best of terms with everybody, and usually entertaining tie company with popular songs and choruses -—for there are very few- of them who cannot play the piano, either from music or by ear. At -work they "enthuse" and soon master the pioneering course.

All sick trien are sen® to Brokerihurfct, which is only tt : few miles away, 'but slight-fiasesai'e retained in camp by the medical officer ;for dbaervatjoii."-Den-tal officers visit the place as Oity'tn required. ■ Agriculture is carried oa. About seven iacres were under cultivation last March, and potatoes and other vegetables, are ripeiing therein- Here, again our men set an example to the surrounding units, and are also learning agri(oultufe.