CAMP DOINGS

FOURTH DAY AT TAKAPAU GOOD WORK REPORTED. THE ME"N WELL FED. • (BY TELEGR4PH.) («r OUR SPEC)*!, (trn'ORTER.) TAKAPAU. This Day. Generally speaking, the weather behaved itself at Takapau on Wednesday. But for an occasional shower, the day was fine and calm, and there were several leiigthy periods of warm sunshine, which had the en eel of drying up the ground to a fair degree of comfort after the previous day's heavy rain. The troops accordingly were able to get to work, and they settled down to it with a will, both the mounted men imd the infantry putting in v- hard day's drilling^ in company and squadron eXeiN cises. The mounted men were drilled in ' the training areas surrounding the camp, while the infantry wore located in tho spacious area within the precincts of the tents location. INCIDENTS IN CAMP. Several incidents occurred in and about the encampment yesterday which excited general interest. The first of these was the spectacle of a horse bolting with a trooper from the 6th Reoi ment. Ihe horse, which had been somewhat fractious, suddenly got out of its rider s control and dashed off with him at a great pace along the infantry parade ground to headquarters at the other end of the field, and then turned back and ran into the lines of the 11th Regiment. Here the horse threw its rider into one pf the tent-!, and continued on its career, but it did not get much further before it Was captured. Another incident was provided by some enterprising press photographers. Without the knowledge of the authorities two camera men strolled up the hill at the head of the rifle range and proceeded to take snapshots in tho danger tone. How many bullets whizzed about them is not recorded, but when the photographers were espied they were promptly acquainted by the range officials of then 1 danger wild told to get out, without the slightest appreciation being shown of their enterprisihg if wholly foolish move. A turthei' happening was provided byDame Nature Herself. Way over on the noble .Ruahine ranges, where the elements disport themselves to their heart's content without arousing the perpetual grumblings of men, 'the interesting spectacle of a real live waterspout was provided. Throughout the day the ranges were envelopea in heavy rain cloud's, and the rainfall ttiere must have been several inches to the hour. Shortly after noon there was a small break in tho clouds on the eastward side of the range opposite the camp, and a waterspout of respectable proportions suddenly broke into view- for about half a minute. It was witnessed by a large number of the troops in camp, and was rather a fine sight. THE DAILY ROUTINE. Thj following hours are being observed in camp:— 6 a.m., reveille 5 breakfast, 8 a.m.; luncheon about noOn, dinner as soon after 5 p.m. as possible, first post 9.30 p.m., last post 10 p.m.. lights out 10.15 p.m. From 6.30 to 7 a.m. the whole of the nieii in camp are put tbiough n course of physical drill, and from 8 a.m. till noon, and 1 p.m. till 6 p.m. are given military instruction upon ths various training giounds. BEHAVIOUR OF THE TROO1 S S. The 'troops continue to behave them* selves well, both inside and outside camp. At the Takapau township, where there ii onl;, out hotel, ike licensee ia assist iiip, the Defence authorities as far as possible by using every discretion in serving liquor. The provision that no intoxicating liquors shall be brought into the lines is being rigidly enforced. TJIE MEN'S RATIONS. The food being provided at the Camp is as good and wholesome as cVeli the most fastidious person could wish for. and. in addition to that, it is well-cook-ed. The mutton 'and beef being supplied arc. as a matter of fact, much better than most of that supplied by the butchers in a«y of thp larger towns, being exceptionally tender and of excellent flavour. If ever troops were well fed "those at Takapau cettalttly are, evtiry matt being provided with as much alici as good food as he can possibly desire. The scale of rations per man per day is as follows :— Bread. l{lb ; meat. Ulb; butter, 4oz : cheese, Iok; tea. Joz : coffee, sugar, 4oz : potatoes, lib : onions, 4oz ; jam, 40-/. ; oatmeal. 202 ; milk (fresh) i-pitit or condensed; salt, £o<s ; pepper, 1-36 oz ; flour, £lb twice a week. EXCELLENT WATER SUPPLY. Recognising that without an adequate supply of good water no encampment of the present size at Tnkapau can possibly be made a success, the Defence authorities have made arrangements ill this direction which would really do credit to any waterworks engineer. So far as adequacy. purity, and general distribution ar« concerned, the water service at Canvastown forms a model for any future encampment. The supply is obtained by means of pumping from the beautiful clear flowing Porangahau River, which pursues its course past the camp. The pumping station is equipped with three separate oil engines, each of which is capable of pumping a sufficient supply for the whole camp, co that in the event of one engine breaking down a second engine may be immediately put into commission, and if the latter goes wrong before thu first has been repaired a third engine h available. The water is pumped a distance of 750 yards from the river to storage tanks situated on rising ground opposite Owharoa railway siding. The^e tanks have a capacity of 12,000 gallons, or half a day's supply, so that in the event of the three engines at the pumping station going on strike all at the same time — certainly a veiy remote contngency—the camp can bo kept g<*ng, for twelve hours, during which time it should be an easy matter to persuade at least one of the engines to resume work. From the storage tanks the water is distributed in three separate mains along the infantry, mounted rifles, and field artillery lines, the first main ex< tending for 1000 yards and the second for 1500 yard?. Opposite each regiment's lines washstainls. each with six taps, have boc'i erected, and special services Imvp been laid on to tho cook bouses. lint h for domestic ur.e and in rase ut' the buildings catching fire, Special police luivp lioen appointed to watcli the taps in their respective area;*. Although tin 1 water supply U pure flip authorities have Iflknn Mm precaution of ordering tbnt no wntcr slinll be drunk unless it hap been boiled. Thr> whole of I lie water supply airangenipnts were carried out under the supervision of Cnptain Boswoith, A. A. and Q.M.f... upon whom the greatest credit is reflected.