SETTLING IN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 11, 13 January 1940, Page 7

SETTLING IN.

MEN AT PAPAKURA. PLENTY 0E WORK TO DO. SPIRIT OF KEENNESS SHOWN. "How to clean a gun in three easy lessons" might well have been the title of a picture taken yesterday afternoon at the Papakura camp, when those Aucklanders of the second echelon who went into camp were in the process of settling in. This gun cleaning business is one of the first jobs of a new soldie'r. Yesterday the boys seemed quite intrigued with their new "toys," but naturally the bloom will be off that particular peach any day now. This operation was only one, however, 211 a busy first day for the troops. There were palliasses to fill, quarters to be cleaned, odd jobs to be I done in plenty.

j From a limitary point of view the camp could not be" called a striking one yesterday. The men were issued with drill trousers on arrival, and the rest of their dress was civilian. Here and there groups, of men were being marched t r various parts of the camp. One might, be dressed in a singlet and a pair of trousers, another in his "civvy" shirtsleeves, another in driil trousers, a sport 3 shirt and a slouch hat. But it w .n't be long before all t.liat is altered. These, men are keen. To each hut a non.commissioned officer was posted, and most of them had to undergo a running j fire of questions.

Cooks will wipe their brows and whistle if you mention catering at Papakura. There will be close on "2000 men in »amp next week, and cooking for that number in this hot weather is no greac catch. The supply ollicers, also, were in for a bns\ f time. One of them yesterday aitcrnoon was concerned with the camps towels—hundreds of them. • The camp butchers were laving in big stocks . . - and a brewery wagon was mute evidence that that part of things is being 'looked after.