COMFORTABLE CAMP

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 39, 16 February 1943, Page 2

COMFORTABLE CAMP

N.Z. AMBULANCE UNIT

LIFE OX PACIFIC ISLAND

The ingenuity and adaptability of members of the Second N.Z.L.F. are once more illustrated in a letter trom a member of a New Zealand i lcld Ambulance in the Pacific. "We are at last settled down and have a large, comfortable mess room, which was constructed by the carpenters of the unit." states the writer. "It is the first time for many months that we have had a roof over our heads for meals, and this is appreciated by the boys very much. The building, one of many, was eonstrhcied of rough timber called bois de for (iron woodh and the axe and hammer were the implements mostly used. As we have no corrugated iron here, the natives were given the job of thatching the roof. This was done bv tyinsc pieces of thin bamboo to the rafters, a few inches apart, and then {ixi'ti? on this coconut palms overlaid with the bark of the niaouli tree, which is perfectly waterproot and lasts for years. "The engineering feature of the camp, thought out by the officer commanding, is the bamboo pipeline which supplies water to the camp area for a distance of 500 yards. This water is quite pure, which is a rarity on this island. The whole camp is clean and comfortable, and can be voted the best on the island. Training is not neclected while the worK of construction is going on. "On the evening of January 24 a New Zealand band gave a recital in the mess room. The band items were interspersed with items by some ot the camp boys and nursing sister?-. The programme was thoroughsy enjoyed." during the day officers and PiOsi workod ]i?.rd on occorntioiis. and a stage was erected which was decked with coconut palms, the Union Jack and the Red t ross. The electric light, which was run by batteries. showed the artists at their best.''