THE ARRIVING VOLUNTEERS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10998, 22 June 1901, Page 9

THE ARRIVING VOLUNTEERS.

(BY OITB SPBCUL , COBHESPONDENT.)

Chaos! There is no other word to describe the- condition, of things in the neighbourhood of South Park and Aldington, " where train after train is depositing endless companies of khaki-clad volunteers. They arrive unexpectedly in their hundreds from nobody knows where, and, find themselves stranded in a wilderness of white •tents, without the slightest id«a> ,w!here. to look for guidance, in vain - effort to find their destination. Mud lies inches deep on all the roads. Mud invades every track about the camp. Mud encases boots and gear, and adds its depressing effect to the military ardour with which the stranger set out from afar. In the.Park a white canvas city has suddenly arisen, and is growing like some gigantic mushroom with marvellous and disconcerting rapidity. What was but a small township on Thursday was already a town yesterday morning, and now it is a city, with suburbs extending in every direction. The camp is laid out in regular lines, streets, already "trodden into a state of mud, run across the encampment, and in one corner has arisen a little parish of buildings devoted to the cooking for this uncertain number of visitors.

. Everything is in a state of flux. The appearance of the camp is changing with astonishing celerity. » Yesterday there were long rows of empty tents awaiting occupants. By night every tent had ite ten inhabitants, and there is an. -argent demand for more tente. Standing uncertainly about are groups of companies in all. shades of uniforms, cidefly khaki and the naval blue, lit here and! there' by the scarlet of some private in Highland costume. On the plain companies are drilling, independently, and apparently in a state of helpless confusion. And all the time new companies approach the camp, or wonder disconsolately about, waiting for the arrival of the waggons containing their kits. There are only a few visitors, and these seem overcome by the inextricable confusion that everywhere prevails. Yet the men are busy in their tents mating themselves comfortable with, the ample supoly of dry straw provided for their bedding. I spoke to several of the Wellington contingents, and they were unanimous in contrasting the present camp with $hat in Wellington. The arrangements in Wellington were evidently of such a unpleasant nature that #he Cbristchurch somewhat muddy enremble seems to the eoldiers like Paradise. A significant fact was that in Wellington the majority of the troops preferred to get their meals outside the camp, while at the South Park nearly every volunteer had dinner in camp. Perhaps in a day or.two some order Will be evolved from the confusion. At present all is chaos and flax.