AN ENJOYABLE CAMP.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12177, 25 April 1905, Page 10

AN ENJOYABLE CAMP.

Usually Sheffield is a very quiet, respectable, steady-going little place. For the past few days, however, it has been startled out of its wonted placidity. Tho tramp of armed men, and th© jingl© of spur nnd rattle of rifle have been heard in the land, and th© vicious spit of th© Maxim and the thunder of. galloping cavalry have awakened the midnight silences. On Saturday night the thousand men in camp simply took possession of th© bleak little township, which shivers at tho feet of the white-capped mountain ranges. They had had a hard day's work, and they went out at night, after a " wash and brush up," and a good square meal, determined to enjoy themselves. That they succeeded was obvious to anyone who was not deaf, and dumb, and blind. Boisterous good-fellowship was rampant, and tho only hotel of the township presented a gay scene. But with all th© merriment there was not th© least suspicion of rowdyism. The men, young awl old alike, conducted themselves admirably, and there was nothing at which even tho most strait-laced could cavil. All agree that the camp was one of the most enjoyable ever held. The men worked hard, and they played hard when off duty, whilst th© true spirit of camaradcrio was strikingly manifest. The Ambulance Department was kept very busy, about eighty cases in all having to lie medically treated. Most of the (complaints, however, were only trivial, being due chiefly to tho drinking of too much cold water on the march; There were one or two accidents. One man hurt his ankle rather badly, and on tho return journey to Christchurch another had the misfortune to severely cut his head. However, there was nothing of a really serious nature •to be dealt with. The camp, on Sunday afternoon, presented a picturesque appearance. All around the snow-capped hills smiled beneath a brilliant sun, whilst the camp itself was an ever-moving panorama, as tho uniformed figures strutted in and out amongst the white-topped tents. Every man enjoyed himself after his own peculiar fashion, and the ground was thronged with visitors during the afternoon. Unfortunately there was no band ; bad there been on© it, would have added greatly "to th© enjoyment. Everybody, however, had "a good time." nnd it was with a tingo of genuine regret that ono watched the sentinel-like hills gradually disappear into the distanco as th© return to Christchurch was commenced.