INFANTRY CAMP AT ORARI.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14325, 10 April 1912, Page 11

INFANTRY CAMP AT ORARI.

Beautiful weather continues to favour the Territorials in camp at Orari, and all the men appear to have benefited by open-air lifo. Although there have been several case* of --light illness the health of the regiment on the whole, has been excellent and the majority look extremely fit. The drilling and discipline have mado a wonderful. difference in the appearance of the men when on parade and visitors have been greatly impressed by their soldierly bearing. SUNDAY'S ROUTINE. On Sunday morninc.- reveille sounded nt < o clock. Uoly Communion was cole-rated, at 7.30 by the Jfc-v. G. B. -Vinson curate of St. Mary's, Geraldine. there was a church parade for . .oman Catholics at 10.30, when .rather Murphy conducted Mass in the large marquee belonging to the Church ol England s Mens' Society. Cntil the dinner hour at half past twelve the men wore, occupied in cleaning ,tn camp. ChUrch parade was held at 2 o clock and an onen-air service was conducted by Captain Norri.s of Tomuka, Chaplain to the regiment, assisted by the Rev. T. Stin.son, of rimaru. who read the lessons, ilvmn sheets woro supplied by the Church of I-.iigland -Mens' Society and the Timaru Garrison Band, under Conductor .Sehnack. played the accompaniments. The service was most impressive anel a sermon appropriate to Eastertide was preached by the Chaplain from the text, "Chr:st is Risen.'" A ceremonial parade was held after service, when the regiment marched past the saluting Hag in companies led by the Hand. The sum of.Co 18s (id was taken at the offertory which the Commanding Officer gave to the funds of tbe Church of England Mens' Society.

During the afternoon large crowds of visitors arrived, and they wer.-> greatly interested in the arrangements made for the men. Afternoon tea was served to all who eared to avail themselves of the hospitality, and many of the Indies willingly assisted to hand round the good things provided.

A short evening service was conelueted by the Hey. T. Stinson at halfpast nine and at 10.30 lights were extinguished-

The Territorials of Ashburton anel district arrived home from tho Orari trailing camp by special train yesterday afternoon. The recruits nppanr to have been made smarter men by their term in camp.

MAJOR-G ENJEKAT. GODLEY'S VISIT. On -Monday reveille sounded at 6' a.m., company parades were held from 7 to 8, and after breakfast a. lectin 1 ., was given to the men on discipline by Staff Sergeant-Major Williams. From 10.30 to the elinner-hour companies were again paraded anel put through various movements. After elinncr tho battalion was paraded and the successful competitors a. Saturday's sports wero presenteel with their prizes oy Beckingham. Major-General Godley arrived at tho camp shortly after 3 o'clock. Tho guard of honour was furnisheel by B Company (Temuka). After company drill the battalion was formed up and inspected by the General who walked through the ranks accomnanied by tho officers of tho Staff- tho Hon. T. 'Buxton, M.P., Colonel Bailey anePLieut-enant-Colonel Mackenzie, retired list. The men wero briefly addressed by the General, who complimented them on their smart and soldier-liko appearance as tho result of tho week's training. He remarked that it reflected tho utmost credit on tho officers anel men and he was especially pleased that the work had been done with the utmost goodwill. Although they ranked as tho 2nd Regiment he was sure, with the spirit they had shown that they would become second to none in the Dominion- The work they had done was elementary and preliminary, but next year they would find their drill more adranceel and the work far_ more interesting. He impressed on them the necessity of attending their drills dicing tho year. He referred to tha beautiful situation of tho camp and mentioned that they were indebted to the generosity of Mr Guyon Macdonald for the nso of his paddock. Ho remarked that a Minister of the Crown, Mr T. Buxton, had taken tho trouble to visit them, which .showed how much the Government was interested in th© scheme of military training.

The Hon. T. Buxton next addressed the men and expressed pleasure at lieing ablo to visit them. Thoy would he all delighted at the address of their General, and he had no doubt it would encourage them to persevere and do their best to make tho schemo of training a success. The scheme hael been greatly misrepresented and ho had heard it said that tho camps wero designee! to give tho men as hard a timo as possible. But they knew better than that, and ho was sure in a very .short time there would be very few indeed who would object to register.

Tho men wero then dismisseel and the officers wore introduced to tbo General who walked through the camp and inspected the lines anel all the arrangements for tho mens' comfort and recreation.