ASHBURTON.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14347, 6 May 1912, Page 5

ASHBURTON.

I .Soujo £OCkI useful mounted work, footdrill, ond physical exercises, v.ere carried out on Saturday at the casual camp now being held on the Ashburton Show Grounds, and even tho younj;o.st ! recruits are .already showing :<• marked improvement in their movements. The mounted men in camp include members of the Tiniaru, Waimate, Geraldine, and Ashbiirton squadrons, whilo the infantry section is made up ot men from as far south as the "Waitaki to Coalgato. Tho officers i:i camp arc as follow: — i Captniii Andrews (Timarn), officer comI manding: Licutcuant Baiiey (Timaru), Surgoou-Captain (Ashbi:: - lon>. Captain Cliapnian (Timaru), Captain O. ! j>. 11. Heiford (Ashbnrton). Quartor- ' master; Lieutenant i'inlcy (Titnaru), i 11. Davis (Ashburxon), E. i'ovov (Ashj burton), acting _captain-;: G. K. Bee, J>iiiisford and Sterndale, s<»rvif<> Lieutenants. There are also on duty .rtattSmith. Clements, Parks, Williams, Thatclior. Meecham. and Johnston. I Tho mounted section is in command of Captain Nicholls. Lieutenants J. iJ. Christian, and 11. X- Blnndeii. Tho j Rev. E. AVhitehouso is chaplnin of the camp. i The daily routine is ;:* follows: — ! Kc-veillo (j'.'M) a.m., parade 7 to 7.15 J a.m.. breakfitst S a.m.. parade 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., dismiss 1.30 p.m., tea I 0.30 p.m., first nest SI p.m.. last post I 10 p.m.. lights out 11 P-m. Tho Church of England Msn's Society has ft mart|iiecon tho ground r.s a concert hall, and anolher in which papers and macazines. writing matorial, etc.. are supplied iree. These tents am .in charge.of 31r. U M.

Slrachey and Mr Arthur Viae, who was for lmiiiy years Colour-Sergeant in the As-hhurton JtiSes.. Tho Uov. K. Wliitohotiso was at tho camp on Friday wcniny. A short religious service is, h-ohit: J held each ovi-uine; at 10 o'clock. Thy t'.'ixnn chaplain, iho lies". ij. | Whiii-liouso, conducted a, service at tho , >'jiU)t) c:i »S:inday afternoon.. The vicar preached an impressive sermon, dwelling largely en tho tmiuiiu; ar.d upbuilding of character. A local policeman iru.de a complaint against the conduct oi' .veroral of tho Torritorials curly on Simirdr.y mornins, nothing was kr.ov.-n of it in the camp itself till ;t lat-'jr hour. "When it uid lx.-conio known it caused a great- j deal of comment. From careful on- j iiuiries niad'j on Saturday our corro>- | jifiiiiiont in i-onversation virh an officer that sovoral civilians, who ! worn ai>i)nrcntly undt-r tho inliucnc-.> | cii liquor, weiit tf« tho camp entranv puts on Friday nipht. Imt thoy \r«\> nnisi-i adnu's.-:ion. ,\othiiij. however, was seen of any misboliaviour on til.? pan- oi any Territorials. They were nil at- physical drill at seven o'elocu on Saturday morning, and suxrtod with 1 a quarter' of a n:iltj at the doub\-. Tfiey tiicti wont through other forms of physical drill. The ottieer stated that if any of tho men had been under tho influence of liquor over-night th:y would in i\]\ probability h:tv*> shov.-i fatipiio at. thr-.t early b.our. whr-n imson:o jireity stiff physiiril , o.\frci.<ei, but no sipn of fatigue whai- ; over v::;., exhibit<»d by anyone. The officer who was chatting w:t-!t tho writer remarked that tho men in c:i»i') we.ro admirable disciplhi.'.. a'.iu were takin,: tho keenest noss-iblo interest in xh>.ir work. A ia.r{.:>"> number of them were on leave on Saturday evening, and every on.} returned to camp in :t perfectly onior-y .inaniver and as a,, good soluier sliou'di do. F.very one under canvas* is.-ex-ceedingly sm:;ious that the camp ahull bo ono of thorough instruction and that- nothing whatever shall occur which shall cast the slightest reflection on officers or n-.on. or be in any way a bni - to the present and future, success of tho ne>v defenco scheme.