AT KOWAI BUSH.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14620, 22 March 1913, Page 12

AT KOWAI BUSH.

GUNS AND HORSES,

A LIVELY SCENE

(FROM OTJIt Sr-ECIAL HEFORTEB.)

SPRINGFIELD, March 21. The usually quiet district of Kowai Bush has become very lively during the last few days. Khaki-dressed men hare been dashing about on horseback, and white tents have sprung up like mushrooms on the landscape. At tho Kowai Bush station there has been a landing of guns and horses, and a clatter of armed men along the roads. At present there aro two camps on the Mount Torlcsse run, the Christ's College Cadets beins situated close to the homestead, and the artillery camp. In which tho E and H Batteries of Field Artillery are undergoing their annual training, on the bank of the little Kowai River. ( For several days there have bren 46 members of the R.NZ.A., undor Lieut. D.iniell, busily employ-ed in pitching the camps, and pitting the Government rorsrs in from Wellington, Nelson" and Christchurch.

CADET CAMP. The Christ's College Cadets, under Major Bulcher, arrived at Kowai Bush on Thursday at 11 a.m. The lads, eighty strong, detrained like veterans and in half an hour were on the march for their camp near the Mount Torlesso homestead. Hero Major Johnson, who had conceived the happy idea of inviting the cadets to spend their Easter"holidays in a camp in which military work would be interspersed with amusement, had all arrangements made for tho reception of the lads. Their tents were all ready and all they had to do was to erect a marquee for use as a hospital tent. Tho weather was magnificent, the heat being tempered! by_ a cool Dreeze straight off the mountains. The cadets reached camp about noon after one rest of about ten minutes by the way. In addition to Major Belcher, the officers are Captain G. H. Merton, Lieutenants C. S. Lambie, L. Lt. Bush, R. E. F. Barratt, I. L. Richards, W. W. Averill, and J. S. Wanlriyn. Sergeant-Major Instructor McCardie has charge of the instruction which is thorough in every department. Major Johnson has provided cooks, food, messroom, and bathing quarters. The men's quarters and the station have been, utilised for mess rooms for the officers and non-coms., the cadets messing in a large marquee just outside the quarters. There is \ fine shower bath of which the lads make full u&e, and altogether everything possible has' been done for the comfort of the cadets. The camp forms three sides of a, square, and is locatep in a largo paddock, the rest of which can be used for company drill and the surrounding country for tactical work, scouting, skirmishing, etc., while a range near tho Kowai River bed will bo used for rifle shooting, the cadets doing a portion of their musketry course while in camp. Thursday afternoon was largely spent in shaking down into camp, but there was some drill done. In the evening the lads had a sing-song, which was much enjoyed. Tho routine for Friday was: —Reveille, 6 a.m.; prayers, 6.45; parade. 7 till 8; breakfast, 8; kit inspection, 9; tactical exercises, 9.30 till 12.30; dinner, 1. Later on instruction was given in map reading, and there was an officers' class of instruction. Rifle shooting, a house football match, and a military lecture concluded the day, tho last post being sounded.at 9, and lights out at 9.15. The kit inspection, which was conducted by Captain Merton, was very thorough. All the kits were placed outside the tents, and each boy stood bes'do his. It was a fine lesson in discipline and general tidiness. The tactical work was entered into with great spirit, despite tho intense heat, . the lads thoroughly enjoying themselves.

TO-DAY'S ORDERS. To-morrow (Saturday) the order of tho day is reveille 6 a.m., at which coffee and biscu.ts are to be served" out; prayers, C.45; company parade, 7 till 8, and kit inspection at 8.30; From 9 till 4 the Cadets will indulge in a brigade field-day with tho E and H Batteries of Artillery and a number of men of tho C Squadron, First Canterbury Mounted Rities. This will be conducted among the Torlesse ranges, and should form an instructive lesson to both forces. In the evening there will be a concert. The lads are thoroughly enjoying themselves, while obtaining a lot of useful military training.

On Sunday a church parade will be held at 10 o'clock, the Cadets being ''At home" to friends in the afternoon, when there will be competitions 5n bugling, tent pitching, and rifle shooting.

ARTILLERY CAMP. The Artillery oamp is situated on the bank of tho Little Ko-wai river. The camp is about half a mile from the railway line, the staff quarters being on a bhiff overlooking the river-bed. The main camp is situated on a plateau, and is completely sheltered on all sides by high trees. In the centre of the camp the horses are picketed, tho tents be ; ng ranged at each side. A dry canteen is being run by Ballin Bros., and tfoo C.E.M.S. have a tent erected.

The detachment of R.X.Z.A. -worked hard 'to get the camp into order for the Territorials, and when the main body arrived this morning they had nothing to do but walk in. Already there were 57 horses in camp, and the

four 18-pounder guns from Christcburch with their waggons and limbers, were already in position. There is also a patenb portable filter, which is attached to every battery- Th sis drawn by two horses, and is a fearsome-look-ing instrument. By tho use- of this finer tho Artillery men aro assured of good -water throughout the camp. Major Maidlow, wiio is in charge of tho camp, arrived on Thursday. xtio E Battery, which h;ul sent forward a small detachment under Sergt. Lee, arrived opposite tho camp at ii.3o a.m. to-day, but it was not until 3.15 that the horses were untrucked at Kowai Bush station. The Battery brought 97 horses with them, which makes mc total number of horses in camp 154.

Lieut.-Colonel Grace, of Nelson, is in command of the artillery brigade. The parade states are:—E. Battery (Christchurch. Capt. [Jeattie, Licuts. Daltry, Loaning and Rogers, and DC men ; tl. Battery (Nelson),'Capt. Adams. Lieuts. Brown, Lucre. Richards, and t>B men; Ammunition Supply Column, Lieuts. Archey and Wickens, and 2'i men; Field Hospital Corps. 5. As the men wore tired after their night journey, little was done in camp to-day. The men were busy attending to the water supply, and some of the officers, with Farrier-Sergt. Stokes, were valuing the 97 horses brought in by the E. Battery. Other men were being trained in trim laying, and although no definite work was laid down it was a busy day. At 2.30 the 11. Buttery arrived from Nelson. The men appeared quite fresh after their long journey by sea and rail, and set to work at once to get the guns untrucked and away to the camp

To-morrow work will commence in real earnest. After breakfast the batteries will take part in a field day with tho Christs Co'lcgo e.«dets and tho (J. ?<l!iridron of the Ist Mounted Rifles Tin's will consist of an advance guard action in pursuit of an imaginary enemy retreating along the West Cons* rond towards Greymouth. Tho enemy will bo represented by targot.% thf cadets representing two battalions o* infantry, whilo the mounted men will form a screen, the whole being.- supported by the batteries. The action should contnin a number of usefuf los?nns, both for Cadets and Territorials. The around over which the batteries will work is "deal for strategical militant purposes.

Tho lire shell nrnotico will probably cpinrnpnco on Tuesday, when tnrjiots wiM bo placed on the surrounding hillsides.

During the untnickinrr of tho horses this mornince one of the Is. Bnttery rot a n.vtv Icnoolr on tho instep, nntl to-dny another mf ,r "hf v r tnken sick and returned to Christchurch.