AT MAHANGA BAY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 97, 17 January 1908, Page 9

AT MAHANGA BAY.

.ENGINEER' ..VOLUNTEERS AT WORK. VISIT TO'THE CAMP. A representative of The Dominion paid a visit to Mahanga Bay last evening, and, unofficially > inspected. No.. 5- Company 'of; the New Zealand Engineer Volunteers,' who are at present undergoing' their annual course of training in the various departments of their work. ; It was with considerable misgiving that the reporter boarded tho Jsnio Scddon at 6 ; p:m.,'en route for the camp. It was blowing a howling'northerly, a heavy sea was running, and ho was only human. However, lie survived to tell tho talo. Onco clear of tho wharves and in the rip of a heavy cross sea, tho sappers of No. o Company were kept moving. Every now and then tho little steamer would give a lurch, a big wave would hit the sido with a thud, leap over, and bestow its. favours with an unappreciated impartiality. At length, the littlo/jetty at Mahanga Bay was. reached, and tho' sappers and their ofßcors clambered over tho sido, and scuttled off to dross for parade. "Fall in" sounded at 7 p.m., and after roll-call tho company split up into detachments. ■ Too signalling squad, supervised by Bombardier Waller and Gunner Moore, R.N.Z.E., put in some useful practice work. Lampsignalling and semaphore exorcises are included in the work. Tho field telegraph section, under Sergt.-Major P.irrcll, R..N.Z.E.-, set to work on tho erection of a field telegraph line to Shelly Bay, tho idea being to •connect up with tho city, and tho field engineering _ section, ■ tho work -of. which is being supervised by Lieutenant Fitzgerald (who is in.command of the company), went oirwith tho task of erecting two observation stations, ■ a crow's nest, and a field observatory. • The engineering section has; already completed the construction of a pontoon', raft, and after completing tho fiold observation stations will. proceed to construct a 'bridge across a small golly behind . tho. camp, and also a water supply , system. Next week practical work in' earthworks, demolitions, and explosives will be undertaken, and tho examinations of the .men will tako place. The attendance at tho camp is verv good, tho being 53 out of the -total strength of 08. , Full musters , are expected during the second week of the encampment, and there is every prospect of tho corps capitatmg on the full strength.' ■ Last evening tho camp was visited by Lieutonant-Colohel l ' Bauchop, 1 Commanding the District, and Captain Simm and Lieutenant Smythe, of the Permanent Force Staff. Lieutenant Smytho is tho examining officer this year for tho Engineer corps, who are competing for the Engineers' Shield throughout the Dominion. 'Ihe healtli of, the men is reported to bo y ®J7 good.' On .Sunday next- tho company will be at homo to visitors, who will bo conveyed to-Mahanga Bay by tho ferry steamer tobar, which leaves the wharf at 2.30 p.m.