CLOSING THE CAMPS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 76, 22 December 1917, Page 2

CLOSING THE CAMPS

CHRISTMAS DINNER AT TRENTHAM A CHEERFUL ENGIN&DRIVER The Now Zealand, military training camps at Trentham and i'eatherston closed dow nl'or Christinas yesterday. In tho case of Featliorston, the vacation will continue till January 7. But Trentham staff will have a more or less broken holiday,.duo to the presence of tho Thirty-third Reinforcements, who havo been granted local leave only) and will return to camp oil Boxing Night. Tho closing of Featherston was marked by strenuous transport work of huge proportions. The last train pulled out of the camp yesterday," ■ ana now only the guards and pickets remain. There was something . almost 1 approaching a function at trentham yesterday, when the Thirty-thirds and all other troops, including staffs and horn" service men, wero provided with Cjiri ■' mas checr by the Mayor ind Mayo-'-and Ladies' Committee,.; H acted ab representatives of Auc-iarChrist-ehurch, and Dunedin. Tho men, in turn, entertained their friends, who had gone out to camp to see them, and some most convivial dinners resulted. " Each half hutment; containing 30 men, was provided with a hamper, and each hamper contained a huge Christmas cake, mince pies and tjirts, preserved fruits, .muscatels, raisins, and sweets. A case of fresli fruit was also in the list for each hut, and each man received a packet of cigarettes and a tin . of'tobacco. With the usual rations issued theso made a plentiful meal, for tho soldiers and their friends. The patients in hospital, numbering about -20, were not forgotten, and received the same of hospitality, subject to medical permission. Mrs. Luke was not able to visit moro than one hutment, owing to a weak ankle, hut the Mayor, with Colonel Gibbon, Colonel Potter, Major Siveetzer, and . Lieutenant Luckham, went to each hut and spoke briefly. Ho said that tho city of Wellington alone must not be thanked for remembering the Thirty-thirds. Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin, too, bad been thoughtful of the men. Ho regretted that the dinner was not on tho larger scale of those of former years, but', the uncertainty regarding ..the leave of tho Thirty-thirds had made it.difficult to arrange: and the hamper idea had been decided upon as the one which met the. caso best* Mr. Luko read telegrams of apology., from Mr. Massey and Sir James Allen, the troops were in good spirits and cheered lustily. The Mayoral party included Mrs. Massey and Miss Massey, Mrs. Moorhouso and Mrs. Murphy. Tho throng of next-of-kin began to move trainwards as the afternoon woro on. The Camp Baud marched to the station to play them away, and when the train steamed out there was a stirring scene. The band was playing "Auld Lang Syne," handkerchiefs were waving, and some soldiers on the train cheered. There were few soldiers on tho station, as the Thirty-thirds were hurriedly making toilets and preparing to come to the city in a later tram. But the engine-driver made up tor lack of cheering voico by hoarse cockcrowing and other weird music on tho engine whistle. While the camp was being passed, these ebullitions of goodfellowship continued, and were answered by rousing cheers from men m the camn. Thev were very liaopy next-of-kin on the train,, for. that -their- bo,vs-in Jtlialci ' would shortly 'be^vith"them- again m Wellington. The sun set on an almost empty camp, and the staff, . taking- .deep breaths of relief* rested after the task of getting 1200 men away on leave at short notice.