IN FULL SWING

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 103, 2 May 1914, Page 9

IN FULL SWING

BIG TAKAPAU ENCAMPMENT SIX THOUSAND MEN UNDER CANVAS - ENTERTAINING THE TROOPS. RELIGIOUS BODIES' WORK. (BY TBbßOllAfn.) (FROM Obit SPECIAL REPORTER.) TAKAPAU, This Day. The big Territorial encampment at Ta-kapau. tlie largest of the five at present being held in New Zealand, is now in, full swing. The three thousand men who have been under canvas uince Sunday last were joined by another 2934 men yesterday, the newcomers being drawn from all part 6of the WellingtonTaranaki and Hawkes Bay Provinces. With the mounteds going out for drill and returning to camp and with the Eleventh Infantry Regiment engaged in exercises on the parade ground, Canvastown, with the constant arrival of new troops, presented an unwonted scene of bustle and activity. Although the morning broke threatening, the rum held off .throughout the day, and the whole of the newcomers were able to enter their tents, which had already been erected, dry shed and with dry clothes. Immediately upon ma-king caihp the new arrivals were provided with a hot meal. j YESTERDAY'S ARRIVALS. The new troops who arrived during th& day were afe follow :— At 8 a.m., Fifth Inlantry Regiment and Field Engineers from Wellington City; 11.67 a.m. and 2.20 p.m., Seventh Infantry Regiment from Wellington-West Coaet district; 4.10 p.m., Hawkes Bay Infantry Regiment and F Battery; 6.52 p.m., D Battery and Field Ambulance from Wellington City and Seventeenth Ruahme j Regiment from Wairarapa and Forty Mile Bush. Tho troops which arrived in the morning were given a couree of drill in the afternoon. The lrtountedis were put through a course of attack and defence during the day on the surrounding areas, the second mounteds going over to the foothills of the Ruahines. The infantrymen ih camp completed their course of elementary training while all the units at the same time completed their musketry course. HOST OF AMUSEMENTS. One of the most striking" features of the present encampment is that it ie selfcontaining in the way of amusements. In the past considerable trouble has been created by the troops on leave visiting the neighbouring townships, but there has been a marked absence of complaints in this respect regarding the Takapnu encampment. This is accounted for in two ways. One is that there is a greater orderliness being displayed on the part of the troops, and the other is that so many amusements are provided within the camp limits itself that there is no occasion for the men to go to Takapau township, two miles distant, with one hotel and_ minor attractions. In the way of provision for amusement Canvastowti easily eclipses any town of the same size in New Zealand. If is provided with a- moving picture show, where a double performance is given every night, three first-class canteens, where all kinds of non-intoxicating drinks, sweets, and tobacco can be obtained, a shooting-gat-levy. and a host of social marquees, where all sorts of table games, gramaphone s<!> lections, literature and ' magazines, au<i writing material are provided free of charge. As the amusement portion of Canvastown lies at the entrance to the camp site, and to, get to Takapau those on leave have to pass these hospitable doorways, the curious are attracted, and there has been a very small proportion of cases where they have not remained. Throughout every night the whole of the social marquees and picture shows am thronged with Territorials, even standing room in many cases not being available. The whole of the social marquees have been erected by the various religious organisations^ who a,re reserving of the warmest praise for the manner in which they are catering for the comfort and amusement of our citizen soldiers while they are in camp. The Presbyteries of Wanganui, Wairarapa, and Hawkes Bay have, each provided a large marquee, the Salvation Army one, the Church of England (Wellington diocese) two, the Roman Catholics one, and the V.M.C.A. one. The officers in charge are as follow : — Presbyterian marquee, the Revs. J. A. 'Asher (Na.pier), A. Thompson (Masterton), and G. Budd (Feildii)g) ; Salvation Army marquee, Brigadier Hoare and Ensign Garner; Church of England marquees. Rev. W. H. Walton (curate of St. Thomas's. W6llington) ; Roman Catholics' marquee, V<?ry Rev. Dean M'Kentta (Vicar-Gen-eral) and Father Maloney. In addition to the various table games, impromptu concerts are given in some ot the tents, all of which are well lighted, white in the Anglican pavilion such attractions as wrestling and boxing conte&ts have been held. In the Anglican tent on Wednesday night the Rev. H. Robertshawe, a visitor, engaged a volun« teer in several rounds with the gloves, much to the military man's sorrow. The largest marquees are provided by the Church of England and Salvation Army, the former's being capable of accommodating between 400 and 500, and the latter s 500. _ In the erection of these tents the bodies concerned have gone to an expenditure of as much as £120 and £150. They are having their reward in tho appreciation shown by the Territorials in their extensive patronage. The picture show has accommodation lor 800. The Salvation Army's hospitality is concluded each evening with a short half-hour service, in which many of tho Territorials participate. Mass is celebrated at the Roman. Catholic pavilion at 6.30 every morning. CHURCH PARADES. To-morrow the whole of the troops will Attend church parade, .separate services being conducted by the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches, and a combined service by the remainder. The troops will parade for service according to their respective denominations.