INSPECTION AT TAKAPAU

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 6 May 1914, Page 5

INSPECTION AT TAKAPAU

BY TELEGRAPH —PKESS ASSOCIATION.

TAKAPAU CAMP, May 5. General Sir lan Hamilton inspected the camp at Takapau in glorious weather. He. was accompanied by his staff and General Godley. The Hon. J. Allen, Hon. H. D." Bell, Hon. W. Fraser, and Messrs J. H. Scott and D. Buick, M.P.'s, were also in attendance. The. General.arrived at 2.30, and during the afternoon inspected' the machine guns firing ball cartridges, watched'the mounted men in action, and also the infantry and artillery-bri-gade.. From "a spectacular point of view, the proceedings were not particularly striking, but from a soldier's viewpoint most interesting. The General took a keen interest in the doings of all the troops, asking questions of the officers and complimenting them upon the work that he had seen.

In an interview, the General "said the men who had come under his notice were of a very fine stamp. They were all country troops, and men who in some senses were half soldiers already. The mounted men could ride splendidly. The only thing that struck him was the horses were pretty cheap, and that men were inclined to get to the bottom of them quickly in the regiments he had seen. The Manawatu Mounted.Rifles were remarkably well mounted. The General inspected the camp and cook-houses, ar>d expressed himself as well pleased with what he saw, the organisation being most admirable. General training wor,k in the cam D is steadily proceeding. With'the improved weather the men are taking interest in the task, and no complaint is now heard and there is no likelihood of the recurrence of the incident of Sunday night. • The whole trouble seems to be solely due to the fact of extra pay being wanted for the extra, day involved in getting to and from the camp. The matter is being enquired into. To-morrow a big field day will bo held. ■ . # ■■ , _. ' A case of diptheria orcjrrred to-day in the Napier battery. There ar<? several minor casualties, but nothing serious. . .