Page 2 Advertisements Column 4

Nelson Evening Mail, 29 July 1916, Page 2

Several of the Canterbury men on leave l'rora the training camp speak of the excellent time they were having at the training camps, says the Press. "They feed us well, and y=t they are making us fit," remarked one private who hailed from Featherston Camp. "We are at present under canvas, but the recent wet weather has in no way made us uncomfortable. In fact, every thing is as comfortable as one could wish, and wc who are new, as it were, to the life of a soldier, can find ro fault with the New Zealand end of it at any rate."

A farmer in a district "somewhere" in Feilding, to quote a war term, impressed by the great demand for wool, gathered up a bale of stuff from the bush (says the Star). 'Hla was convinced that any old, stuff would do for export, but even he was puzzled in putting a price upon it. So he did not reserve it at 14d per lb. "'l'll leave the price to the discretion of the expert in Wellington." he declared. The city man was a. wit who did not go wool-gather-ing. Here was his reply; "This bale of utuwai seed is a fair sample, but it is a pity that it has, got some wool mixed witli it." Great'reply, that.

Writing to a friend in Wellington, a New Zealand soldier on active service gives some interesting impressions of the country in which he is fighting, says the Post. Inter alia he says: "We are among the ruins of what was once a big city, and, believe me, here you properly see the ravages of war. ©uildings and streets blown to atoms ! I have read a bit about it in New Zealand, but it was never pictured as it is seen in reality. It makes one wonder if there is anything such as civilisation left in the "" world. (Homes abandoned ; furniture, clothing, and such like, intact, but ruined. We are billeted in a house, and arc very cosy. There are beds, crockery, tables, and chairs, but the building is ruined beyond' repair, being full of shell holes. Windows are conspicuous by the : r absence. One cannot write a letter without being disturbed by the guns, firing all over the show. We are not allowed about in larger parties than twos or threes, for you will soon know that Fritz knows too. Churches get a sad run round here. There is a saying : 'As safe as a church,' but I give you my word it is the most unsafe thing in these quarters. I suppose you in New Zealand (good, old Dominion) are scanning the papers eagerly, but it also hits us hard when we see our best pals go down before our eyes, 'Sunday is the same as week-days here, except for the ringing of the church bells." ,

'Twas a neat "scrap" that happened the other evening after the arrival of IDunollie train {states the Gteymouth. Evening Star). Standing on tihe footpath were two returned soldiers who had fought on Gallipoli. They were talking with some friends when two burly coalcutters from the Red' Fed centre came along, one of whom accosted the gentleman in khaki in this derisive manner, "What do you think you were fighting for at the front?" The answer came quick and sharp as the ping of a rifle shot, "For such blanky wasters and shirkers as you'." The coalman apparently did not appreciate the retort and immediately shot out his right, only to strike the atmosphere. The smaller athletic khaki man neatly side-stepped, and you could) hear the thud as his right landed on the other's face. He was up in a second, .but the soldier was on his guard this time. In the meantime, the second soldier was heavily engaged with the second brawny one from the coal area. Training in the noble art orevailed, only one being in it—that one the soldier. It was a lesson, and one of the finest recruiting speeches that has; ever been delivered in Greymouth, and most forcibly put. A lady interjected a remark to one of the soldiers, but she was told one or two home truths tlhat made her shrivel and fade away. The consensus of opinion was that the "scrap" was a beauty and worth paying a ifirst-class fare from Otira and £5 admission at the door to see it." Readers know, of course, of the large numbers of patriotic miners who have gone to the front.

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