CADETS UNDER CANVAS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 6048, 5 November 1906, Page 9

CADETS UNDER CANVAS.

ST. PATRICK’S COLLEGE BOYS AT TR.ENTHAM. A WEEK’S USEFUL WORK. The annual camp of instruction of the -St. Patrick’s College cadets is now being held at Trent,ham. One hundred strong, the boys left town by train on Tuesday last, and on arrival at Tren tham, pitched camp. The businesslike manner in yhich this important operation was performed, and the gen eral orderliness of the tents, shows that tho hoys 'have been well instructed: in this part of “camp duties.” Keen competition exists for prizes offered for the best-kept tents, and some of them would form an excellent object-lesson in neatness to much older “citizen-sol-diers.”

The camp is supervised by the Rector of the College, Rev. Father Keogh, and the two cadet corps’ strengths are No. 1; 54, under Captain O’Connor and lieutenants J. Ilyan and Millar; No. 2: 46, under Captain Seymour and Lieutenants Duggan and Stewart. Reveille sounds at 5.30 a.m. daily, at 6.30 the boys engage in practice at the butts, and at 8 they go. to breakfast. This over, the camp is cleaned up, at 10.30 there is tent inspection, and at 11.15 parade for drill. Dinner is served a-p 1 p.m., at 2.30 more drill commences, and at 4 another spell of target practice is taken. Six o’clock finds the lads ready for tea, at 8.30 “last post” sounds, and at 8.45 “lights out.” All the usual guard and other duties incidental to camp work are carried out punctiliously “by the book,” rank and file alike striving to do their best and make the most use of their opportunities. The boys are. instructed in drill and duties by Lieutenant McDonald, and do him credit. Commissariat arrangements are all attended to by the cadets themselves, the boys taking' their turns at cooking and orderly duties, and, judging by the reporter’s experience, they are no mean exponents of the' gentle art of the chef . thi Friday, Colonel Webb, Officer Commanding the visited the camp, accompanied by Major Joyce r>> Captain Hughes, D.S.O. These officers expressed themselves highly pleased with all they saw, and complimented Father Keogh on the smart turn-out of his officers and boys, and their evident attention to work. Timio is found, in spite of a fairly full day of work, for a little freedom for recreation, and swimming, cricket, or rambling is indulged in by the boys at stated times, each according to his bent. All appreciate the respite from the routine of school, and the bracing outdoor life will doubtless prove its benefit to the lads when they return to their studies this week. They, “break camp” to-morrow afternoon.