MOUNTED RIFLE CAMP

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16347, 23 May 1927, Page 13

MOUNTED RIFLE CAMP

I SUCCESS AT TOLAGA BAY IH EXCEPTIONAL KEENNESS SHOWN The first annu.nl camp of A Squadron, East Coast. Mounted J titles, and the first camp for mounted men held in this district for some years, was conducted ati Tolaga Bay during last week, and concluded on Saturday. The ration strength was <>l, including Captain V. Sugden, in command of the training, and Captain Burge, area commander. Lieut. Wilson, of Tolaga Bay, was O.C. Squadron. The camp was held on the Tolaga Bay Domain, an unusually good site, with a sandy soil, which, though cut up by the training operations, did not become wet underfoot. A feature of the muster at the opening of the camp was that every member of the squadron brought his own mount. The weather was exceptionally tine, and no time was lost through rain. The training course consisted of 'the usual drill movements, mounted and a loot, with musketry find Hotchkiss gun practice, the trainees showing great interest in the handling of the rapid-firing gun. The course was completed with” out a single accident to man or horse, and the sick parades failed to provide Dr. Weeks, medical otticer, with a single case. The men were remarkably keen on their work, and experienced officers commented that there was an unusual absence o# delay in the response to calls, the turn-out being smart and prompt on every occasion. The men were divided into three troops, all slightly under strength, and mere was- a° fine spirit of emulation shown m their work. The Maori troop, for which enrolments greatly exceeded the number required, was compared favorably with either of the others, and through the whole camp He presence of a leavening of men who liad seen service abroad in the Great \Var was felt. 'J'lm public of Tolnge Bay showed a great, interest in the camp, and was libei.il m donations to the cookhouse supplies. enabling flie trainees to live “like fighting cocks." A military sports meeting was held on Friday afternoon, and prizes were awarded for a variety of events the prizes being provided from the profits of the military ball, field on the previous evening, a church parade, field in the camp on the day after the assembly, was attended by "many resi dents of Tolaga Bay, as'well as the troops, and the Itev. Mr. Smith an exHommander of the Royal Navy, gave "a. highly appropriate address, ‘the success of the first, camp of the newly-form-ed squadron was attributable, not only o the whole-hearted manner in which the trainees took their work, but also L> the keen interest displayed by menu tiers ot the general public, ‘ *