CAMP LIFE.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5481, 30 April 1917, Page 2

CAMP LIFE.

TE AROHA SOLDIER ENJOYS IT. PREPARING FOR LONG ROUTE MARCH. Private J. P. Kirbyj of the 28th Reinforcements, writes interestingly to the Editor, from the camp of the N.Z. Medical Corps section at Palmerston North. We make some extracts :

, “We have a lovely camp h9re at , the Showgrounds, all under cover aud , right in the middle of the town. I , am fit and well —never felt better in my life. Camp life has done me a lot of good. I have put on weight since I came in and am not at all backward at mealtimes. Palmerston is a lovely town and the people are very good to us. We had a great time here on Anzac Day. We were marched to the Opera House, where patriotio speeches were delivered, after which we were given general leave until 11 p.m. The route of march was a mile long, and six bands accompanied, us. And the crowd!—I had never seen so many, people together before. They gave ns a smokeconcert at night. The Auzac Club* , is a. splendid place. “ Well, I will give you a little bit of camp life. Turn out at 5 a.m , hot coffee, bread aud jam ; fa’l in at 6, drill for esi hour, breakfast at 7.15, fall in at jS Lut r a'uty for the day, dismiss then till 9. Parade for inspection, £rill and lectures occupy an then comes smoke-oh for half an^hour. Then we drill till noon. Lunch consists of bread, butter, jam, cheese and tea. We have nothing to do up to 2 p.m, when we fall in again for drill and route march. We finish at 4 o'clock for good if not on upecial duty. Tea, at 5 p.m., consists of roast beef, green vegetables., potatoos, bread, butter, jam, sago and tapioca pudding. So you see camp life is not so bad—l am enjoying it. The drill and outdoor life does one good. We have had lovely weather here. I have not seen rain since 1 left Te Aroha. We have a fine lot of fellows here, and play football every evening, followed by concerts. We had W. E. Barnard here in camp for a few days. We have also E. S. Pretty. 0. H. Richardson has gone to Narrow Neck camp.

“We leave here on Friday on a big route march to Wanganui,. 60 miles away. They say we will do it in two days. We are to have three days' rest there before returning. It will be a record for all the camps if we can do it, so we are getting our feet ready for the journey. I feel sure I can do the trip, but it will be cold at nights camped on the hills. Our officers are taking great pride in us. They do not want a man to drop out. One band is to accompany us, so it should be just alright. I hope to see a few more Te Aroha boys follow iu my footsteps. Kind regards to all 1 Te Aroha friends, not forgetting thebowlers, the Chamber of Commerce,. and the Borough Council. By the' way, lam pleased to see the good ; Council elected. Te Aroha ihouM certainly go ahead " * ° .