IT BATTERY UNDER CANVAS.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13381, 2 April 1912, Page 6

IT BATTERY UNDER CANVAS.

The H Battery went into camr> at tfirhmond Park on Saturday, "23rd March, under tho command of Major Giace, assisted by Captain Spencer Smith, R.A., and a staff of R.N.Z.A. mm, ru:d two officers of that forc^ Tht-i-o were prcsrat also, Major Clayton cihiel veterinarian officer of the district' On Sunday, March 24th tho BatWv tell m f'.ir church parade, and proceeded to the Anglican Church, where; service was conducted by the Bishop of Nelson who is the chaplain of the corps. ' .'Hit. usual training was earned out on Amu day and Tuesday. Tho standing orders- included rev<yJle at o.3Ci, followed by physical drill i'cr the whole strength, after which c<une stable, then breakfast, A parade was held iroin 9-' a.m. till 11 a.m., then stables again. Dinner was timed for 12.30 p.m: and the Battery toraund again at 2 o'clock, drilling till -1 p m' when followed evening stables. Tea was taken at 6 p.m., and a lecture preceded "last post" at 9.30' p.m. On Wednesday the Battery went out to shoot in the mprninf, the •hic-f umpire being Captain Spencer Smith, staff officer to General Godlev. The held service practice was carried out, four series feeing fired' which produced geod effect. '

Thursday was occupied with usual instructional work at all parades. On Friday the Battery went out to shoot again, and also .on Saturday morning. , In all, nine series-Were fired every officer being .tested in the capacity of battery commander, and the shooting was very good considering the nature of tho equipment, and the difncVi <&,?" tne" tar£ots ranged upon. In all 200 rounds: wero fired. ■••'.. •Following head-quarters instructions the amusements-of .the men. when <Jf duty were given every consideration, On I<i iday evening the men heW a concert which was a great success. On Saturday afternoon a sports meeting took place, to which the- residents of Richmond were invited, and in tho evening a moving picture; entertainment was screened in. the grand stand dining room. ta

Itwas expected that General Godlev would inspect the Battery, but owing to the miscarrying of an important te]eg™m the inspection did not take place. The Battery broke camp on Sunday, and marched into town in the afternoon the men being dismissed at the Drill Shed at 6 p.m. The officer commanding the Battery wish™ to express to the committee c:f the Nelson A. and P. Association his thanks for the use of 'tho campinpground at Richmond Park; and of the' buildings which were placed at his disposal. ■ ... / Tli(. camp was a great success. The recruits were most assiduous in their duties, and showed eivery indication of becoming excellent soldiers, and with another week's training would' have 'benefited exceedingly as they displayed j full knowledge of the routine work' at thd end of tho camp. The horses sup--j plied were of; a good stamp, and were taken over on behalf of the Defence Department by Major Clayton, who, at the* conclusion of the camp, testified that they were in a better' condition than

when ho took them over. The mess arrangements, wt'ro carried out by Quar-tor-Master " Sergeant Wimsott, and in ©very way were up to the standard required by the service, thera being no complaints made by men in respect to their food. Tho sanitary arrangements complied strictly with' regulations and there was no sickness during the week, the only case which was attended to by the. medical oiftoor, being one of accident.

At the termination all ranks 'seemed to regret the conclusion of the training, and would willingly have remained in camp for a longer period than that required by the Defence Act.