IN CAMP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20057, 21 September 1920, Page 6

IN CAMP.

OFFICERS AND NON-COMS. AT BURNHAM. (By “ THE ORDERLY.”) The holding of the first of three camps for officers and non-commission-ed officers of the Territorial and Senior Cadet Forces at the Burnham Industrial School has caused the old buildings and grounds to present a much more animated appearance than they have done for months past. Between sixty and seventy officers and noncoms. are at preset in camp there. The camps arc compulsory, hut the trainees may choose which of the three tbev will attend. The main building is being used'as a barracks, the old dormitories and dining-rooms being used as sleeping quarters and mess-rooms. The manager’s residence has been converted into quarters for the Commanding Officer. ' Breakfast is at 7.30, and the first parade is at 8.30. 'Hie training is practically confined to infantry training, physical and recreational training, and musketry training. 'Hipro are three squads, A Squad, composed of officers, B quad, composed of infantry, and G Squad, composed of mounted rifles and A.S.O. The morning is divided into three periods, each squad taking a different subject, and there is a. ‘‘smoke-C 1 ’’ about half .way through. From 12 to 1.30 is the dinner hour, and then there arc two periods and a half-hour rest from 3.45 to 4.15, and the next hour is devoted to lectures by trainees. Each trainee has to lecture for fifteen minutes on a. subject dealing with military training, so that four different men speak every day. From 5.15 to 7.30 is.tea time, and from 7.30 to 8.30 a lectureis given by a member of the Permanent Staff. On Saturday afternoon a tabloid athletic sports meeting was held, teams from each squad competing for championship points. The sports comprised various forms of jumping, putting the weight, and a short sprint, and were a great success in every way. The A.5.0., by the way, were the champions of the day. On Sunday a church parade was held at the little church which was built for the Industrial School. Yesterday afternoon was devoted to the carrying out of a sham attack, the three squads together representing an advancing force of infantry and Lewis gunners. The movements w'ere first explained by Captain Jennings by means of diagrams, and tho squads were afterwards marched out to the playing fields, where the movement was gone through. This afternoon it is intended to execute another similar nnoViement. To-morrow will be devoted to a summary of the week’s work and the return, to town will be made by the evening train. Everyone at tho camp is enjoying himself and, though it took two days to get a_ satisfactory water supply, the camp is now being carried on without {i hitch and many will bo sorry to leave it to-morrow. It may bo mentioned, by the way, that the ration for each man per day is about 2oz under filb, of food, so that even the healthiest appetite must have been satisfied. Many of the trainees were very much in need of a week’s continuous instruction by their showing at the beginning of the course, and it is thought that all will go back much improved. The recreational training has been very popular. In addition to Saturday’s tabloid sports band-ball and basket-ball aro played, and’ the latter is proving extremely popular. Special mention must be made of the good work of the Y.M.G.A., which has established a canteen and recreation rooms at the camp. One room has been fitted up as a writing room, with pens, ink and paper supplied, and in another a ping pong table and a bagatelle board has been placed, as well as chess and draught boards. The canteen is open between parades, and is proving very popular. Fruit, sweets, soft drinks and tobacco are here available. A writing room has also been fixed up for the conveni mce of officers, whilst many pictures have been pinned on the walls and do much to relieve their barenessAll those in Ihe camp appreciate very much these efforts, which have been made for their comfort, and Mr Colchin, who is in charge of the arrangements, may well be proud of his efforts. DEFENCE NOTES. The opening function of the Cadet N.C.O.’s Club will take place on October 2, and will take the form of a social gathering. The Cadet N.0.0.’s dance, which was held in the Orange Hall last Wednesday, was very successful — bo successful that it has been decided to hold another dance in a short time. The Senior Cadet hockey team which has taken part in the local third grade competition, will go up. to Wellington next Friday to play against a team representing the Wellington Cadets. Col-our-Sergeant Wilson has been appointed manager of the team, which is composed of Scott, Taylor, Smart, Sandford, Brettell, Richmond. Hartigan, M’Cutcheon, Cornish, Mallett and Wilson. Scott is captain and secretary and Taylor is vice-captain. The team can be relied upon to give a good account of itself. It will return by Saturday evening’s ferry boat.