Some of the spectators knew from the newspapers that the khaki-clad young men were only Territorials going to camp, but others, more careless readers, noticed the commotion and hastened to the spot to have a last look at men who, they concluded precipitantly, were off to the front.
A long line comprising some 450 men was formed in Dowling street about 10 a.m., and, headed by their brass band, marched along High street to the railway station.
A large number of people gathered on the platform, and punctually at 10.30, the scheduled time, the long train drew out with its heavy burden, the band playing gaily in a midway carriage.
At Hindon a vigorous onslaught was made on the refreshment rooms, which did a roaring trade in tea and sandwiches for hungry Territorials.
Shortly after 1 o'clock the train emerged from the rocky precipitous hills and stopped at Sutton station.
Here the men detrained and marched off two and a-half miles along a dusty road to the site of the camp.
The general work of the camp will comprise the individual training of the soldiers in field duties, such as outposts, rear and advance guards, and attack.
Lectures in the evenings will form an important feature of the training work.
• ''It seems to me that the problem is a very simple one,'' remarked Dr R. M. Beattie when speaking of the question of whether school study is detrimental to the health of girls, at a meeting of the Society for the Health of Women and Children at Auckland on Monday night (says the Herald).
''We have to face the fact that the whole civilised world is demanding a higher standard of education. The man of to-day is better educated than his brother of a generation ago, and he is going to be better educated in the future. He is, then, not going to be satisfied with a mere doll or a pot scrubber for a wife. He will demand of the girl that she shall not only be able to take care of the kitchen, if necessary, but that she shall also be fit to become his companion ... The girl of the future must reach a higher standard of education than the girl of to-day, and this, I maintain, can be done without in any way impairing her health.''
• The mustering operations on the Bellamy Station have resulted (says the Tuapeka Times) in several ''hermits'' being brought in, all of which carried heavy fleeces.
One of these was a wether which had been out for five years on Black Hill.
Several attempts had previously been made to bring this wanderer in, but without success.
Mr W. Leslie, who had charge of the mustering operations on this occasion, succeeded in bringing him in.
When the sheep was shorn, it was found that the fleece weighed close on 50lb.
• A party of Maoris paid their annual visit recently to the islet which lies off Moeraki in quest of mutton birds.
One hundred and four birds were obtained, rather less than the usual haul, as the ubiquitous weasel has made its appearance on the islet.
It is a testimony to the enterprise of the weasel (says the North Otago Times), that its predilection for mutton birds' eggs should induce it to swim the strait of 400yds which separates the islet from the mainland.
• A distinctive mark is to be provided for licensed motor vehicles in Christchurch as at present when they are out there is nothing to indicate whether they are registered or not (says the News).
A plate is to be fixed to all licensed motor vehicles, carrying the word ''Christchurch'' in letters 1 1/2in high by 3/4in wide.
The letters and registering figures will be white on a black ground. - ODT, 17.4.1915.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
