This is not to say that it was idle, for soldiers are working at their hardest when things are quiet, and it is the best-ordered and disciplined camp that provides the least news.
The men were all busy at their drill, and from the beach there came the sharp rapid reports of four machine guns, on which men from both machine-gun sections were practising, the lead being fired out to sea.
Fifty infantry men arrived from Palmerston North and 70 from Canterbury and this brought the total number of foot soldiers in camp up to 1010.
This still leaves about 60 to come in, and the full complement will be made in a day or two.
The harness for the use of the infantry transport, etc., has not yet arrived, but is expected daily.
Beautiful weather is making camp life pleasant, and the health of all the men is quite good.
Yesterday morning, at 8 o'clock, the s.s. Ruapehu, now disguised as ''Troopship No. 5,'' arrived at Port Chalmers.
A guard from Tahuna Park was put on as soon as she arrived, and persons without passes are being rigorously excluded.
Colonel McDonald and Captain Morris, embarkation officers, boarded and traversed the length and breadth of the ship.
It is beautifully fitted up in every way, and ready to take the men away.
The men's quarters have built-in bunks, and there is a fine mess-room for their use.
There are separate cabins and mess-rooms for the officers and for the non-commissioned officers.
There are hospitals, a guard room, a kit room, etc., and all the stalls are ready for the horses.
The ship is busy coaling, and will take in some 1000 tons at Port.
The date of the arrival of the other transport appears to be unknown.
The people of Dunedin are to be given an opportunity of seeing the mounted men at their best on Saturday afternoon, when they will go through the town at 3 o'clock in the formation in which they will route march on the Continent.
They will have with them the whole of the transport which will carry their supplies, and which will be horsed by the draughts secured in Otago.
These are the finest draughts that have ever been seen in any Otago camp, and are the pick of the horses.
The wagons are exactly the same as are being used by the British army on the Continent today.
Mr A. Moritzson yesterday received the following report from Cromwell: - ''There are about 80 men now employed on the railway construction work, and in all probability the number will be considerably increased shortly.
The men are working in a number of gangs, the size of each depending upon the class of country upon which they are operating.
The capable manner in which Mr Paterson, the engineer in charge, is carrying out the work is generally recognised.
One section of the work, about two miles outside of Clyde, is now completed, and other sections between Vercoe's and Clyde are expected to be finished in about a month from date.
The heavy rock work at Clyde is about completed, and the men who have been employed upon this work will be removed to the next large rock-face adjacent to Champagne Billy's.
The gang which is furthest up the gorge is now working upon a section on Pioneer Flat.
The people of the district are pleased to see the energy displayed in the carrying out of this work, and if the number of men is increased, as is expected, there will be little doubt that the forecast of the Hon.
Wm. Fraser, Minister of Public Works, will be realised, and the railway completed within the time he announced.''
- ODT, 28.8.1914.
