4/6/1916
Dear Folk.
Another Sunday has arrived and a glorious day it is, not a breath of wind & the sun beating in with a warmth that would make one go to sleep in a very short time. It is only the second real decent day we have had since last Sat. Last week I only had one days drill outside, the others were out three, but I was doing fatigue duties, pick & shovel, washing up at the cook shop etc, two days were spent in the huts as it was too wet to go outside. Yesterday morning we had a route march of from eight to ten miles, & during that period we passed through some of the finest country I have seen yet quite the best so far in this part and most of it has just been cleared & not ploughed and the feed is still quite fresh. We left camp at a quarter to nine & got back in time for dinner, or rather a little after half past eleven, and only had two spells. Our next move is to be out to Papawai to do our shooting & we have to march that also it is about nine miles I believe. We are to go out if not tomorrow one day early in the week or not till next Saturday.
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This place is within a mile or so of Greytown so if we behave ourselves we may happened on some fine nights while there. Since writing I have been through Featherston but it is not much of a place. I got leave to go out there last night but did not when the time arrived. A large number of the Sixteenth Infantry came up here from Trentham yesterday the rest come up on Saturday next. Most of the Southland boys are up but Cp. Hamilton is not amongst them they all think Trentham is a long way ahead of this place. This is certainly going to be very dirty with the horses in the winter not one of us are looking forward to it after last weeks showing up. We take over the horses when we come back from shooting and have a straight run through with them that is instead of having them when we come back from leave we have them now for six weeks. I received your letter last night and was really surprised at some of its contents. I do not think there will be anything wrong with Kate’s wire & hope there is not it would be to bad if anything like that should happen.
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There is evidentally a great shift on amongst the settlers down that way. The Calvi-ites are getting a move on at last are they I suppose you will be able to say where they are going & who our neighbours are next time you write. I wonder if they will all be married with families, or will there be some Bachelor’s. “Cp.S.” Mr Tapper must have kept his affair pretty quiet when none of us knew anything about it. About Ernies telegram I think it is just a bit late now to think about transferring it would mean that I would have to join the eighteenth & start again at the beginning & that would be pretty hard after two months. However it is well to keep in mind and if this should become too manotonous to give some of them a go. I certainly would not try to get into the A.S.C. I have no liking for that job at all. I dare say the heads will be home from Dunedin when this arrives with their pockets well filled, what a fine spin the Southlanders had again, there must have been some fine fat dividends sticking out. Saw the result of the first three races yesterday Rorkers Drift is keeping up his reputation.
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My word what a smacking up that was with the Fleet’s the other day things were just pretty middling were’nt they it would not take many hits like that to make a weak spot would it. The enemy must have caught us napping this time or else the wind is not in our favour. Lottie will be settled down again I suppose, the mail was not delivered last night as usual or I daresay there would have been some more mail for I. What about poor old Jules did he go for the trip he is in a fine position now that he is free to accept any invitations that may be hung out to him. I wonder if he would come up as far as this if I wrote down & asked him. There is nothing much to write about nowadays except to say that all is well. Since the weather took up my cold has improved wonderfully and in another day or two I should be free from it again. What a little Tart Jessie must be now, those she gave you the other day were stunners. I have no more to say just now so will close. Hoping this finds all as well as it leaves me.
Ever Your brother
Chas.
I suppose you will have received the P.C. by this time. I am living right on the outside right of the picture third row opposite the blacksmith in distance. Ch.
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Enclosed is photo of the boys in my hut but some are absent it is a real good photo of all of them. The big fellow on my left three away is Kirppatric.
Ch.
