NORTHLAND CHILDREN FOR HEALTH CAMP

Northern Advocate, 30 March 1937, Page 5

NORTHLAND CHILDREN FOR HEALTH CAMP

' Happy Travellers By V Today’s Express

Today was v the starting point of a happy adventure for 133 happy young Northlanders, bound for the Health Camp at Motuihi Island. f This is the first occasion upon which children from the Northern . district have benefited from the ~r scheme, and parents, recognising the value of such a pleasant and ... inyigorating change for the little folk, were quick, to take advantage of the opportunity. “There was nothing like it in our schooldays: what a lot we missed, commented one mother this morning. Spiirred by the exciting prospect many of the youngsters began the day very early. -The. most travelled of all were the eight from Herekino and the 16 from'the Whangape Native settlement, .who were up before dawn to start their 250-mile journey. The' first part was done by truck, three children from Umawera linking up en route to the railhead. Miss R. Thomas, Presbyterian deaconess, who was in charge of the; far Northern party, boarded the truck at Okaihau. ' ■’ . Thirty-Nine At Otiria. •Five children entrained at Kawakawa and two more at Moerewa, so that when the expressed pulled out of Otairia 39 were aboard. The complement, of the Par Northern carriage was

completed at Hikurangi, where six additional children were waiting at the platform.

On arrival at Whangarei Miss Thomas reported “all. well,” and the children, some of whom had snatched a wink'of sleep, certainly did not appear at all travel worn. The Whangarei children, also, were early astir. Already thfe 49 local candidates for the trip had been examined either by Dr. D. Cook, medical officer of health, or by private local practitioners, but they still had one more barrier to pass. They assembled at the Whangarei Town Hall at 9.30 this morning fdr the purpose of being further medically examined, with a view to, guarding against infectious diseases. Dr. Cook was able to give all the children a clean bill of health. After the inspection, the Mayor briefly addressed the children, telling them that they were carrying the good name of Whangarei with them, and he was sure that they would bring it back again. ' The Trek Starts. The trek to the station then commenced, and, long before the train arrived, the platform was thronged. ■ Here the escorts —Mi s. T. J, • Evans. •' who, as one of the leading members ; of the Whangarei area committee, has done much to make the trip possible; •her daughter, Miss Mary Evans; and Mrs. A. T. Erainsby—took charge. Assistance in marshalling and entrain- > . ing * the children was given by the Mayor, Mr. L. Morgan, of the post office staff, and members of the local railway staff. . . . A minor difficulty of commissariat was overcome when the Mayor made arrangements for the cost of midday refreshments for the children at Maungaturoto, to be defrayed from the Mayor’s fund. Apart from this, all transport and accommodation charges will be borne by the Health Stamp. Fund. Two special carriages for those from Whangarei southwards were added, and the children were soon seated, gazing with cheerful faces upon mothers, grandmothers and less fortunate younger sisters and brothers without. Only Act Of Grief. The only sound of grief came from a four-year-old, who pleaded with his - mother to let him go too. When the train started to move there was an animated scene with handkerchief and hand waving much in evidence. Two Waipu bairns joined the train at Whangarei, and further down the line children were picked up as follows: Portland 2, Waiotira 11, Paparoa 2, Kaukapakapa 10 Helensville S, and Waimauku 4. On arrival at Auckland, the children will be met by members of the central council, including Mrs. A. D. Jack, Northland’s representative. They will change into uniforms especially provided, and complete their trip to Motuihi Island by launch. Teachers and a doctor or nurse will be in attendance throughout the whole period of the camp.