Ohaeawai Boys' Band Hold Enjoyable Camp

Northern Advocate, 18 January 1944, Page 5

Ohaeawai Boy s' Band Hold Enjoyable Camp

Triumphal martial music stirred Ohaeawai out of its seemingly comatose state when Mr. Frank Griffin’s boys’ band marched back into town to the strain of a lively quick-step on Thursday last, when returning from a most successful week in camp at Paihia. • • • ■ At Paihia, the boys were permitted to use military huts, lent by the Public Works Department which were self-con-tained. The two eldest boys in the band volunteered to do the cooking, and did very well. Sheep, vegetables, eggs, etc. were kindly donated by the boys’ band adimrers, and the visiting lady campers on the beach were very kind in sending the boys plenty of cakes, scones and other delicacies.

Semi-military rule was established in the camp. Orderly sergeants were in charge each day, fatigue parties were appointed, and everything went like clock work. Lieutenant Moyle, late instructor to northern military camps, who is now headmaster of the Oromahoe school, gave the boys an hours’ instruction daily in band marching and counter-marching, with and without instruments. They became quite proficient at the end of a week’s training. On Sunday, the lads were entertained, on a launch trip for two hours around the bay and, in the evening they gave a concert at the Patriotic Hall, assisted by various local artists. The boys had a wonderful hearing at the concert, and a collection of £5 was made for the band. This sum was handed over to the Patriotic Committee. On the /Tuesday night, the Waitangi Maoris staged a dance in honuor of the band, at which the latter played most of the musical items, being doubly encored by the natives. The boys received a great welcome everywhere. Mr. Eric Broberg, the local storekeeper, was very generous with his various donations of icecreams, whilst the launch proprietors, Messrs Fuller Bros, reduced their launch tariff rates. On Wednesday night, the boys again took the launch to Russell, and gave a concert on the wharf, the voluntary collection made being again handed to the Patriotic Committee. Early on Thursday morning, the date of their breaking camp, the boys marched to the end of the beach towards Opua, from which point they played their farewell quick-step along the waterfront back to camp. These youngsters, all school-boys, voted the week’s camping a perfect function, and are eagerly looking forward to the next camp. Mr. Frank Griffin had rather an unenviable job in superintending, marshalling and, generally tutoring and supervising the whole of the matters in connection with the encampment, but. being as keen as the lads themselves, he was the “fight man in the right Place,”