SAILORS ON LEAVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18707, 13 May 1924, Page 10

SAILORS ON LEAVE.

| COMFORTS AT THE Y.M.6.A. " - '' •'*»*" ,* V' * , • " ' ' > : ABOUT 600 BEDS PROVIDED. | Elaborate : provisions made; by : the Y.M.C.A. for the comfort of the sailors while on shore have been fully availed of. Two. hundred ■ bedsteads have : been provided in the ' association's gymnasium and other pairts of ; the building, while at the : Drill Hall, the > Y.M.C.'A.,/ in ; cooperation: with Government departments, have provided 400 beds, all free of charge. Nearly all; the ..accommodation is taken up nightly. . * ■ There is an amazing demand for rej freshments /at the : Y.M.C.A, each afterj noon . and evening, when the building. is [ thronged V, with / men. IS Lady '. helpers are | kept busy nerving . refrie4fiimien.t(S from four;- in the . afternoon ; till 10 ■; o'clock *at night. • Then association officers take over the i ; work,, andremain in ' attendance till 1.30 a.m., by which time the ; last «sailor ■ has & returned >to his temporary home.' The morning call is .at six o'clock, as < the men ; have . to; be on board f their . ships by. seven. . i - :: The other ': facilities provided by the association,' such as billiards, ping-pong, reading ; and writing, are greatly appreciated ?by v the men, who speak in glowing terms of . the ... kindnesses., extended to them. The association authorities in their turn pay: a tribute to the orderly behaviour of the men, who have given no . trouble whatever. ° VISITS TO ROTORUA. FIRST PARTY LEAVES TO-DAY. Rear-Admiral Hubert Brand and staff, 20 officers, andl3oo. men of ths Special . Service Squadron ; will leave by special train at 7.5 a.m. to-day, on a visit to '-, Rotorua. The £ party ; will. return tomorrow evening about /■ 8 o'clock. . A ; further party of 20 officers and 400 men will leave for Rotorua on Thursday at 7.5 a.m. • arid, return on Friday at 8 p.m. The residents of : Hamilton, have invited ; 350 petty officers and men to visit that ;town, and ; that number will leave at 7.5 a.m. on Wednesday, returning to the city at 10.15 p.m. on the same day. ; The Rotorua Borough Council is making special provision to entertain the sailors, : and give them a good time. The admiral and his officers and men will be officially J welcomed : at " the station. The f housing' question has been solved : by utilisation :of the . King George Hospi- * tal. ■ ' ;•/•/■ v -• . - ■ The ; Maoris of "Ohinemut/u and Whaka- ' frewarewa are displaying great rivalry, entertainments Being : prepared in " both : places. AMBULANCE STATIONS.- ' -, r it| * ' THREE ON LINE OF' MARCH. In ■ view; of ' the possibility of accidents to spectators of; the ceremonial march this morning, 'the- St.' John Ambulance will have stretcher depots at Endean s Build- ; . ings at ' the : foot of I Queen Street, at the ; E and ; F.-Piano 5 Company »• building. ! Queen •" Street; and ■/■. at,- , the'-J ambulance station, Rutland f Street./?; Ambulance men will be - stationed between the ; 3tretcher depots to render first ; ' lid if -necessary. ■•• Although the / St. ; John Ambulance has ? established , two rest rooms for trie use of / worrier., and: children during the rush Of Fleet Week, • very little - use has so far : been ■ made of them./ Mothers may leave their little - children at : these stations, un der the cares<Ai trained nurses and can also i obtain; hot * watery and smlk- The 1 stations open vat ; present are situated on Prince's-/ Wharf, and;. ; at ; the ambulance station, Rutland Street/but the ambulance authorities five > prepared to open further rest rooms if k the -demand should warrant i this.-;ro\