Y.M.C.A. BOYS' DIVISION CAMP

Otago Witness, Issue 3448, 13 April 1920, Page 8

Y.M.C.A. BOYS' DIVISION CAMP

The boys' camp at Waihola was undoubtedly the .most successful camp held under the auspices of the Dunedin Young Men's Christian Association. _ Fifty-one boys journeyed to the camp site on Friday morning. The spirit of all the campers was high, and everyone was benefited by the open-air life. The success of the camp was due largely to the generous help of the local residents.. Donations of cash, fruit, jam, straw, firewood, and*other camp necessities wfre much appreciated by the leaders and campers, while quite a number assisted in the activities of the camp. Swimming and boating were the most popular pastimes, local residents assisting by allowing the boys the use of their boats. The discipline of the camp was maintained by a series of tent competitions. Two competitions were held—junior and older boys, who competed in football, swimming, athletics, tent designs and neatness, camp duties, and general behaviour. The camp was controlled by Messrs E. A. Nicol and J. V. Hannah as camp directors, assisted by Messrs Bates. Alexander, Harris, and Chfpchill as tent leaders. G. Restieaux, B. Swmton, W. Ruffell, A. Rutherford, and W. Phelan wer» appointed th# respective tent captains. Morning and evening prayers were conducted by the leaders, thus endeavouring to assist the spiritual life of the boys>. A programme was arranged for each day as follows: —Friday: A good game of cricket was witnessed by local residents between the Waihola team and the campers. The local tean* won by 74 runs (Draper 41, Stewart 12, Sinclair 10), to 45 runs (Restieaux 10, Churchill 11), a win of 29 runs on the first innings. Draper and Stewart bowled best for Waihola, as did Churchill, Swinton, and Shad-well for the losers. Friday night was filled in by games, gramophone, and a sing-song round the piano. The swimming competitions were held from the jetty on Saturday morning, before a fair number of spectators. . Soccer football competitions were held during the afternoon, and were .keenly contested... At night the hall was crowded to hear the concert given by the campers and by artists from Dunedin. . Ou Sunday services were conducted morning ana evening. In the morning Mr E. A. Bates conducted the service in the hall, and at night the Presbyterian Church service was conducted by Mr J V. Hanna., assisted by the campers. Mr Alexander contributed a so'lo. Mr Hanna made a special appeal along the line of leadership, urging the boys to accept the ideal Leader for their lives, and to prepare from the camp a life of greater service. During the evening intercession 1G boys made a confession of their faith in the saving power of Jesus Christ their Saviour. On Monday morning a Rugby match was held between Rugbvites and Soecerites, resulting in a win for the Soccerites by 16 points to nil. The afternoon was given up to sports, when soma very fine events were witnessed by a good number" of local residents. At the conclusion of the camp Mr Nicol thanked the local people for their help, and called for cheers for the Waihola residents. A very large crowd assembled at the station to bid farewell to the campers. Mr Bell, on behalf of the residents, congratulated the association' on the success of the camp, voicing tb« people's appreciation of the behaviour of the boys, and expressing the hope that they would hav« then: at 'Waihola again.