BOYS’ BRIGADE

Southland Times, Issue 23390, 23 December 1937, Page 13

BOYS’ BRIGADE

ANNUAL CAMP NEXT WEEK (By HAVERSACK) Camp is here at last. Battalions throughout New Zealand will be under canvas next week. The Invercargill and Edendale contingents will travel by the 7 a.m. train on Monday and there will be a short wait in Balclutha before connecting with the Catlins branch train to Romahapa, where a bus will convey the boys the remainder of the journey. The Winton company will go by bus, picking up boys at Gore and McNab and will arrive in camp in time to make trips to Romahapa to meet the main body arriving by train. There will be a meeting of all Invercargill campers in Stobo Hall tonight at 7 o’clock when all fees are to be paid and final instructions will be issued. It is expected that there will be 100 under canvas at Short Bay, Kaka Point. Although it is a Southland Battalion camp 20 members of two Dunedin companies will be present. The site is about a mile and threequarters past the village, lying in a sheltered bay and with hills on three sides, some of them wood-clad, and with the sea in front. The grounds are spacious and flat and face east. A mountain stream runs out of a gully and round the foo + of the hills and thus does not interfere with the parade ground. It provides excellent drinking and washing water. In the mouth ol the gully there is just room for the cook-house. A fine sandy beach, with rocky points at each end of the bay and safe bathing facilities complete an ideal camping site. It is an eminently suitable site.

The camp will be staffed by the following officers:—Officer in command, Mr A. M. Branks; second-in-command, Mr J. H. Boyd; adjutant, Mr E. J.

Boyd; chaplain, the Rev. F. McDonald; quartermaster, Mr J. Thomson; canteen, Mr R. Hislop; assistant quartermaster and canteen, Mr L. Gerrard; secretary and assistant treasurer, Mr A. Cameron; treasurer, Mr A. M. Branks; sports officer, Mr W. Grocott; assistant sports officer, Mr W. Eastlake; medical officer, Mr Service; hon. camp surgeon, Dr D. G. Radcliffe. Mr Service is a fifth-year student from the Otago Medical School. The first day is always a very busy one—the general bustle of erecting tents and marquees, joining the camp register, depositing money in the bank, filling palliasses with straw and the innumerable things associated with the first day in canvas town. However, it is hoped to have everything in order by 4.30 p.m. when a swimming parade will be held, followed by a hot tea. The following is the list of what to take to camp:--Full uniform is to be worn while proceeding to and from camp. Two sacks for straw, three brankets (same size), two towels two plates and mug (enamel), knife, fork and spoon, brush and comb, tooth brush, soap. (The above articles are essential for the tent competition.) Bible, overcoat, sun hat, shorts, boots or shoes, canvas shoes, handkerchiefs, change of underclothing, magazine, camera (if you have one), pyjamas, bathing suit, dish cloth, tea towel, tooth paste, boot brushes, nugget, pencil, change of socks, polish for belts. The articles should be perfectly clean and should be enclosed in a clean kit-bag (suit cases will lose marks for tent competition). Each article should be marked with owner’s name. The sacks can be wrapped round the kit-bag. A plum pudding and pots of jam will be of great help to camp. The whole of the camp fee (£1 5/-) must be paid before entering. No matches, firearms, cards or smoking will be allowed. Get ready for review on the morning of December 31. Invite your parents and friends down on December 31 or January 1. If every boy brings loyalty, frankness and cheerfulness, the camp is going to be a great success.