CAMPING HOLIDAY AT QUEENSTOWN

Southland Times, Issue 23792, 14 April 1939, Page 5

CAMPING HOLIDAY AT QUEENSTOWN

FACILITIES PRAISED BY

MR W. S. AYSON Enthusiasm for camping holidays was expressed by Mr W. S. Ayson, of Invercargill, who chose this type of holiday for his first free Easter week-end for 20 years. Mr Ayson, with *Mrs Ayson, spent a week camping at Queenstown and the good weather and the improved facilities provided, made the holiday an ideal one, he said. He thought that camping would increase in popularity in the future. Mr Ayson understood that the Queenstown Borough Council intended making, in the near future, considerable further improvements to the camping ground. Describing the popularity of the camp he said that on the Thursday before Easter only a few campers had arrived but by Saturday evening it was estimated that more than 150 camps were set up. These camps consisted of tents, converted motor-cars, trailer caravans and complete motordriven caravans, said Mr Ayson. He estimated the number of persons at the camp at more than 400. “With such a big number of campers there was a certain amount of rowdyism on the Saturday night,” said Mr Ayson. “Mr J. Reidy, the caretaker at the camp, ejected several parties on the Sunday morning, however, and all went well after that.”

Mr Reidy was well known in Invercargill, said Mr Ayson, as he was a constable in the city at one time and was later on the staff of the Bristol Piano Company. Mr Reidy had met many persons from all parts of thu world while caretaker at the camping grounds and although he was a strict disciplinarian he was very courteous and ponular, said Mr Ayson.