W.E.A. CAMP.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10488, 28 December 1929, Page 2

W.E.A. CAMP.

HELD AT GERALDINE. There was a large influx to Geraldine all day on Thursday and yesterday, of members of the W.E.A., to join the Summer Cafnp which is located in the Domain and District High School grounds. The W.E.A. has held eight summer camps during its existence, and Geraldine has had the honour of being selected as the ideal camping spot two years out of the eight. The advance agent and organising secretary (Mr Geo. Manning) has visited the town several times lately, and made full arrangements with the Borough Council and the School Committee for the housing of his big party, so that when the camp assembled on Thursday and yesterday there was no confusion, and all went like welloiled machinery. The school will be open till January 4, and during the camp lectures will be given by Professor Shelley, Dr. A. G. B. Fisher (Otago University), Dr. C. E. Beeby (Canterbury College), Dr. P. D. B. Milligan (Christchurch), and Mr J. Johnston, M.A., W.E.A. staff tutor. It takes ten large tents to accommodate the male portion of the campers, and some of these tents are pitched amongst the trees between the cricket oval and the bowling green, while the balance are immediately between the cycle track and the east side of the bowling green, just where the old camp was situated six years ago. A more charming situation for a camp could hot be found, and the first two days have proved ideal from a weather point of view. The ladies are situated in the primary school buildings, which have been changed for the time being into dormitories. The old technical school building has been utilised for cooking, and just south of this is the huge dining marquee, in which all dine together. All members of the school take turns in serving at table, and a very merry time is spent at meals. The girls’ shelter-shed is used for the economics class, and is presided over by Dr. Fisher. Two marquees have been put up between the old secondary’ department temporary building and the main brick school. That to tho east is the main lecture tent, and the other is being used for Dr. Beeby’s experimental psychology lectures.

A deputation waited on the Mayor (Mr J. Kennedy) yesterday morning, asking him if it would be possible to connect up the various tents and buildings by electricity. The Mayor, who is also chairman of the South Canterbury Power Board, got into communication with the local staff of the Board, and in a very short while the service car was at the school and the wires were soon strung. The provision of electric light will add greatly to the enjoyment of the various lectures and functions to be held. The light will also be installed in the secretary’s office, in the old secondary department building. The deputation also asked that the long grass in the school playground be cut, so that the members going from tent to tent would be able to do so dryshod should wet weather come along, and this also was granted. The various sports clubs have generously allowed members of the school to make use of their greens, lawns and courts, and yesterday this permission was freely made use of. The swimming baths were also patronised well, the day’ being a very sultry one. The lectures take place in the mornings from nine o’clock to halfpast twelve, and a general lecture is given each day at 11 a.m. The students have the afternoons for recreation and sports, and the evenings will be taken up by popular lectures, concerts, etc. Local residents are cordially invited to attend any of the lectures and gatherings, and no doubt this invitation will be taken advantage of by a large number of residents.