HINTS FOR CAMPERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 December 1938, Page 9

HINTS FOR CAMPERS

SOME useful suggestions. PRECAUTIONS TO BE OBSERVED. Many useful hihtls for campers and holidaymakers are given by the Medical Officer for Health, Dr T. Fletcher Telford, in his summer precautions statement. “The holiday season is now upon us,' and no doubt many people for some considerable time have been considering how to make use of it,” the statement reads. “No doubt a few will go visiting to friends and relations and live under ordinary house conditions, but a section of the public will decide upon taking Cars and tents and go camping from place to place. Others again will make use of the recognised automobile camps and dispense with camping gear, ahd yet again others wlil decide to go,, to a particular spot and camp there the whole of the time. Those not so fortunately placed or who have not the time will arrange ter an occasional day’s picnic at the seaside or in the hillside country. No matter what form the holiday takes, certain rules have got to be obeyed to get the most enjoyment and benefit. Certain minor mishaps and ailments may occasionally mat' this season, but with a little forethought these can be minimised.

“When picking a camp site, choose a high and dry site in reasonable proximity to wood ahd Water, but be especially careful to make sure that you are Well above the flood level of the creek or river oh the banks of Which your camp Is to be placed. Provide trenches around your tent in order to divert ahy surface waters that may accumulate during a rainy period, and so ensure the sleeping quarters being dry. “If your water supply is not obtained from a recognised piped water supply or a deefci well, but is obtained from a shallow well or stream, be sure to boil it before using, as water taken from a shallow Well or a stream is liable ,t'o be Contaminated from both human ahd animal sources. The boiling of the water makes it safe. Protect your food from flies with a portable meat safe. One made of mosquito netting With a circular board at the bottom and hoops to keep it open in the containing part will be ample for most campers. The surplus mosquito netting can then be gathered up and, tied so as to prevent the entry of flies, and the safe hung in a tree in a shady place. “Usually in a camp there is a certain amount of waste water from the preparation of food and the cleansing of cooking utensils. This requires to be dealt with. The easiest means is a trench leading to a pit. In a perforated box at the commencement of the trench place some fine withered broom branches, fine manuka, gorse, straw, or grass upon which pour the waste liquids. These if they contain fats or soap curds will be trapped by the broom, etc., and the clarified liquid passing on to the pit will not tend to block the pores of the soil and so render the pit quickly ineffective. The used broom can be taken out and burnt*in the bonfire on which the cooking is done, and immediately renewed.

“In choosing the location for the fire site see that this is so placed that the prevailing winds will not force the smoke into your tent. Be careful to clear the grass away around the fire so that the fire is not likely to spread and do damage. Do not do any damage to any native bush or plantation in obtaining your dead wood, and be sure to put your fire out When not in use.”