SEASIDE HOLIDAY

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20125, 22 February 1937, Page 6

SEASIDE HOLIDAY

AT PORT WAIKATO. IMPROVEMENTS TO CAMP. CHURCH SERVICE YESTERDAY. With faces wreathed in smiles and, along with arms and legs, tanned a dark brown by the sun, the 160 children from throughout South Auckland, who are in camp at Port Waikato are looking a picture of health. Representatives of the Waikato Times who paid their annual visit to the camp yesterday were amazed to see tie further improvements that have been made and were delighted at the hevlthy appearance of all the children.

children this year have been picked from a very wide area again but preference has been given to those catalogued as C grade by the medical inspectors. These children have shown great improvement during the week they have been by the seaside. Last Tuesday Dr. H. Deem, of the Health Department, Hamilton, inspected the children In camp and she went out to Port Waikato again on Friday expressing amazement in the improvement of the backward youngsters. The camp this year is being run even more on the lines of a health camp on account of the Infantile paralysis epidemie last month and every precaution is being taken to safeguard the children. Special breathing exercises have been indulged in.

The improvements to the camp this year include a new medical hut for Mrs H. D. Cobb, who is in charge of this work, but fortunately there has been little use for it as the children have been remarkably free from illness. Even stubbed toes and bruises and cuts have been fewer this year. New quarters for the kitchen staff have also been completed since last year and. replacing the tents that the staff used to occupy, are very much appreciated. All the floorings In the children’s huts have been re-laid, while the paths around the camp have been bltumenised. With no dust as the children march around the camp, this tar-sealing is a great Improvement on a fine day but it will be even more appreciated on wet days.

In The Chapel Grove.

The latest addition has been the erection of a little building in the Chapel .Grove from which the church services are conducted. Seata have been placed in the grove and yesterday afternoon the flrst service was conducted by Mr F. E. S- Long. Mrs F. Kear was at the organ and the children sung the hymns heartily and listened intently to a short sermon by Mr Long. The‘chapel Is dedicated to Mr Edward Spargo, the donor of the camp site, and a name plate will be placed in position next Sunday. The nameplate is from H.M.S. New Zealand. The weather has been delightful over the past few days, although the early mornings have been fairly cold. Brisk exercises under the guidance of Mr Long, who is secretary to the Hamilton Y.M.C.A., gave the children a healthy glow.