ORINGI CAMP & Y.M.C.A.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1737, 30 April 1913, Page 5

ORINGI CAMP & Y.M.C.A.

sOne of the features of the Territorial camps seems lo be the help given by the Y.M.C.A., in providing men with laeilities lor spending their leisuro hours. At the last camp at Oringi thu Y.M.C.A. had a. large marquee measuring CO x 37tt,, and the C.E.M.S. also had the uso of it. In it tho Y.M.C.A. had provided a good supply of reading and writing material—tne utility of the . latter being easily proved when it was learned that during ten days about 3500 letters were written. A bagatelle board also was in constant use, and chess and draughts were in evidence. A piano was provided for the men, and this went a long way towards making the evenings bright and happy. Sevcrnl groups of men who had musical instruments rendered items during tlie evenings. From 1000 to 1200 men used tho marquee each day, and impromptu concerts were frequently held. Un tuo last two nights boxing and wrestling brought a crowd ol between GOO and '700. The average number attending the seven religious services held in tho marquee was 94. At these meetings representatives from the Church of England, Methodist, and Presbyterian Churches oilieiated. Mr. Edward M. Ryan was in charge. With few exceptions tho behaviour of the men in camp was excellent, and from what Mr. Ryan could gather, the Oringi incidents have been exaggerated; tho whole brigade in a sense being blamed for tho faults of a few.