Y.M.C.A. AT TRENTHAM

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2442, 22 April 1915, Page 6

Y.M.C.A. AT TRENTHAM

AN ENLARGED WORK, The Y.M.C.A. Hall at Trent-ham has proved altogether inadequate for tie work being, done there. Concert parties .from town have assisted, considerably in popularising the hall, and the association has found many friends to assist in the movement for entertaining the men. Since Christmas an average of more than two concert parties per week have made the journey to "Soldiertown." The need for a separate reading, writing, and rest room has been keenly feit. This' want is to be supplied immediately, operations having bc-gun for enlargements tliat will practically treble the accommodation available. One side of the building, 80 x 15ft., will be used as a permanent library, reading, writing, and rest room, the remainder of the floor space, 80 x 45ft., being utilised for concerts and games, such as ping-pong, quoits, bagatelle, etc. In addition the association in its efforts to provide comforts for the soldiers las decided to construct warn shower-baths, an innovation that will be welcomed during the winter months.

Tlie military work committee is greatly indebted to Mrs. H. D. Bell, Mrs. W. F. Massey, Mrs. W. Johnston, and Mrs. Hosking for their keen interest for the welfare of the men under canvas. The needs of the association having been known to them they immediately undertook to provide tho necessary _ funds for furnishing the library, reading-room, and writing rooms, and also for the provision of shower-baths. As a result of their practical sympathy Mrs. H. D. Bell has forwarded to Mr. V'arney, general secretary of the Y.M.C.A.. the sum of £147, which will be used for the purposes above named —furnishing the reading and writing rooms and the erection of the showerbaths. Mrs. W. F. Massey has also .shown very great interest in the Camp Library, winch will be housed in the new section of the building. The association desires gratefully to acknowledge the following donations for (these purposes:—Collected by Mrs. H. D Bell: Hon. H. D. Bell, £5; Mr. M. Chapman, £1 Is.; Mrs. A. E. G. Rhodes 1 (Christchurch), £5 j Dr. L. Ferguson (Dunedin), £1 Is.; "Order of the Bath," £10; Mrs. Salmond, £1; Mrs. A. M.vers (Auckland), £5 55.: Mr. Godfrey Pharazyn, £50; Sirs. Lowry, £5 55.; Mrs. H. D. Bell, £3 3s. Collected by Mrs. W. F. Massey: Miss Duncan, £2; Mr. J. T. Duncan, £2; Mr. H. ! von Haast, £2 25.; Mrs. Walter Nathan, £5; Mrs. Henry Hall, £5; Mr. A. Joseph, £3 35.; "Anon," £4. Collected by Mrs. Walter Johnston, £25. by Mrs. Hosking, £12. The 'handsome donation of £50 contributed by Mr. Pharazyn is to be used for providing furniture for the reading and writing rooms, which, when completed, will provide very cosy additions to camp life. These rooms are to be lined in order to_ provide more comfortable quarters during the winter months. The library is very popular amongst the men, and when tho additions are complete and all the books on the shelves, about 3000 works will be available.