UNDER CANVAS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 3, 5 January 1939, Page 17

UNDER CANVAS

RONGOTAI COLLEGE BOYS

CAMP AT KARAPOTI

To attend the annual camp at Kara^ poti in the Akatarawa Valley over 100 Rongota' College boys, about a quarter of the roll, left Wellington yesterday. They will spend two weeks under canvas on one of the finest camping sites in the vicinity of Wellington.

Situated on a bend in the Akatarawa Stream, the camp, sheltered from wind and ideally suited for outdoor " life, offers everything in the way of recreation a youngster could wish for. The boys are never at a loss for.something to do, and take full advantage of the two splendid swimming pools on the site. The camp is in its sixteenth year, and over 1000 boys have passed through it. This year the attendance is larger than ever before.

The running of the camp is in the hands of a staff of senior boys and a master of the college, Mr. J. Todd McCaw. The pitching party went to the site on Tuesday, and when the boys arrived yesterday the accommodation was ready for occupation. The boys are organised into tents of eight, and they divide between them the personal, commissariat, and maintenance duties, each group taking its turn on fatigue. At night a watch is kept, two boys staying on for two hours before being relieved. During the sixteen years it has been running no serious accident has occurred at the camp. ORDER WITHOUT ORDERS. The camp is not run on military lines, and the boys are given the maximum amount of freedom, being allowed to occupy their time just as they please except when on dujy. The tent groups plan their own games, tramping routes, and recreation generally, and are able to spend their days in their own manner. Every year the bush in the vicinity of the camp is well explored, and walks to Campbell's Mill. Maori Bank, and even fur-! ther are always popular.! Even Wai-, kanae is,not "out of bounds," and this! tramp has been tried at least once. Although it sounds rather a tail order, the camp, as a pleasure resort for boys, is probably one of the finest in the Dominion. Its efficient organisation and smooth running. are a credit to those, in charge. A visitor to .Karapoti cannot, but be .impressed by the orderliness of everything, : combined with the absence of school discipline and stern rules. The camp, started by Mr. McCaw when he was.at Wellington College and run by him ever since, has grown from a mere handful of youths to an attendance of over a hundred; , .

Mr. McCaw' has also 'run two trips for boys of the school during the year —one to the Hermitage "and one round the North Island by. sleeping car. The latter was something of a novelty," but was very successful. The.sleeping car was attached to various" trains en route ,and a" large part of the island was covered. •. ; •.

The camp at Karapoti is. only made possible by the generosity of Mr, A. G. Whiteman, on whose property .it is situated, for he lias lent the' land annually for sixteen years.

I can't explain. It may be that in a few years there will be a return to religion. I sometimes feel that when people do not attend church come to the church to be married they must feel very strange to be kneeling down to take part in the prayers."

"Marriage is a divine institution. The secret of England's greatness has always been the application of those truths for which the Church stands. The commendable way to begin married life is with an effective religious service in the church," said the Rev. Walter Parker, Trinity. Methodist Church. "A number of people, not essentially church-goers, have expressed to me the inspiration which such a service gives. Such a service does recognise the right of God to our lives and a recognition of God would save many a marriage from shipwreck." : '■■