ST. PETER’S MISSION CAMP.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3735, 29 December 1927, Page 2

ST. PETER’S MISSION CAMP.

Last evening our representative paid a visit to St. Peter’s Mission annual Christmas camp, which is being held this year on . the local, racecourse under the charge of the Rev. T. Fielden Taylor, of Wellington.

' On making enquiries for the camp commandant our representative was informed that he would be found in the “tea rooms,” and naturally was rather dubious about interrupting him during his tea hour. One of the staff, however, volunteered to accompany our representative on a search for Mr. Taylor, as, he said, he would be “pretty hard to locate.” On reaching the doorway of the tea kiosk, however, we were happily greeted by a gentleman seated on a bench busily engaged in cutting l the hair of a lad who was perched on a benzine box- Our introduction to the Rev. Field'en Taylor. Between his tonsorial endeavours, administering castor oil. and attending to the hundred and one wants of his sunburnt charges, the Rev. Fielden Taylor informed us that St. Peter’s Mission, of Wellington conducted annual Christmas camps. There were 285 boys in camp under the control of a staff; of boys trained affthe Mission, assisted by volunteers from Christ’s College and the Wanganui Collegiate School. The boys are divided up into 24 units of 12 boys each and are accommodated in the racecourse buildings. They compete for a cup which is awarded to the unit securing the most number of points at the conclusion of, the camp, points being awarded for inspection work on fatigffes, and conduct. Each member of the win,ning unit also receives 5/-.

The feeding of the campers was quite a problem, said Mr. Taylor, and in this connection they would be very grateful for donations of meat, fruit or vegetables. It took three sheep to provide meat for one ideal while the daily consumption of bread was 50 loaves. The necessary money for the camp, £3OO, has already been .subscribed by the public of Wellington. Rev. Taylor said they were very grateful for the hospitality they had received in Foxton and to the Bor-, oug'h Council for fifty free passes nightly to the Town Hall pictures. In return they inteded to put oma tip-top concert in the Town Hall on the sth January, and to hand the proceeds over to the Beautifying Society.

In conclusion Mr. Taylor said that the Mission was also very grateful to the Railway authorities, who had made special train arrangements for them on the day of their arrival in ‘camp, which enabled them to arrive, in Foxton at 1.30 after leaving Wellington at 9.30 a.m.

There is no sickness in camp apart from an over abundance of sun on the part of one or two. Camp breaks up on Friday week, when the hoys will return to Wellington on the 1 o’clock train. The secretary is Mr J. Hitehings, and the students who are assisting number three from Christ’s College and twelve from Wanganui Collegiate.

Yesterday the campers spent the day at the seaside where a number of them received severe sunburning. This morning a large number visited the local baths. t