Vol. XXIV. 1 
1925. J 
BARKER, Conference and Camp 
213 
of chairman, and his introduction and vote of thanks were well 
worth listening to. At* the conclusion, Miss. Lilley, the 
Headmistress, invited the visitors to supper, while rain fell stead¬ 
ily. Ihis providentially ceased soon after, and a safe return was 
made to town, though under lowering skies which gave eveiy 
promise of further rain. 
Wednesday morning was all bustle, and the motor lorry, with 
the luggage and bread, meat and butter, and with Messrs. Wols- 
tenholme, Chaffer, Sharland, Barker and the cook (Andy Neven) 
got away at 9.30 aim., on the 25-mile run to By field. The jour_ 
ney was most interesting, and Byfield was safely reached at 12.4.“> 
p.m. Quite a civic reception awaited us on our arrival, a repie- 
sentative gathering of Byfield citizens having been on the spot 
quite early to get everything in readiness for us. I he arrange¬ 
ments were wonderfully elaborate and complete. A large dining 
shed covered by two large tarpaulins (kindly lent by the Howard 
Smith Co. of Rockhampton) had been erected. A long table 
made of petrol case timber nailed to supports occupied the 
centre. Along each side was a seat consisting of a piccabeen 
palm stem split in halves, with the round side uppermost, sup¬ 
ported on oak legs of the regulation height. The dining room 
and table were decorated with flowers from the near-by farms, 
and with leaves of the beautiful green Cycad, Bon'enia, which is 
peculiar to this district. As it keeps bright and green for weeks, 
it is an ideal plant for decorations. 
The water was, of course, boiling, and without waiting foi 
the main party, the luggage escort set about a square meal, which 
was finished off with bananas from the plentiful supply provided 
by our friends. 
Next to the dining tent was a bigger one closed to view from 
the diners but open to the forest on the other side. Inspection 
disclosed a double row of cornsack bunks for thirty sleepers, aJ 
properly stretched and raised from the ground on a frame. 
Along the centre, about six feet from the ground, was a sapling 
rail with nails driven in every six inches, on which could be 
hung clothes, etc., out of the way. The building was roofed with 
tarpaulins kindly lent by Archer Brothers, of Gracemere. 1 hat 
one was old and let through sections of the only thunderstorm 
we had was taken philosophically by those whose bunks were 
wetted, and regarded as part of the programme. The cook and 
his stores were housed in a tent all to themselves, and the ladies 
had another large one in which two spring mattresses (double) 
mounted on bush frames, provided with mattresses, pillows and 
linen, accommodated four with undreamed of luxury in a camp, 
the other two, with patent camp stretchers, being little behind 
them in this respect. 
The main party, numbering 23, which was transported in Dow¬ 
ling's char-a-banc, a really handsome and powerful vehicle, 
arrived about 2.30 p.m., having taken over three hours to do the 
