SCOUT BREAK-UP

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 33, 15 December 1944, Page 5

SCOUT BREAK-UP

JOINT GATHERING HELD

FOUR KING SCOUTS HONOURED

The Winter Slioav Buildings Avere the scene of youthful enthusiasm last Monday evening Avhen members of both the Citizens and Scottish troops gathered to cclebrate the annual breaking up for the current year. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the King Scout badge to four Scouts Avho had Avon tlie coveted award on their year's application and work. The evening provided a typical Scout programme Avliich Avas thoroughly : eitjoyed by the large attendance, of ' parents and others interested and culminated in an appetising supper served by members of the ladies' | committee. On this occasion the. Scottish | Scouts Avere the guests of the Citizens Troop and the control of the proceedings was, in the hands of Scoutmaster Te Hira Fe.rgus.son. The programme opened Avith an impressiAre investiture ceremony of three nc.AV scouts to the Citizens Troop. This Avas carried out by Scoutmaster Fergusson and all Avho Avitnessed it must haA r e been deeply im- . pressed. "The King Scout badge is the highest award knoAvn in the Scouting code " said the Commissioner of the district in congratulating Scouts Malcolm E. LaAV Bruce M. Thomas, Errol W. Petty and Thomas J. Dockray on attaining to this singular honour. The boys Avere ranged in front of the central dais and Avere Avarmly complimented on their eleA-ation to their neAV rank. Enlarging on the. aAvard the Commissioner said that it had been initiat--1 ed by King EdAvard VII in. order that it. should be handed to the very cream of the Scouting movement. King Scouts Avere. expected to be the finished product, or the pattern boys of the Scouting code. They Avere not merely to have qualified in a practical Avay by winning badges but they Avere to haA'e shown that they had character and an insight into the movement and its great objectiAcs. Cheers -were given for the neAvly made. King Scouts. avlio are now eligible to act as akl-de-camps to the Governor-General ; AvheneA'er he A'isits the district. Demonstrations by the Cub Pack under Cubmaster Dean Avere. Avarmly appreciated as was a later Jungle 1 Dance by the same group. Scouts 1 ga\*e demonstration of signalling by semaphore and morse lamps. A particularly enjoyable, item Avas the campfire scene promoted by Mr J. Gattsche, when songs and musical interludes in a darkened hall pro-, vided a very realistic atmosphere.

The Chairman of the Citizens ComMr Naden Matliews ? took the opportunity of thanking all present for their support and trusted that they would give the fullest cooperation to the movement during the coining year. The evening closed with a. suitable scouting prayer offered by Scoutmaster Fcrgusson.