BAY OF PLENTY SCOUTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 2, 7 March 1947, Page 4

BAY OF PLENTY SCOUTS

TOMORROW’S BIG RALLY 300 BOYS TRAVEL TO OPOTIKI The first Bay of Plenty Scout Rally to be held in Opotiki will take place at the Showgrounds on Saturday, when up to 300 Scouts from all parts of the Bay of Plenty will compete in various scouting competitions. Scout troops taking part will come from Waihi, Bethlehem, Whakatane Land, Whakatane Sea, Otakiri, Thornton, Gate Pa, Edgecumbe, Tauranga, Waiotahi and Opotiki. Four Cub packs from Whakatane Ist and 2nd, Thornton and Opotiki will compete in various Cub competitions. -* The rally will commence at 9.30 a.m. with a street march from the Primary School, Church Street, the procession being headed by the Opotiki Citizens’ Band. The first event, tent pitching is timed to take place at 10.15 a.m., followed by the inspection at 10.30 a.m. and the march past at 11.15 a.m. Sports events will take place at 11.45 a.m., each section of the sports events taking, place simultaneously. From 12 noon to 1 p.m. will be lunch time, the boys being • provided with lunch on the grounds * while hot water will be -provided free of charge to spectators who are invited to bring their lunch and make it a picnic gathering. Visitors from neighbouring towns will be provided with lunch at a charge, while ice creams, soft drinks will also be available at a charge. The afternoon programme will commence at 1 p.m. with: a pioneering competition, with semaphore signalling at 1.25 p.m. At 1.50 ambulance competitions will take place for seniors, juniors and cubs will take place at 2.35, competitions at 2.50, signal tower at 3.10, pioneering flag staff at 3.30, and at 4 p.m. brief speeches will be made. Recently an Opotiki scout was responsible for saving the life of one and possibly two boys who got into difficulties in the Otara River. Evidence was collected by the local association from eye witnesses and. handed on to the County Commissioner, Mr C. Kingsley-Smith, who forwarded a recommendation to headquarters that appropriate recognition should be made. It is expected that an award will be made in time to be presented at the rally on Saturday. From Whakatane Scouts and Cubs will parade at the King Street Hall this evening at 5 p.m. They will be transported to Opotiki by special bus at a cost of 6/- return, and be billeted in that town for Friday and Saturday evenings, returning to Whakatane on Sunday at approximately 5 p.m. They will only be required to take a few personal effects with them plus Scouting gear. From the Plains, the Edgecumbe and Thornton Scout and Cub units will, it is understood leave by private' car in time to be ready to take part in the street parade.