SCOUTS IN ENGLAND

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 65, 11 August 1947, Page 5

SCOUTS IN ENGLAND

TWO OPOTJKI BOYS The two Opotiki Scouts, Patrol Leader Gordon Gault, and Patrol Leader Sinclair Anderson, of the Opotiki and Waiotahi Troops, respectively, who were selected to attend the World Jamboree in France this month, have been having a great time in England prior to their crossing to France. Interesting letters from both boys have been received by parents and friends of the boys at the different stages of the journey, which has proved a great experience.

An interesting letter which was posted at Pitcairn Island, written by Sinclair Anderson, was received by his father, Mr *M. Anderson, Waiotahi. Of interest also are the two stamps on the envelope, a 2d and a 3d Pitcairn Island stamp. In this letter Sinclair gives a detailed account of the trip after leaving Wellington, some of the boys experiencing sea sickness after about an hour at sea. One day off Pitcairn Island the weather was exceedingly hot, and Sinclair managed to get a job in the butcher’s shop. The boys had been practising Maori stick games and hakas. The usual injections were experienced and most of the boys felt a bit queer for a time.

Another interesting letter was written by Sinclair Anderson soon after his arrival at Gilwell Park. The boys were all tired on arrival because they sat up all the previous night and watched the white cliffs of Dover and the French coast as they sailed past. The weather in England seemed to them almost as hot as in the tropics. Sinclair was particularly struck by the large number of boats of all shapes and sizes on the Thames. What struck him as particularly funny is that the sun shines up to about 10 o’clock at night. On the particular day that he wrote the letter it was raining very heavily and their tent was leaking. Owing to engine trouble on the trip across, the Rangitata stopped at Balboa for two days, and a small' group of United States scouts took them to their club house. They had a swim and procured supplies. They found the money system very confusing. Sinclair was impressed by the reckless manner in which many of the negroes drive vehicles. United States Navy buses and trucks arrived .-and took the boys on a tour of the old Panama ruins and the town. All the banks of Panama Canal were lined with jungle, but they saw only one crocodile. They arrived at Curacao-where they -went ashore and Sinclair purchased a big cluster of bananas for 2s. It was necessary to bargain to procure goods at a IoW price. A number of interesting letters had been received by school friends of Gordon Gault who has had many

interesting experiences, particularly in viewing London. Gordon has visited a number of relatives of friends in different parts of England. The boys- expected to cross to France this month for the Jamboree.