SCOUT NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20104, 6 December 1930, Page 23

SCOUT NOTES.

[Eiclutir. to Tbi Press.] [By Lone Wolf.] The Chief Scout's Visit. Tho Chief Scout has appoined Colonel E. P. le Breton as Staff Commissioner for his Now Zealand tour next year. Commissioner le Breton is a well-known figure in English Scout circles, being a Deputy Camp Chief and also Assistant County Commissioner for Dorsetshire. At last year's world jamboree ho was the popular head of No. 3 sub-camp. Wood Badge Course. During 1930 twenty-four passes were recorded in Part 1 of the Wood Badge course for Scout officers, for the whole of New Zealand. The list includes five Commissioners. The following were the successful candidates from Christchurch: —Chief Commissioner Dr. P. Clennell Fenwick; Commissioners J. W. Crampton, J. Rich, W. E. S. Purby; Scoutmasters D. B. Stuart and E. H Carew. Part 1 consists of three papers on tho theory of scouting, boy psychology an d campcraft. Part 2 consists of a ten days' practical course in a special officers' camp under a deputy camp chief. Hero a. very thorough training is given in aii branches of scouting. The next course for Part 2 will be held at Duncdin, commencing on Boxing Day, and will be conducted by Deputy Camp Chiefs Sandford (New Plymouth), Cooksey (Hawkc's Bay), and Green (Wellington). Final Badge Tests. Entries for the first-class and proficiency badge tests closed ou Monday, and tho tests commence this morning with the swimming test for first class at 10.30 a.m. at the Tepid Baths. Tho first-class tests will be completed on December loth and 20th, and the Other badges as opportunity offers. A panel of sixteen examiners has been appointed to deal with the entries, which total 22 for first-class, and 130 for merit badges. Though the large increase in entries is most pleasing, many troops are again not represented. The following troops have entered firstclass candidates: Papanui 9, Opawa 5, Trinity 4, Merivalo 2, Edgeware 2. Twenty troops have no candidates. There are only seven troops presenting candidates for merit badges, and half of these entries come from Papanui troop. New Zealand headquarters has laid down that a very liberal allowance of time wherein to pass the second-class test is six months, and for tho first-class test from twelve to eighteen months. Every Scout therefore who has been in the movement for two years, and is of average intelligence, should be a firstclass Scout. Of course this assumes that the troop is receiving definite and progressive instruction from qualified instructors, and that outdoor scouting is being given due attention. News and Notes. It is probable that a Canterbury provincial badge will be sanctioned by the Metropolitan headquarters for all troops taking part in the Chief Scout's rally. The New Brighton troop hall will be opened this afternoon at 3.30 p.m. by the Chief Commissioner of New Zealand and tho Canterbury Metropolitan Commissioner. Arrangements for the annual troop camps have been made by the following troops: Merivale, Papanui, Lyttelton, Akaroa, Now Brighton, Amberley, and Tticcarton. The Wolf Clubs will hold a combined camp at Charteris Bay between Christmas and New Year. District Scoutmaster E. McLevie, of Masterton, has been appointed Commissioner for Wairarapa. Mr E. Culverhouse has been appointed Scoutmaster of St. Saviour's Troop, Sydenham. Scouts' Tour of North Island. Definite arrangements have now been completed witli regard to the tour of the North Island by the Papanui patrol leaders under Assistant Metropolitan Commissioner Rich. The party leaves Papanui on January 19th, and will travel by car via Picton, Wellington, Taranaki, Waitomo Caves, Auckland, Waikato, Eotorua, Taupo, Hawke's Bay, and "JVairarapa, arriving back on February 7th. Full camping equipment will be taken, but in several centres tho local Scouts will billet their visitors.