BOY SCOUTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 525, 4 June 1909, Page 3

BOY SCOUTS.

•■•'- •■ ;., —* —: —— •■-""' ON THE '-MIRAMARHILLS.' ■"■ ;All the world has by this time heard of "B.P.'s" scout patrols.' "8.P.," of course, means'Lieutenant-General R V S. S. Baden Powell,' 0.8., at present • commanding the Northumberland Division'of the British Territorial Army. Himself one of the. finest scouts in tie British Army, he some time ago conceived the idea of teaching the British youngster, something of woodcraft. and \tho, art ( of scouting by organising, boy scout patrols, each possessing distinctive names and signs. He also; wrote a book, in which hints. and' : suggestions' for the organisation and training of scout: patrols all over the Empire were formulated. As the result of his initiative, and of the special attraction which work of'this nature always has for boys, the movement has spread with wonderful success, and ih New Zealand, both in the North and South Islands, scout patrols have been organised. There are three orfour.k the Waifarapa district, and for the last month there has been in existence at Miramar three patrols of boy scouts/;.-.- ' - .;;. '~.,; ..... ;A representative, of The Dominion went out to Miramar yesterday and made the acquaintance of the youthful scouts, and from -their scout-master, Mr. Hector M'Leod, learnt something of their work 1 . As yet the Miramar patrols have not been'officially incorporated as a branch of the "8.P." movement; but negotiations towards lhat end are now.-in progress. The Miramar patrol numbers' 24, organised into three patrols, each ■ under a leader, the organisation of the whole being'controlled by the scout-master (Mr. M'Leod). The patrols meet once a week for training,: and ■' are at present studying - the cover and tracking. Yesterday was devoted mainly to tracking'exercises. Three of the scouts, on : whose' boots had been. attached something'which' woiild leave a distinctive mark,.were'dispatched on a roving*commis-. siohj under' special' instructions to keep out of sight; and the 'remainder spent the morn-' ing in 'following, the* "trail," a- task which' was -successfully accomplished. . In the evening the patrols were entertained by;.the'.'Mayor of Miramar (Mr. C.J. Crawford), \ah'd. the leaders presented with patrol flags. Mr. Crawford, in a short address to the boys, encouraged them: to persevere ; with their. ■■ work,; remarking.' that.scouts in' war were the ey'es'and ears' of,an army, their duties being most, important. .Before leaving, the scouts favoured their hosts/with the "Scouts''-Chorus,"; and gave three rousing cheers.. •'■ ... ' • ~ '•'... , . ■•.. ..." The Miramar Scout Patrols have adopted the. '.'.tuatara"'as their,'distinctive emblem...'