BOY SCOUT JOTTINGS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 785, 7 April 1910, Page 9

BOY SCOUT JOTTINGS.

, (BY AIEBT.) A report of the llaster doings is now to hand from the Newtown .Boy Scouts. They spent the holidays in cainp on tho Wainui Hills, in a splendid camping spot, sheltered and near-a-good 'water supply. Tho first day was Spent in get-; ting tho- tents up, building shelters and arranging the camp ground, fitc. On Saturday scouting games, blackberrying, and a sing-song at night around the eamp fires filled up a happy day. Sunday was quietly spent ,in camp with a song sfeirvico in tho evening. Dispatch-running between the I'etouo boys' camp and the Newtown boys in the morning and breaking up cainp in the alternoon concluded a inost successful and enjoyable tirao. The only fault that the boys found was that the holidays went all too quickly. An amusing incident took place at the Hawkes' camp at Himmerton. On the Sunday night the boys suspected that a raid would be made on' their caiiip by some of the, young fellows who were camping. near,thetii. .Sentries wero posted out, and tho patrol leader' and another scout stalked up to the enemy's camp (despito the fact that they had two, dogs on guard), and heard them planning the attack for 4.30 on the Monday morning. Tho two 6Couts then crept away, again and got to their own camp, whero, an attack was planned to tako place on tho enemy at 1 o'clock. At a quarter to ono the aiding.'party started out and. crept iip to the tent, got-inside,, and took away the enemy's alarm clock, which they had' set to /wak'o them at 4. As they were getting away again one of'the dogs barked, but as the enemy made no movomont they got'away to their own camp again, and slept securely until brealcfast time. Needless to say, tho "attack" did.not take place in .tho way tho young fellows expected. .'.iffo are glad.to kliow. that the : scout, movement is spreading in tho surrounding districts. Mr. Brear, of Petone, has undertaken . the scout movement in tho Petone district. Ho has already 'three; patrols of boys, who' are very, keen in tho work. A most onjoyablo and successful camp was : held during the Easter holidays. Twenty of tho boys have passed their first examination, and obtained their' tenderfoot badges. Two scouts of .the Petono troop managed to prevent what might have proved a serious ■ accident on the road between Petone and tho Hiitt last Saturday afternoon. A, horse had holted with a trap, and was going at full speed, when the scouts noticed it. One of them at once ran ■ alongside and managed to get hold of a rein, while .tho .other climbed over the ' tail-board, and betwfcen them they stopped the horse. An old man, who was in the trap, had lost control owing to one of the reins breaking, and he was •very grateful to tho boys for rendering him, suqh a,good turn... Last Saturday the Hiramar' Scouts, after practice on the ranges to the north of the wharf, spent a good time at Wonderland. They were treated to tea and cakes by a picnic party in the grounds. Scoutmaster S. J. Thomas, recently from Christchurch, has taken charge of < the Miramar Scouts; 1 lie is- seconded by Assistant Scoutmaster A. Lindsay. , ... .

The Kelburne troop went for a long "trek" on Saturday afternoon, working as far -as- Khandallah, : touching Wades-, town and Ngaio- en route.. They fell iii with tho Mount Victbriii"trbop during tho afternoon, and some ambushing-was practised. Cumins upon a swimming pool near Khandallah,. the .whole ,troop went in .for a dip. Tho homeward march was enlivened by scoiiting games.