REWARD FOR BRAVERY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1133, 22 May 1911, Page 9

REWARD FOR BRAVERY.

'THE GIliL SCOUTS. A meeting of the Girl Pence "Scouts and the public itencrally was held in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hull on Saturday afternoon, the occasion being the presentation of medivis and certificates to two of the girl scouts for bravery displayed in caving life. ■ The Mayor, Mr. Will'oi'd, sent apologies for his unavoidable absence, and the meeting was presided over .by Mrs. Wilford, the Mayoress. Th® Hon. George I'owlds, accompanied by Mrs. Fowlds, was present upon the platform, as were Miss Richmond and the members of the council, comprising Mrs. Quick (ncting-prcsid=nt), Dr. J'latts-Mills, Mrs. J. P. Luke, Mrs. Macarthy, Mrs. Kane, and Miss Skelley (orgunising secretary in Wellington of the Girl Scout movement). A letter of apology for her absence was read from Mrs. Dyer.

Mrs. Quick sketched the history of the scout movement in the Dominion, and stated that there were now twelve hundred scouts in the colony. Tho organisation had been most successful, and many letters had been received from mothers, speaking of the great improvement that had taken place in regard to the conduct of the girls. On behalf of the council, she wished to acknowledge their great indebtedness to Miss Skelley for all she had done in furthering the success of the organisation; to Mr. Harcoui't, who so kindly gave them the uso of a room in his buildings; to the Rev. Kennedy Elliott for tho use of the schoolroom upon their occasional social entertainments; to Dr. Ptatts-Mills for her classes; to Mr. and Mrs. Royd'Garlick for their lectures- on Dhysical'culture and hygiene, and to Mr. Hamilton, who had taught the girls signalling. They were also indebted, to tho Acting-Prime Minister for the use of tho Parliamentary grounds to the girls for their 'exercises. The aim of the Girl Scout movement, continued Mrs. Quick, was to enable tli-a girls to shape their lives on right lines;- to enablo them to f«, and then to do, their duty. Miss M. Richmond expressed her pleasure in being , present, and said that girls, finite as much as boys and men, need to develop courage. Discipline is learnt among the Girl Scouts, and .it is discipline that wins in the endA great deal is being done for the boys, and tho girls must not bo left behind. Girls must l>3 taught to be truthful, loyal faithful, obedient, cheerful, and helpful, and all this was incorporated in the Girl Peace Scout ethics. One thing the girls should remember when -they appear in public—to always be' in perfect order, so that, peoplo may see that they are one of the best-disciplined bands in the Dominion.

Tho Hon. G. Fowlds said tho day had gone by when peoplo ridiculed the Girl .Scouts. Thev have recognised that a wholesome influence is exercised on all the yomiß women who come under its influence The motto, "Be Ready," is i«.n admirable one. If the girls would only make every use of the opportunities of the present, they would always be ready for what the future' brought. Mr. Fowlds then presented Irene Symonds, of tho Petono Girl Scouts, with a medal, accompanied by a certificate from LietitCclonel Cosgrovc, as a recognition of her promptitude and bravery in rescuing a boy y.'ho was drifting out to cea in a punt. This action was performed on April 22. Daisy of'the Wellington Scouts, .also was presented with a medal and cerlificala for carrying a baby brother from before an advancing train on September 15 last.

Br. Platts-Mills said they were all there to do honour to those two girls, who had shown such promptitude and bravery. People would probably say that they might have clone thn sanio had they not been Girl , Scouts-a perfectly feasible thing to «;•.}•. When Irene Symonds lirit joined the Scouts she had been barely able fn swim, but Miss SkoJloy had had all tlu- girls taught swimming. , Plus little jr.'rl had been playing on Ihe beach with her sister when sho saw the punt with it srr.all boy in it helplessly drifting, out to s.-a. . Without hesitation -she had thrown off part of her clnthimr, swum, out to it, and with one hand holding on to it, guided it back to land again. In regard to tho. other girl, she had been walking .. along tho road, her baby brother following her unobserved. All at once she looked round, saw the child lying on its face listening to "the funny noise the rail was making," and was only just in time to drag him'back before the train rushed on? I'owlds, Mrs.Wilford, and Miss Richmond for. their- attendance, and three chee-s were Riven for tho two girls who were honoured that afternoon.