"SILVER WOLF"

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1453, 30 May 1912, Page 6

"SILVER WOLF"

AND HIS BOY SCOUT LEGICM, "8.-P." IN TOWN. RECEPTION AND LECTURE.} In a dispiriting raw southerly\uria zle, an interested crowd, standing on .eirj'ier sido of a double line of boy scouts, pi traded at Thorndon Station, awaited tt'ie arrival of the overland express fim'i Auckland, 'and, with it, Lieutenant ■ General Sir 11. S. Baden-Powell, K.C.8., known to the great legion of boy scouts as "Silver 'Wolf," the Chief Scout. The roadway in front of tho station was "puddley," and cold underfoot, but anticipation obsessed tho minds of the "scoutlets," who formed tho avenue alojig which it was arranged the Chief Scout should pass, and when tho train steamed in, all were agog with excitement. The scoutmasters of th<j various city and visiting patrols were paraded on the platform under .Provincial Commissioner E. S. Baldwin and District-Commander H. N. 1 'Leod, and were presented to the

"chief" when ho descended from the train. Among those who met General liaden-Powell at the station were: Messrs. .1. Ct. W. Aitken and G. A. Troup, and the Hon. C. M. Luke, M.L.C. (all connected with the boy scout movement), and Captain C. P. Thornton, N.Z.S.C. (representing General Headquarters). Colonel E. S. Heard (Director of Staff Duties), and Captain D. C. Spencer Smith (General Staff Officer), with Lieutenant-Colonel Cowgi'ovo (Dominion Chief Scout), accompanied tho visitor from Auckland. The original idea was that General Baclen-Powell should be greeted by the guard of boy scouts outsido tho station as lie emerged, and saluted with a "rally." Apparently this part of the programme was cut out—the visitor was due at the Town Hall at 4.30 p.m. —and quite a number of expectant scouts Who had obviously been supported throughout the day by the expectation of seeing the man of whom they had heard so much, did not see him at all, and wore sorely disappointed in consequence, for the "chief was hurried through to tho waiting motor-car and whisked off to the Town Hall. There was no salute, no rally, only an empty disappointment. On arrival at the Town Hall, Gfencral Baden-Powell was officially welcomed by tho Mayor (Mr. D. M'Laren), and city councillors, in the Concert Chamber, which was crowded. Tho Mayor, in a Hrief speech, referred to the value of tho boy scout-movement as an agent in the building up of character and the development of initiative.

General Baden-Powell, who was heartily welcomed ■on rising to respond, said that tho boy scout movement was admirably suited as a co-ordinative factor in the training of the New Zealand cadets. The colonial boy was different from the Home boy, and seemed to possess greater initiative and resource. There was the same need, however, for training in discipline, for the tpiickening of that sense of duty which was so conspicuous an attribute in the personality of the Britisher. Ho also referred to tho honour conferred upon him by New Zealand after the relief of Mafeking, when the late Mr. Seddon, on behalf of the people of New Zealand, presented him. with a gold plate in memory of the occasion. He now had an opportunity of personally thanking them for the gift, and assuring them of his heartiest gratitude for their goodwill. The scout movement was a good thing for boys, and whether they became soldiers or anything else, they would be tho better men for it. (Applause.) CHIEF SCOUT'S LECTURE, In the evening, General Baden-Powell delivered a lecture at the Town Hall. The scouts of the Wellington district assembled in hundreds to do honour to their chief, and members of the general public made ,iip a very largo gathering. A scout guard of 'honour received-General BadenPowell whoa he arrived at the Town Hall, and greeted him with hearty cheers. Amongst those who attended were: The Governor, Lady Islington, and tho Hon. Joan Dickson-Poynder, Sir Joseph and Lady Ward, and Miss Eileen Ward. Tho Governor and General BadenPowell were received with loud and continuous applause as they appeared on the platform. Lord Islington, who has, among other titles, that of Dominion Chief Scout, said that ho was very glad that his presence in Wellington hail made it possible for him to undertake the pleasant task of introducing their distinguished visitor. Sir Robert BadenPowell had attained distinction within the Empire in more than one branch of the public service. His distinguished service iu tho South African War would never bo forgotten, and tho names of

"Mafeking" and "Baden-Powell" would always bo coupled together. (Applause.) It was as Chief Scout that they were so pleased to welcome General BadenPowell that evening. (Laud applause.) His Excellency highly commended the boy scout movement, and expressed a hope that it would be incorporated with the universal system -of cadet training in the Dominion. (Applause.) Finally Lord Islington called for cheers for General Baden-Powell. They wero given with a will, and another tunrult of applause, cheers, and whistles arose as the originator of tho boy scout movement rose to speak. After toucbing upon the rapid rise and spread of the scout movement, General Baden-Powell said that it had amused him to find that he was accused of the awful crime of spreading militarism. Ho would say that the man who had seen something of war would bo the first who would do his best, to prevent its recurrence. (Applause.) The boy scout movement was wholly devoted to training boys in the duties of good citizenship. At tho same time these duties involved being ready to defend one's country if the necessity arose. New Powers were rising up amongst the nations, and it w;as dangerous to go on (rusting to luck or lo what was probable. A country should prenaro for what was possible. By neglecting to do so it invited aggression. He was glad to see that Australia and New Zealand wero rapidly preparing themselves to resist possible aggression. The hoy scout movement came in as a useful foundation. It did not arouse militarism, but taught boys to be brave, man!/ and unselfish. Although on the surface it was a very good game, a great deal underlay the scout movement. Having dealt with his subject in broad outline, General Baden-Powell proceeded to deal with it in a move detailed way, his remarks being now illustrated by a large number of interesting lantern slides. The first picture was a map of the world, show.ing the British Empiro in familiar red. This was- followed by a man of the Boman Empire, a picture of a gladiatorial combat in a. Roman amphitheatre, and another of a latter-day spOTtin.g crowd looking on at a football match. These pictures served to lend point to a pithy sermonette on the necessity of honest individual effort and endeavour in maintaining the stability of an Empire. Boy sconts were taught, General Baden-Powell said, that everyone should lake an active sliare in the game on hand, whether it was a gamo of football or tho game of life. An interesting portion of the lecture was that which dealt with detail experiences in the siege of Mafeking. Many of the illustrations at Ibis stage wero from clever little sketches by the leclurer himself. Emphasising the value of the scout training for purely peaceful ends, General Baden-Powell mentioned such men os Captain Cook, a certain Dr. Greufoll of Labrador, who has abjured the comforts of civilisation in order to serve a race of pioneers, and mnmy olbers iu whom the, spirit of enterprise runs high. General Baden-Powell managed to convey an astonishing amount of information to his hearers. He is sparing of words, but prolific of facts and ideas, and he was followed with close attention from beginning to end. The general aim and tendency of the scout training, he slated in conclusion, was to make boys develop into good, all-round men. It gave them a healthy, out-door life, and helped to make Diem men of character, who would he the best citizens of their country laler on.

At the conclusion of the lecture a number of motion pictures were screened, showing scouts in camp and engaged in various activities. Needless (o cay, the display was rapturously applauded by the scouts who witnessed it. TO-DAY'S ARRANGEMENTS. Owing lo the wet state of th? ground at Newtown Park, it has bn»ii decided to hold the parade of senior cadets, junior cadets, and boy scouts, ordered Jor to-do,v. on t l '* slodo at Mount Cookj

Buckle Street. The cadets and scouts will assemble outsido the Garrison Hull. Buckle Street, at 2 p.m., and will be directed to tho position allotted them. If tile weather is too wet to hold tho parade in the open, all will assemble inside the drill shed. Those in possession of tickets must present them. Owing to tho extreme pressure upon his time, General It. S. S. Baden-Powell will be unable to address the Girl Scouts at the Engineering Institute at i> p.m. to-day, but his place will bo taken by Lieutenant-Colonel Cossgrovc, V.J). The practice which' was to take place at Newtown Park at 9 a.m. will bo held in the Drill Hall, iSucklo Street, to-day.