BOY SCOUTS HONOURED

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2308, 16 November 1914, Page 8

BOY SCOUTS HONOURED

FOR BRAVERY PRESENTATION AT BROOKLYN At the Brooklyn School on Saturday afternoon an interesting ceremony took place, when the Royal Humane Society's certificates were presented to Scouts. E. yr. .Piatts-Mills"'and J. Bald-win,-of the Kelburn Corps, and a drum-. arid fife and two flags were presented to the Brooklyn Scouts. " There were about one hundred scouts present,' and the' Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J.-P. Luke)'- and Councillor G. -Frost made the presentation's;; ' In. addition, there were present Scout-Commissioner E. S.Baldwin, Wellington Province, and deputy-Commissioner H. W. -M'Leod, Chief Scout- Inspector M'Fariand, Dis;tnct Commander Lawson, and Lieuten-at-Colonel Creswell, of Christchurch, a number of the Dominion Soont Executive Council, and about one hundred friends of the scouts. The Mornington Scouts, lined tho school paths to receive the visitors, and the ceremony took place inj the school-grounds, where all the scduts were drawn tip; In a' short address to the scouts, Commissioner Baldwin outlined the attributes of a gentleman, and-said that so long as the scouts obeyed the scout law they would be gentlemen; In addition to the presentation/ of the Humane Society's certificates, he said that the Dresden Piano Company had; presented the Dominion Boy Scouts with a fine kettledrum, the ladies of Brooklyn had presented them with two flags, and an unnamed dorior had provided a set of fifes. ■ ■ :'

• Tho': Mayor then presented the certificates to Scouts Platts-Mills and, Bajdwiii, who gained, them by their'bravery in rescuing Scout Donaldson, who had got into difficulties 'in the Wainui Stream '.on' Good Friday . last. Mr. Luke said that he endorsed Commissioner Baldwin's words in. every respect. He looked upon ,the scouts as true young gentlemen.. The scout movement Had .become world-wide, and that day a section of the organisation was to. be presented with an emblem of authority, in the Union Jack. That flag was similar to the one which was borne in action' in' the straggle in Europe, and a responsibility devolved on them in having the flag iii. their possession. In one generation they would be required to step into the places of the British soldiers Who were fighting that day to uphold all that' l was true and best for the welfare of the nation. He commended Scouts •• Platts-Mills' and Baldwin for their bravery, arid handed them the Royal Humane Society's certificates, which were handsomely framed: Cheers were given for the scouts. Councillor Frost then handed over to Commander Baldwin, on behalf, of the Dominion Boy Scouts, the Union, Jack, New Zealand Ensigii,! and ; drum and fifes'. Ho felt suro, he, said,', that they saw in the scouts the'future: soldiers of . the Empire, and they would be well trained wheri : they : were called upon. He read a letter from' the Brooklyn Volunteer Fire Brigade thanking the Brooklyn Scouts for the assistance they' rendered at'a recent lire in Brooklyn.

.. Commissionr Baldwin said that lie had pleasure in accepting the emblems on behalf of the 1 Dominion Boy Scouts. They thanked the donors for,their generosity. He handed: the gifts to the Brooklyn, Scouts for. safe keeping.

Colonel Creswell delivered a short address' to the boys, and repeated Colonel Cosgrove'B message to thein : "Observe the scout law each and every day, and then you:will be good boys, good men, and 'good citizens.^' Dr. Platts-Mills responded for her son, aid Scoutmaster j Maginnity responded ' for the Brooklyn. Scout 3. A message was' handed to the Mayor, thanking him for his presence, and thanking the donors for their gifts. A physical drill display and a signalling display were given by the scouts before the gathering terminated.