SCOUT NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 129, 27 November 1929, Page 18

SCOUT NOTES

(By "B. A.M.")

Following the lead of the Hutt Valley and Bays District, the Wellington South District are calling a meeting o£ all Scout and Cub officers for to-night at 7.15 p.m. followed by a general meeting of members of committees at 8 p.m. in St. James's Schoolroom, behind the Newtown Public Library, in'order that a district committee may be set up, to control the affairs of Wellington South.

Last Tuesday week there was a grand muster of Cubs and Scouts at the Berhampore Baptist Troop when Scoutmaster C. Denny was presented with his warrant under Ipisi ceremony. I n addition to fr? P^ erV f the troop c<"nmittee and fiiends there was a welcome visit from of thJ fmi y r £lo°P- ** the absence ot the District Commissioner, D.S.M Bell presented the warrant, and followed with interesting competitions. Later in the evening Commissioner Hitehins cave an "W?! talk- The tro °P now we?l--estabhshed and the thanks of the Scouts are due to A.S.M. Outhwaite for the loyal Sr er, mrwi eh he eld the tro °P together until the appointment of Scoutmaster Denny, and under Cubmaster L on^ t We! linet(i n Jew«h Troop started in on ,te tenderfoot test work last week. D.C. b. W. Vosseler and D.S.M. Donkin were | present to give these willing Scouts a |gpod solid start in their Scout work The chairman and secretary of the troop and estod nn? Sl° f *he eommitt« were interestea onlookers.

w h% Met, r.°P olitan Commissioner, Sir Altred Robin, accompanied by Mr H Amos and D.C.R. Nelson, addressed a targe gathering of parents, friends, and supporters at Waiwetu, Lower Hutt, after winch a troop and a cub pack were formed by the boys present. Mr. Nicholls and Mrs. Joyce were nominated as the first Scoutmaster and Cubmistress, and Mr Doucett to be A.S.M. District Officers X L. MKenzie and J. W. Bugg and Mrs. !? ?°ff a, r,d' Hon" Secretary South Section Jlutt Valley District, were present assisting in the.formation of the troop. The Metropolitan Commissioner in an interesting talk on the principles of the movement explained the meaning of the various sections of the Scout vow. He said that there was a great lack of knowledge of the objects of the Scout movement amongst the general public. The movement was world-wide, it was non-sectarian, and it was non-military, but the great underlying principle was patriotism. With the exception of the recently-formed Jewish Troop there was no Church Troop in the strictest sense of the word in Wellington. The whole training tended to bring about peace and goodwill in the world. Apologies were received from Mr. R. M. Wilson, the local schoolmaster, who promised every assistance in his power to the movement; also the Hon. T. M. Wilford and Capt. Olphert. Archdeacon Hansell, president of the Anglican Boys' Home Troop, expressed pleasure that the troop had been formed, and considered that the work of Lord Baden-Powell had been a marvellous inspiration. The wonderful course of training the Scout received taught him self-dependence; he considered the movement had been a Godsend. Mr. Amos said that in his experience of school life he had always found the Scout movement of great assistance to the teachers and the general work of the school. He advised the boys present to commence doing their good turns at home by assisting their parents. He wished the new troop every success. Supper provided by the ladies brought a- really successful meeting to a close. Last Friday the St. James troop gave a hearty welcome home to their Scoutmaster, Mr. L. Moss, of the Jamboree Contingent. It is the intention of the troop to form a Rover Crew, and develop into a 1 group. ' The Scouts presented the Rev. Mr. Shirer, their chaplain, with a framed photograph of the troop and pack. A large gathering of parents enjoyed games introduced by Mr. L. Moss. The Metropolitan x Commissioner accompanied by Commissioners P. W. Vosseler and Hitchin, and D.S.M.'s Donkin, Bell, Green, and Heath, presented badges to leaders and Scouts. Warrants were presented to Miss Moncur, Cubmistress, and A.S.M. Roger Wilson. Scouters Moss and Wilkins gave an interesting talk on their experiences abroad with the Jaml»oree Contingent, both agreeing that wherever they roamed there was no place like entering Wellington harbour on a fine sunny morning. Scout supper sent all home in good fellowship.

A number of Wellington Guide Commissioners and Leaders will meet the Wellington Commissioners and District Officers of Wellington Scouts at the Guide Headquarters, Kelvin Chambers, on Wednesday, 4th December, to discuss matters likely to be of mutual benefit to the two movements with principles so much akin to sisterhood and brotherhood.

The Metropolitan Commissioner, Sir Alfred Robin, and Mr. H. Amos, Dominion Council representative, will attend the Dominion Council annual meeting to be held on Wednesday, at which Commissioners Cooksey and Sandford, of the Jamboree Contingent, will be present, and present trophies and gifts from the Great Chief Scout, Baron Baden-Powell, of Gillwell, and also give account of their stewardship.

On Saturday last our esteemed Metropolitan Commissioner, with District Commissioner Captain V. Johansen at the wheel, established a Scout Troop-forming record. Leaving Wellington at 2 p.m., they addressed public meetings at Paraparaumu at i p.m., and at Paekakariki at 7 p.m. •on the principles of scouting, the method of training, and the duties of a committee. Scout troops and committees were formed in each place. Some seventy boys were registered, and in anticipation of the troops being formed, have for some time being working up to their tenderfoot test. Parents and supporters attended in goodly numbers, and Scout tea was dispensed in each place by the ladies of the district. The Rev. Mr. Wilson and District Commissioner Johansen are to be congratulated on their efforts in bringing about" this happy result. Scoutmaster Halcox, Patrol Leader Kirk, Island Bay, and Cubmaster Johansen, Ngaio, gave yeoman service in helping along their new-found brothers. The boys at each place were pleased to show the committee and visitors some elementary work, and a game or two, thus spreading some knowledge of scouting among the grown-up folk. The_ "Hill" district is fast completing a chain of Scout groups from to Otaki.

Just after The Terrace Troop had finished an interesting variation of Kirn's Game, used as a patrol competition, on Tuesday, 21st instant, they were visited by members of the Rotary Club. Scoutmaster Smither invested three recruits as Scouts—Fisher, Jones, and Reiser—and the yarn he told before -the ceremony was one to impress any boy with the importance of the steps taken. After a perc i? n Inde Pendent work in Patrols, one of the visiting Rotarians spoke most interestingly to the troop, and the visitors lett troop in a most happy frame of mind.

At a recent meeting of Trinity Troop the Scoutmaster appointed Patrol Leader Palmer to be Troop Leader, and promoted Second Loveridge to lead the Hound Patrol. Last Thursday evening the troop received a visit from the representatives of the Rotary Club, who were given a vigorous welcome. After the Patrols had spent some time on Scout Work under their leaders, the visitors saw a Patrol Competition in knotting, and were most interested in a game calling ■ for mental alertness. One of the visitors gave the troop a talk, and they departed, leaving an atmosphere of good cheer behind them.

A hearty welcome home to the two members of the V.M.C.A. Troop who were away with the Jamboree Contingent took place at the V.M.C.A. Building last Tuesday evening, when there was a large gathering of parents and friends*. Mr. P. W. Vosseler, Commissioner for the district, and Mrs. Vosseler, were present. Mr. Vosseler in most appropriate words extended a welcome to the returned Scouters, after' which Mr. L. Anderson gave several items, followed by Scouters Wilkins and Meachen relating some of their experiences whilst abroad, and then giving a demonstration of hakas. The silver cup for all-round competition amongst the patrols of the troop was presented to the Pox Patrol. During the evening D. S. M. Donkin, who has had charge of the V.M.C.A. Troop mnce its inception fifteen

years ago, was handed a fifteen years' star by the returning Scouters. It is the intention of D.S.M. Doukin to hand over the charge of the V.M.C.A. Troop to Scouter Meaohen at the end of this year. Camp is the place where we find out most about our Scouts' characters; it is the place where, perhaps, we can do most to mould their characters. This ia not bo as concerns the outer aspects of Scouting only—cooking, pioneering, games, and so on —but also as regards the inner meaning, the strengthening of the boy in body, mind, and spirit. The Scout Promise should obviously be one of the prominent features of our Scout Camps. The "Scout Law" should be the law of the camp- good turns to the farmer or the neighbouring people, even if it is only to invite them to a camp fire. Scouting in its best form will go far to carry out the second part of the Scout Promise.

The Lyall Bay Troop, under A.SM. L. Brice, continue to make steady progress. Lard parties were held during the winter months, and splendid results achieved, and the dance was a great success. The committee of the troop wish to thank Father Connolly and Mr. Ockenden for their generosity in allowing the use of their halls. Last Tuesday a visit was received from District Commissioner Hitchin and D.S.M. Heath. Arrangements have been made for each Patrol to camp out weekends in preparation for the Christmas camp.

The St y Matthew's Nos. 1 and 2 Wolf Cub packs, Masterton, held a combined meeting recently in honour of their cubmasters after their return from the cubmasters' camp in Christchurch. After listening to jungle stories and playing games the party sat down to "high tea," which was provided and prepared by the cubs themselves. Early in the evening they adjourned to the Park, and had a great time celebrating the sth of November. Before the packs, were dismissed they gathered round the camp fire (originally a Guy Fawkes bonfire), where the D.S.M. presented to JMiss Daisy Hubbard her warrant as D.C.Jf., and a long-service medal to Miss Rose Robinson. In congratulating. Miss Hubbard on her promotion, Mr. M'Levie stated that scout headquarters realised that the splendid development of the cub section of the brotherhood throughout the Wairarapa was due to' the" enthusiasm and ability of Miss Hubbard, and he felt sure that that section of the movement would continue to progress under her guidance. In presenting a long-service medal to Miss Robinson, Mr. M'Levie emphasised that Miss Robinson had by continuous service in the pack shown the very valuable gift of "stickability," the virtue of being able to carry on in the face of difficulties for the sake of the work amongst the boys. After giving cheers and musical honours for their officers, also the grand howl, the boys dispersed.

The recently formed Rover patrol in Masterton has been meeting regularly for the last month. The Rev. E. M'Levie was unanimously elected as Rover Mate, and Mr. J. C. Robinson (an old scout of a number of years' service in the scout movement) has been appointed Rover Second. It has been named the Captain Scott Patrol, and already a study of the last voyage of this hero has been begun at the meetings. Until the chaps "are entitled to wear the rover uniform, the official uniform is to be "oldest clothes." On Saturday, 16th November, the patrol set off on its first hike to Mitre Flats. I heir first experience was full of adventure and fun. So far the meetings have been mainly a study of the ideals and methods of working the rovers. This week an old resident of Masterton is to give a talk on the early history of the Wairarapa amongst the Maoris, and plans are bein" made for a visit of rovers from Wellington and Petone to give us a help on