SCOUT NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 32, 8 February 1933, Page 14

SCOUT NOTES

(By "Soouter.") All D.S.H.'s, D,C.M.'s, and district secr.e^"es. S.M.s, A.SM.% OM.'e, and A.urn. s are reminded of the conference to be held at headquarters, 95, Courtenay place, on Saturday at 10 o'clock. Entries for the Maori language class are coming in freely. We hope to make an announcement at an early date, of when the class will commence. A wood badge course for' Scouters is to be held at .Butterfly Creek at Easter. Quite' a good number of Scouters have already (signified.their intention of attending. There is room, however, for more. What about it? Application for enrolment may be obtained from the metropolitan secretary. The annual swimming competitions are to be held at the Riddiford Baths, Lower Hutt, on Wednesday, Ist March. Entries should be forwarded to the metropolitan secretary. The Lower Hutt group will be holding a reunion and debt extinction celebration at the "Den," Strand Park (near Hutt bridge), on Wednesday, 22nd February, at 7 o'clock. Will all old members-who read this column, or anyone knowing of any old member, please advise' Scoutmaster P. L. McKenzie, Grenville street, Woburn, Lower Hutt, for we are , anxious to get into direct touch with every one of them. The troop was founded by Mr. W. Mason on 22nd January, 1915, and we are pleased to say that "Pa" will be with us at the reunion. We hope to form an Old Scouts' Association connected with the group, and any assistance afforded will be greatly appreciated. On ,27th December the Ist Trentham Troop went to Mungaroa to spend their annual camp under- canvas on the property of Mrs. Prank Scholes. The rain did not in any way damp the ardour of the boys, who kept going cheerfully until the camp -was pitched, everything under cover, and a good fire going, A strenuous day was brought to a close with a good supper. The remainder of the camp was spent under ideal conditions, the weather being all that could be wished for, and the Scouting spirit well maintained throughout. The seven days came to an end all too soon, and everyone returned home bronzed and happy. The camp was visited by the district chairman, the District Scoutmaster and his troop, and many parents and relations on visiting day. 6 Groups throughout the area have resumed their meetings. In most cases the attendance is satisfactory. The 2nd Lower Hutt hold a special night to-morrow, when iscout.W. Taylor is to be presented with a letter of commendation from the New Zealand. Chief Scout,' His Excellency the Governor-General, for a real gopd deed last year. On 16th February a party of English school boys visiting New Zealand are expected, five being Scouts. On 25th February the Rovers hold a swimming tournament at the Eiddiford Baths. The 26th February being the Sunday nearest the .birthday of the Chief Scout and Chief Guide (Lord and Lady Baden Powell), a suitable service is to be held in St. Paul's Cathedral, ■ districts co-operating, with Guides, m thia: The Chief Commissioner desires all. Scouters to make inquiries in their respective districts and find out if there are any boys from other districts employed in any way who might be feeling/strange, and lonely. If any, would they get in touch with them and offer them a welcome to troop headquarters some evening. There is no suggestion that these lads are not being cared for and are not receiving kindness and consideration from their employers, but that, boylike and Scoutlike, they may care to meet some of the big Brotherhood of Scouts. ■ ' • " .;Here is. a hobby for you, one that will gjya you plenty of. interest, and one that Will be of.help.to you in your studies, especially in. geography, and stamp collecting. ■Philately, ;as it 'is known, is a most interesting hobby and one that calls especially for observation and neatness if you are to make a success of it. There are many ways in which you can take up Philately. You may make a comprehensive collection of stamps from all over the world, or confine yourself to one continent, or to erne country. Philatelists might even decide these broad divisions again for you, but for the purpose of this, talk, just: introducing you' to this,hobby, these divisions will do. When you commence you' will find ■} that 'your knowledge of history' and geography is very faulty, but you will-spon find that you gain ifl a pleasant. manner a, deal of . information regarding the Empire's possessions, as ■jyell as.' of foreign countries. You will also learn * lot: about colour and design, aiid also some instruction in the art 'of printing and engraving. The different kinds of paper will be brought to your notice, And; you Svill also find out a .Jot abbut Wat^marto, and other; methods 'for tHa,.prevention.„ of.forgery. . There are many more things, that can be claimed for stamp ;colleeting, which with its specimens of the printer's art, the beautiful designs, comprising pictures of fauna, flora, physical and natural features of the different countries, make up a beautiful collection. Many stamps are almost invaluable. These, of course, will not fall to your lot, but you can at a little cost to yourself commence to make what may prove to be a useful and even a valuable collection , in. the years to come. There is only one .way for/a boy to start a collection, aiyi that is by purchasing, un-less;-of/course, one has friends who will give; him a lift by presenting him with a few stamps: Young collectors must from the start understand that it is not only important' that his stamps should be properly and decently arranged, but that in the choice of an album, etc., he must work in the right direction. Personally I prefer the loose leaf album. The value of-a large;number of collections is spoilt by the manner in. which the stamps have been piit into the album, and this should always be taken into consideration. Next week I will say more about starting a collection, cleaning of stamps, ■ mounting, etc. ; '. • ' ■ . •