SCOUT NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 135, 9 June 1937, Page 3

SCOUT NOTES

(By "Brown Wolf.")

Thought for the Week.—They always tome so quickly, those turning points, and always down a lane we are not watching. . " '■

North Auckland Scouting,

, 0 Scoutmaster W.- G. Bear, of the Rose- ,. neath group, has just returned from a tour of the north. The following interesting report has been furnished by him:—"ln the course of a five hundred mile tour of North Auckland, I visiteci troops and Scouters in various town and country centres. • Two troops —Dargaville and Russell —are fortunate in possessing fine dens of their own—both erected an.d paid for by the effort of the Scouts and the community. At Russell, the Girl Guides helped .by a very unique method— manure collection for sale to local garden lovers! In and about Whangarei are some ■ enthusiastic troops, including the St. Francis Troop, which have more than once travelled 150 miles* to participate in some Auckland ''activities. At Kerikeri a new group has been - formed into being by the enthusiasm of an ex-Terrace troop patrol leader, Arthur Miller. They have the use of a small shed, but are raising funds for a Scout den to house their 16. Scouts and 20 Cubs. The residents of Kerikeri are active supporters of the Scout movement and practically, every boy is either a Scout or a Cub. Perhaps the most interesting personage I met was Miss Bolt, who is, I believe, the only lady Scoutmaster in New Zealand. Miss Bolt, in addition, nobly carries on the Guides, Brownies, and Cubs of Russell, besides being a Sunday School superintendent.1 While in the North, I was privileged to deliver two addresses on Scouting, and one could observe that through their comparative isolation visiting Scouters can be of immense help to these farflung groups in the north. When in Auckland I was the guest on Friday evening of Commissioner D. Johns, who is also a Deputy Camp Chief, and who introduced me to three active troops. I also visited Scout headquarters and met Mr. Service, Assistant Metropolitan Commissioner, and Commissioner "Mike" Abbott, Major Ward, and "Pop" Middleton., The headquarters consist of a large social room with open fireplace and three smaller rooms, including-vestibule. Winter training classes for-Scouters are just commencing. If any Wellington Scouters are contemplating a visit to the north, I would suggest that they endeavour to make contact with as many of these lonesome groups as possible and thus realise the reality of our great Scout brotherhood." North Dance. A reminder. is given Scouters and friends of the Wellington North district's big dance in the KelbUrn Kiosk tonight. An excellent orchestra' has been obtained, and a dainty supper arranged; a full programme is all ready and waiting to go. Those who were present -at the last- North dance are sure to be among tonight's gay throng. They have had a sample of North's hospitality and. like Oliver Twist, will be back for more. First Roscneath Troop. The Court- of Honour of the First Roseneath troop decided to resume indoor sessions .at the Scout, den on Saturday, commencing at-6.45 p.m. Harmonica' Band. Scouters will be glad to learn that the Harmonica Band which was formed in the latter part, of last year is to start meeting againi The first meeting will be held on, Tuesday, June 15, in the room in the basement of the National Mutual Buildings next to the Bank of New Zealand. Members will meet outside-Stewart Dawson's at 7.30. This year the band will not be limited to either Scouts or mouth organs. All members of the movement who play any suitable instrument are invited to join. This band will be a success if you support it. Please do your bit. . . . , ; Toe H and Scout Hut. Scouters and Rover Leaders are advised that the Toe H and Scout Hut'at Mahina Bay is fully booked- until December 15. Owing to the epidemic in;erfering with the weekends already booked some adjustment may have to be made. A waiting*list of applicants has been commenced for Scouters and Rovers requiring the camp site and hut for 1938. If you are interested send approximate dates ■ required to W. G. Bear, Scoutmaster, Ist Roseneath Troop. 4 Waipapa Road. Hataitai, Wellington. "Barriers"—A New Game. The troop is divided into two tesms and numbered one and two respectively. Number one team goes out of ie room for five minutes, while the Scouts in team number two disarrange the articles in the room, so as to make | ]

obstructions everywhere. In -the centre of the room a blindfolded Scout from team number two stands with the umpire. .The lights are put out, and the Scouts of number one team are told'to enter. It is their job to get to the blindfolded ■ Scout without being "had" by the beam, of light thrown from the torch which the blindfolded Scout is holding. The umpire decides- whether -a Scout is out of the game or not. Those who get to the centre without, being caught by the beam are awarded one point each. When team number one has finished team number two has a go, and the team with the highest number of points wins. . Try this at your next troop meeting and' see how it goes over. The Scout Movement. It is given to few n?en of genius to see in - their- -lifetime the complete triumph of their ideas, as Lord BadenEowell has done. And genius is -the only word that can be applied to that rare combination of visionary enthusiasm and "practical understanding of human nature which lie at the back of the Scout movement. In the establishment of Scouts the famous soldier avowedly had before his eyes the ideals of the orders of. chivalry. Like th« medieval knights, a Scout was to promise to do his duty to God and to the King; to help other people at all times; never to break his honour; to be courteous and polite to all, but especialy to women and children; to be clean in thought, word, and deed. These are ideals-which all will approve, but where the Chief Scout showed hiJ superiority over the mere visionary was in embodying his aims in a movement appealing to youth by satisfying the boyish love of adventure and several fundamental human instincts. No other movement of our time is comparable with it, and no other man could have given it; the same vitality. The Scout movement gratifies that lov« of assembling together, honoured by psychologists with the name of . the gregarious instinct, which will result in the formation of street gangs unless better directed, and it gives expression to that longing for tent life, perhaps the legacy of a primitive mode or existence.' which makes boys erect their bedclothes around a broomstick in the backyard in default'of something better. By means, of the movement the character of millions of boys, in all parts of the world is continually and insensibly moulded for good. The cry of "militarists" will call forth a smile from those who have the slightest acquaintance with Scouting.. The move- ■ ment means that thousands of boys in this country, as in others, are prepared not for war-r-though in time of war they would try and do their duty to God and King no less than in time o_f peace—but for the demands of life, for which disciplined hands and clean hearts can never be too many.