GIRL GUIDE NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 22463, 7 October 1936, Page 7

GIRL GUIDE NOTES

[By Guider.]

GLIDERS’ HIKE. Guiders are to meet at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday at the Stuart street train terminus, Kaikorai Valley. Those wishing to stay overnight will take their own gear; arrangements are being made to procure the use of a barn, with straw for bedding. Those who would like to have their gear transported for them should apply to their district captains. GLIDERS’ CLUB. The Guiders’ Club held its monthly meeting in Wilson Hall on October 1, Miss Burgess presiding until Miss G. Williams arrived. The following companies were represented:—Anderson’s Bay, St. Clair, South Dunedin, Musselburgh, St. Anne’s, Ist and 2nd Caversham, Mosgiel, St. Andrew’s, Columba, Mornington, Central Mission, 4th Dunedin, Ist and 2nd Knox, St. Hilda’s, Knox Hangers, Lone Guides. Apologies were received from Mrs Gibbs, Misses Anderson, Bennetto, and Green. As this was the first time the Guiders had met since the death of Miss Bessie Robertson, the recipient of the badge of fortitude, the members stood in silence as a token of respect. Final arrangements were made for Miss Barron’s hike on October 10 to Whare Flat.

The Sports Committee reported that it had decided to change the type of competition for the cup this year, and make it more in keeping with Guiding. Each company will bo represented by a team of eight Guides, one member of which will compete for the 100yds cup. The tests are as follow, unless otherwise notified;

(1) Nature Study. Four Guides will each be given a twig, and will be required to match it from the local trees.

(2) Fire Lighting.—Two Guides will attend to this, points being given for the correct woods used, turfing, and returfing. (3) Camp Gadgets.—The remaining two Guides will make a towel rack, using''square lashing, and a shoe rack, using forked sticks. (4) Signalling (International Method).—Six Guides will signal a given list of articles useful if marooned on an island.

(5) Ambulance. The other two Guides will treat a simple cut and a sprained ankle. Captains are asked to see that their teams are ready to start the tests at 2.30 p.m. If wet, the sports will be postponed to the following Saturday. Captains in the south and central districts are asked to find out if any of their Guides wish to go to Rangers next year, for, if there are a sufficient number, a company will be formed in

South Dunedin. Will captains please get in touch with Miss Hart as soon as possible ? The Guiders’ meeting next month will take the form of a conference, so all Guiders are asked to send in matters for discussion to Miss K. Standage by October 19. This concluded the business _ part of the evening, and the captains were joined by the Brown Owls for supper. WOODCRAFT. Choice of Firewoods. A working knowledge of the burning properties of the different woods is a valuable asset to the would-be camper, especially to potential camp cooks. The following is a brief summary of the value as fuel of the more common New Zealand and English trees and shrubs likely to be found in Otago. As a general rule hard woods can be relied upon to make good slow-burn-ing fires which yield plenty of hot coals, excellent for cooking. Soft woods, on the other hand, and those containing a high percentage of fat or resin, light easily and make hot fires, but are very quickly spent. However, each has its own peculiarities, which deserve separate study:— Native Woods.—Climbers, such as lawyer and muhlenbeckia (pohuehue), burn well, though supplejack does not. Shrubs. —Veronicas (koromiko) burn well. Coprosmas burn well. Wild Irishman (matakauri or toumatou) is excellent, good for cooking. Trees. Fuchsia (konini) burns poorly, except when rotting. Black and white maple (matipo) make good burning, also red maple (mapau). Whiteywood (hina-hina or mah'oe) burns quickly with no body. Manuka, broadleaf, and black pine are excellent woods for all purposes. Red and white pine are good when quite dry. Birch and lacebark are fairly good, except when really rotting. Totara sparks very badly; in fact, it almost causes minor explosions, and is dangerous to use unless constantly watched. English Woods. —Willow burns quite well, but has not much body, and sparks. Poplar and elder burh well, but have an acrid, bitter smoke. Any of the firs make splendid burning, and oak is a good solid wood for cooking purposes. Ash is an excellent allround fuel, and burns equally well green or dry. Pine burns well with a clear flame and delicious smell, although large logs have a tendency to char on the outside and go out.. Birch and beech are both rich in fat and burn quickly and clearly, giving a hot flame and leaving very little white wash. They are apt to shoot embers. They also burn when green. Spruce goes off rather like a flash in the pan and would make a good flare fire. Larch' burns quickly with high-leaping flames, and an incense-like smell. Sycamore and lime are both soft woods which burn well when dry, but not at all if green. The great knack in successful wooding lies not so much in finding exactly wlTat you want, but in knowing what you do not want and avoiding it. As for the fire itself, remember it is a sure sign of the greenhorn to build a great roaring fire, which wastes fuel and is extremely unpleasant for the cook. A good camper makes a neat, compact fire, and has at hand a good pile of the right sort of wood with which he stokes frequently. _ Keep your roaring fires for camp-fire circle, where they really will be appreciated. BADGE NOTICES. In future badge certificates need not be sent to the provincial secretary.;

Instead a check will be left by the badge secretary on the number of badges given out. Clerks’ and Scribes’ Badge.—Tuesday, October 13, at 4 p.m., in ■Wilson Halil. . Needlewoman and Embroideress a Badge.—Entries must be at Wilson Hall by October 22. BROWNIE FOLK. How anxiously the Knox Brownies watched the sky on October 3, for it was very important that the weather should keep fine. Now, I wonder why ? Well, Brown Owl told me that jt was because four Brownies were going to leave the pack andl go up to Guides—three were going to “ fly up ” and ona “run up”—and. the ceremony this time was planned for out-of-doors, near trees and running water,, so do you wonder that these Brownies did not want it to rain? In the afternoon away up to Bethune’s Gully hiked Brownies and Guides, thankful that the sun was shining. _ Tawny Owl and pack leader divided Brownie-land from Guide-land by a line of flowers and leaves. When the Guides had formed into their horseshoe Brownies appeared as if by magio from the bush and made a ring round their toadstool in Brownie-land. Then the Brownies who were going to leave the pack were farewelled in the usual manner. After this Brown Owl divested the four Brownies of their symbols, all except their service stars and wings, and now they were ready to fly _ or run up. The first three ,Brownies, each in turn, flew to the line and called out “ Tu-whit, tu-whoo!” In answer to this call a patrol leader froin Guideland ran up to the line to see who was seeking entrance into her part of the world. On hearing that it was a Brownie she inquired by what right did she come, and when the Brownio said “ By right of my Brownie wings,” the patrol leader took her by the hand and escorted her to the captain, who was waiting to welcome her. When the three Brownies had “ flown , up ”• they went back for the Brownie who was “ running up.” The Guides now. formed a ring round the four Brownies and sang them a. welcome as they skipped around. Then all the Guides were invited to Brownie-land for some Brownie games, which were enjoyed by all. I wonder what dreams those four Brownies had that night!