Scout Competitions

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 67, 6 April 1937, Page 10

Scout Competitions

"BIG SMOKE"

Once again it seems as if We shall have to put off th© camping Competition for a few weeks. However, there is plenty of time for it. The swimming contest had to be abandoned for this season since it wpuld ba too cold by the timo we could hold it, but camping can be done well on in to the winter. Scouts in England are going in in increasing numbers for camping in all seasons, even with snow lying on the ground, so that we cannot let them beat us by cancelling our camping competition just because it'has got to the winter time. An extra blanket is all that is needed, and see that your tents are in good condition and your groundsheet waterproof and you will be quite comfortablei. If you have your teams ready and your plans made we can hold the camp whenever we get the chance and whenever tht weather seems to be going to give us a reasonably fine week-end. The Barron Memorial competition of Scout work was to have been held somewhere about June 26, but w© may have to drop some of our activities for the year to allow the Troops to settle down after ftH the re-arrangements this summer. Since the Barron Memorial deals with the work that goes on during the winter, Scout parades in any case it will be better .to drop and hold the camp, which teaches more team work and capability of the leader. The Bronze Statue display is not due until the end of September or thereabouts, and is meant to give you some incentive to fill in your spare moments, And while I am mentioning this display, I would like to ask the parents to iielp their boys to make things during the winter months; to give them ideas of articles to make and a bit of advice as to' the making. The boys will then faecome keener and able to make better and more useful tliiugs than evgr before. All boys can make something or other ; it only needs the idea of what to make and perhaps a bit of assistance at home. They will also want a bit of help in getting materials and fcools, for pocket-money cannot get everythibg. However, a bit of time, trouble and expense on the part of mother or father is well worth while, for it gives the youngster some object in his spare time and also will tend to keep him from running around the 3treets. Now then, you chaps, let us see what sort of a show we can put up for ourselves this year! Other years have been pretty good, but let us make this a record one for our handicraft show. We can do so if you will all do your bit. Scouts Keep Busy.

This year, in spite of our upset plans, seems to have been u busy one for many Scouts, especially for those of th© Second Hastings Troop. Judging by the number who have been buzaing around "Big Smoke's" house and asking about badges, parts of Second Class and First Class badges, there seem to be some pretty keen chaps about. It is good to see the friendships that kave( sprung up between the Scouts. One Vsually sees several of them together, and whenever a few chaps arrange a day's outing it is almost always just among the Scouts, quite often with some badge work in view. It all helps to keep Scouting alive whatever els© might be happening. Several small parfcies of two or three have been for a day's outing this lllaster. "Big Smoke" and three others, having got tired of their kits getting too much run down the ropeway at the Rissington camp, decided to speml two days and a night there and remedy matters by putting new lining on the winch brake. There will be no further chance of anyone's kit not stopping at tlie bottom until it hits the post, unless some on© at the winch forgets to put on the brake. If it is his own it won't matter ; if it is some other chap's he will probably hear about it, and he won't be able to put the blame on-the winch now. While they were there they also started to repair the damage one Hood did to the pipes that were meant to bring some beautifully fresh water from a spring on the other side of the river across to the camp. As it is we have to rely on rain-water in a drum when the river gets too muddy or flooded, This job will be finislied soon now ; they got stuck for want of the proper tools, Concert Postponed. The Clive Women's Institute and Hastings Scout Concert had, like other things, to be oostooned and will be

put on about a fortnight after the schools re.-start. Keep up your parts, you chaps ; if you forget your words all your practice will have to start over

again.