COMMISSIONER'S OUTLOOK

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 73, 13 April 1937, Page 15

COMMISSIONER'S OUTLOOK

Elghth SooUt LftW, Those df ua who had made arrangements to attend the Cub Wcod Badge camp at Palmerston, or the Rover Moot at Masterton, had to praetice the eighth Scout law, I am sure. I cancelled our visits on the very best advice, and with gre&t regfet. HoWever, I intend to arraiige a cub course up here at the very earliest opportunity. A Chancd for coiiimunity sarvioe. I have been asked by tbe Napier Borough Council for the assistance of a number of Scouts oli Saturday mornibgS to hfelp the traffic officer in instructing the public in the new tfaffio regulatioila. This should be a chance to rehder Bervice, and also to gather Useful information. The District Scouter is arranging inatters, and those -of you who are picked sliould feel proud to cafry oiit sxich a tvork. I am sure you will all do your best and be alert, courteous ahd well ttirned out in your uniform. Remember, you wjll b© under the publio eye, and so I 6m aHsious for you to do your job well. Keep busy. Now that sehools and meetings are suspehded, Bome of. you will, at timeB, be at a loose end. This is always a dangerous time, because there is always mischief tempting you. Although your troop and Paek ar6 not meeting, you can" still carry out Scout work. Cub Stars and Scout proficiency badges can be practised at home, and when Groups start again you will be able to show your Scouter tbat you have not slacked. Handicrafts can always be worked at. Patrol Leaders can make themselves more proficient. Troop ahd Pack meetings are not the beginning and the end of Scouting. I once agaih remind you tbat the best Scouting is done in your homeg and in your daily lives. So dtm't let yourself get into mischief. "When you are tempted to do so remember that you hot only let yourself down,

but also your Tiroop, Pack and the whole movement. So think before you act. I am sorry to say that some of the senior boys who should help the younger ones to resisfc temptations lead them- into it. If you do not intend to • play the game be men enough to fesign from your Troop first and not drag its hame into the mud. To be a Leader js a splendid thing, btit there are twO wajte of leading. I hope you will be all in full swing soen and I can .come along. and visit you ohce more. Cfcerio! "LITTLiS JQHN" Hastings Soout Hall. The campaign to raiee funds for the building of the Hastings Scout Hall opened with great promise. 1 Material and money wero given. But since Christmas thinga have come to a standstill. Those who have given so liberally will want to know when things are going to start. Bilt, of course, you have n0t enough money raised yet. Has the enthusiasm run out? I do hope the

Hastings area committee will get on the go again. 'this building is so much wanted, and I hoped that a start would be mad© before 'winter set in. It is your job to do your best. "LITTLE JOHN" Piontor Badgs. This is a badge that is really worth while getting. If you can do what is lequired for it you will be a very useful man in a tight corner. 1. Show extra efficiency in felling ; u, niue-inch tree neatly and quickly. [ 2. Tie the following knots in addij fcion to the tenderfoot ones : Timber bitch, bowline on bight, rolling hitch, eatspaw, double sheet bend, man haruess knot, marline or lever hitch, high-way-man's knot, fisherman's knot, tisherman'a bend. Also know their uses. 3. Use the following lashings in the pi'oper way: — Square, diagonal, round, ugure of eightj and be able to lash a b.ock to a spar. 4. Build a model bridge or derrick 5. Make a camp kitelien. 6. Bujld a shelter or hut out of natural materials suitable for three occupants. I know of two chaps going for it; it will take them quite a long time, hut they are doing bit by bit as they get a ellanoe. How aboUt some one else also having a go for it? Wa will cliinb where we could climb Tell me not Of adverse stornis that kept thee from the heiglit. What tagle ever missed the peak ha sought? He always climbs who might. There are quite a number of chaps tbese long summer holidays who fchought they Would like to do something to keep up their Scouting So they set to and have won bndges : some of them take puite a lot of time, too. Such a oue is the Pathfinder's Badge, for it means a good bit of riding arouiid te discover where sucli-and-suuh a street ruas, or what roads turn off it Pathfinder Badge. 1. Have an iutimate persoual knowledge, as a result of your own exploring and investigating, of the iocality round your headquarters or your home. Especjally note pilblic buildings, the provision of puhlic services in regafd lo fire, transpoit, communicatioils, ete. aud the residences of doctors, and responsibie public ofiieials. The area for thos© in Hastings will cover the whole borough, irrespective of where their nOadquarters niay be, or wherever their home may be. 2. Have a general knowledge of the district so as to be able to direct strangers by day or niglit witliin a hvc-mile 1'iidius and be able to give them general direqtions to towns or villages within a twenty-hve miie radius, This will ulean knowing the uames of the streets of Hastings pretty thoruughly, ynd will keep you bdsy for quite a timo exploring the town. Now then, do a bit of riding round, you chaps. I would like to se© a few more of tbese badges won, "B1G SMOKE"