BOY SCOUTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1924, Page 4

BOY SCOUTS.

(Contributed). "With the return last Saturday el the fifteen "Hikers” from their 81) mile expedition alone the Teramaknu and adjoining valleys, a very interesting experiment in local soil ting attained unqualified success. Iho endeavour mi-, to got the boys away of! the "beaten track” and show "hat actually lay round about their home town in the way of mountain, river and hush scenery, and the remark of one returning wanderer a?' Hokitika same in sight that "it was still the largest city he had seen on his Ira vein” uas not altogether inapt. The actual route was by the usual road to Kumura, thence by the Grecninn! Lake liriinner roads to the S.W. corner of that lake. Here two days were spent and the summits of the llolionu peaks safely attained. Thence hv a rough track to Bruce’s oaddocks and Inchbonnie, and across the Teramaknu at Jackson’s, along the main Christchurch Hoad until the old road was encountered, and so homo by that route via Hungerfordand Blue Spur. Eighty Holes in ten days may not seem very much even for a par.y some of whom have hut lately left behind their twelfth birthday, but- in scouting expeditions care is always taken to avoid dangers of overstrain to growing limbs, and the lact that on the evening of their return to "civilisation" many members ol tbe party were noticed taking active part ot Exhibition and other local amusements, would prove that exhaustion was not the immediate result. Only one completely line day was encountered, lmt after awhile the rain became a familiar friend and donning swimming togs with blankets and spare clothes packed away dry tor uhe night one could ho as happy wading barefoot through flooded roads as

might have been possible on the hot du-tv plains on the other side ol the Alps. Plant and bird lilf was a constant source of interest, while a finely equipped hut derelict greenstone quarry near the Waiuiliinilii attracted everyone’s attention while camping there. It speaks well for the scouting qualities ol the party, all ol which were cooks in Him that with such constantly wet weather two hoi courses at dinner wore never omitted. Perhaps the most siiceesshil attempt, in the direction of cooking was the Lake liriinner lamb cooked to a turn in a fijian (similar to a .Maori) underground oven while the whole party were away mountaineering. The first night at Cioldshorough was somewhat disturbed by severe wind and rain loosening the tent ropes, hut the lesson was not wasted and the even more severe weather alfrwards encountered was not even uncomfortable. Perhaps ihc most memorable day’s hike was the last but one when, after waiting thirty-six hours in a vain hope for better weather, a distance of eighteen miles was accomplished in excessively heavy rain with the utmost ease. This included .1 stretch of tile Old Christchurch Bond which the weather had converted into a live foot deep torrent cud hv which the party were held up ior several hour', fortunately with the shelter i.l the ruined Kanhaka Hotel close fit hand.

Camp tires For sing songs and yarns were lielil every night save om\ A "Scoi.l s Own" on l lie Sunday afternoon ;■ ioi die Lnion Jack was broken and licv.;, ,| daily on the camp Ike - stall’. Itm. a nan tor the fact that tinparty safely accomplished what we •• inn nded v iihniit il! health or en■ Haiti,-., lie most gratifying part of ill. "hob at. tempt was the I xeeiloni spirit cl Seoul (hccrines.s ami com- ! radeslfip "Inch pievaih'd even tinder! the most trying cin unManee-'. Il Incbetu*. aid that camp i die best, po •- siLI, iJat c for find in,; •ui e. !ro/m.i’: We a r points a 1:1 1 10 any one "ho knot's hoys ot . • hot '■ ; d:v tie t•li tl the j wiail. ten days pa-sed uit hoot even ; an attempt at quarrelling or iii-tem I par will he p;roof indeed that the Scout Law is a reality to our local scouts. The only pity is that il was not fifty instead o! fifteen who could have enjoyed this unique experience and an endeavour must he made to lessen the proportion of -tay-ai-homes in future years. This week a party of I lie Wolf Cu'is (the junior branch of the Scouts) are camping at Lake Alahinapua and expect to rot uni home on Satitr.lnv