BOY SCOUTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1924, Page 4

BOY SCOUTS.

(Contributed)

The .Eighth Scout Law says that “A Scout smiles and whistles under alt difficulties” and quite a . large amount of smiling and whistling must have been in operation in Hokitika last week, ll had been planned to takeadvantage of the fact that the Scout festival of St. George occurred this year in a week of school holidays by a number of very special celebrations. These were to include a week in camp in the town, an early morning rally round the flag, and an evening procession round the town on the day itseli with a Jamboree and Sports Day on the Thursday.

The iir.st chorus of smiles and whistles v.as calkd forth by the lasL minute news Unit the Greymouth Scouts, who were to have visited the comp, were unable to attend. Then on I ues.day night the spell of lino weaLhei frolic so completely that quite a large proportion oi campers were called home by anxious parents and the liunihei who were actually in camp to greet the dawn 011 St George’s Day was rather small. Perhaps this was liut altogether 11 111i.sfori.une as it was the night of the flood and those who did remain had, about three o’clock in the morning, to take up their beds and walk—or rather wade—to the adjoining house where the Cubs were in camp. Even here the waters rose

to nearly the floor hoards and the night’s rest was somewhat disturbed. It was necessary to hold the ceremony round the flag inside the lulll.se while the evening procession was impossible for auvonu lint mermaids.

Thursday saw the ground still waterlogged and as the races had been postpon'd to that day it was decided to hold the Jamboree on Saturday. The procession was held oil Thursday evening bat many who had kept the Yc’edliesday free fo • tint 1 purpose were nimble to attend on Thursday and. although Kt George himself was there in great style the Dragon failed to materialise, and an emergency dragon with a very insecure .set of vertebrae only partially lilled the gap. A disappointing week was brought to a lilting dose by a very stormy Saturday which made outdoor events of any ,s *rt utterly impossible. However, tho well-known Scout Percy Mere, who lias the last word in these matters, discovered there was another Saturday due on May 3rd., and the local troops and packs, with the kind patronage of the Clerk of the Weather, hope to show the town next Saturday that a •laml- iree is line of those articles which improves with keeping.