BOY SCOUTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1924, Page 4

BOY SCOUTS.

(Contributed)

’flic* usual monthly meeting of the 2nd. Troop's Kxeeiitive Committee took place last Tuesday evening. Arrangements for the tmop “Birthday Party and annual meeting at the* end of the month, the Christinas Camp and other important, plans tor the troop's lutul'e, were dealt, with.

A meeting of parents and others interested in the Ist. troop and pack is called for next Monday, and it is extremely important fur the tmop's successful continuance that a good attendance should he obtained, as the Dominion executive have decided to (lish.iud at the end of this month all troops which are without eilicient comiiiittce-s of citizens.

The weekly Scooters’ meeting to-day (Thursday) will he held at Mr J’arham's house in Healey St. (south end), at (i.:i!> p.in. prompt, and anyone interested or willing to help will lie eagerly welcomed.

The girls of Hokitika have heroine clamorous in their demands that a Company of Girl (luidcs he started. I |> to the time of writing no lady has heen found willing to lead the movement in the town, hut with a large niiuiher of determined young women on the warpall a captain and lieutenant should quickly he discovered. It should he explained that the Girl (luide and Tiny Seoul movements are quite distinct, and that the training differs very 1011-,-iilcralily. Hut just as the scout movement is out to develop manly men. sa is (finding an endeavour to train womanly women, and as regards civilian organisation, no doiiht each holly is a strength to the other. As a matter of fact in Kngknid the (fill (fuicles today out mimhor the Hoy Sc outs, and now that New Zealand has definitely linked up with the Imperial lleadquarters of the (ftlides. things seem to he moving swiftly out here. I.aches interested will liml local Scoutmaster glad to put them in touch with the ollicials of the (fill Cnidc Movement in Christchurch.

CIIII Winston Reynolds o! the 2nd. Hack, who i- at presnot living down at Waitaha. took advantage of a holiday visit to Hokitika to pass the tests and become enrolled as «a Temlcrpad. A!though there is a troop ol Scouts at llarihari it i, thought that his ( uh Badges will represent the ‘•furthest south" of cubbing this side ol the Alps. The camp party ol the 2nd. I riiop who spent live days last week at l.akc* Kani.oi. had an excellent time ill every way save that numhers attending were disappointingly small. It Intel heen intended that the party should he a small one organised a- one put ml, hut Irani various causes some ol these were unable at the last moment to attend. A dnv in the hush towards Doiightowii and a very succesfttl expedition to the top ol Alt Tul l tin. wen- especially memorable. So comfortable were Die

qua iters at the Tourist House that ‘'‘camp" by no means adequately describes conditions, and after the end of the first dnv the building was 1111aniiimnsly mentioned as ‘‘Home.

If the Tourist. House were again available this would make an ideal situation for a camp tor the Well Ci’.lis. it being undesirable t 1 let these v.iuuger hoys lace the risks cil the mote' strenuous camp under canvas in a damp climate. The Scouts were able to clo a small

“good-turn" by removing and burying an eyesore and a danger to health nmtiucl the Tourist House. Altogether 2f!7 till- and bottles, as well as a large' quantity ol broken glass and china were put under ground. AH "> Dies" had been thrown down within .1 few vards of the building and the frame of mind of tine.' who thus thoughtlessly desecrate such a wonder seem'' of natural beauty is surely not that of the average New Zealander. At any rate, if the Scout .Movement '.veiiild train tin ;i generation ol tidy picliiccrs it might hv that alone justiiv itself. Cnlm Innately tilin' did not allow, with the few scouts available', ol a really 1 unplct" tidy n|>. and those piking young children to the l.ake would b- wi-e to renumber that every 1 lump of fern cr rush probably hides broken glass -r jugged edges ol tin. Apparently similar jobs await the scouts, at Malliuapua and other picnic sites, where apparently innocent sandy heac lie; which tempi the “peddler" arc often Ici it ible ■ leall l 11 ■ p-.