BOY SCOUTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1925, Page 4

BOY SCOUTS.

(Contributed.) Last. Wednesday evening the Hokitika Scouts and WOlt (tubs who had l:cen in camp at Awatuna since the previous Eriilay, returned home alter tt. very successful little camp. The Cub Camp consisted of about u dozen cubs under the charge of Assisaiit, Scoutmaster I . Kelly and was located in a but on the beach close to Awatuna Station. Although the attendance was not (plite mi complete as in former tamps of the Second Hokitika Pack- probably on account ol the unsettled state of the weather during the period immediately previous—tincam p- as a whole can be considered a. highlv successful one and was thoroughly ettfo.'t’d by the hoys chile lurtb.r progress was made in various cub-ae-tiiiiies, c-pctiully s« immiug. I lie Scout Camp consisted ol all save two of those picked for the Jamboree trip and two i ther members ol the Second IVo-ip ami were under canvas about, ball a mile north of the cubs' camp. This had Ik-cii planned as special preparation for the Jamboree, and it, good deal of the work ol the six days bad to do with the organisation of the two patrols in such a way as to ensure smooth running during their three weeks away from home, iie-lipl-ing questions of health anil discipline as well as actual rehearsals of intended displays. The scouts trekked each way with their trek-cart, while the cubs travelled by train.

■Oil the Saturday morning all the campers were in line on the platform at Awatuua to cheer the passage oi Sir Charles Eergusson's train and were hugely delighted when he alighted and spoke to them for a considerable time. The Governor-General had smile specially interesting things to say about the .Jamboree, and also mentioned that he had been a Scout Commissioner at Home. He urged the boys to remember I lie underlying mutive of scouting was helpfulness and service to others.

t'nfort uualely the weather prevented the carrying! out of the intended disphiv on Visitors’ Day hut otherwise the only complaint was a certain amount of sunburn, features cit the camp were: the “furry” which formed the shortest route to the cubs’ camp ; lhe enthusiasm with which, the early morning race into ihv water ol the lagoon wast taken up, and an experiment in “.Maori Oven" cookery on the last day. The trek home with the loaded cart was accomplished in the record time of three hours in spite of very rough roads and a certain amount of rain. Thu Chairman of the Second Troop met the .scouts on their return and presented the Pathfinder Badge which lie had gained to M. Davidson of the llawk l’atrol.

There will he no regular meetings of the Second Troop or Pack till the return from the Jamboree, hut besides the Christmas Eve Good Turn meeting the Scouts hold special meetings at seven o’clock on the evening of Xcw Year’s Day: at 2.0 p.m. on January 2nd. and at 1.15 p.m. on Sunday, January 3rd. The latter meeting is also for Cubs of the Second Park, while tho members of the Jamboree Party should make a special point of being present on New Year’s Day. Patrol meetings may also he arranged by Patrol headers during the next lew days. The Scouts and Cubs would like through this column to convey to the Town and District, in their role of “Little Friends of All the World,” their good wishes ac this season, to all their fellow citizens.