Opotiki News

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 317, 2 September 1932, Page 6

Opotiki News

(From Our District Representative) .

BOY SCOUT RALLY BIG GATHERING OF B.O.P* TROOPS AND CUBS AT ' WHAKATANE '

The first Boy Scout rally for the Bay of Plenty district was held in Whakatane on Wednesday, August 31, when nearly 100 boys attended from all parts of the Bay to compete for the Boyd Cup, presented for the best allround Scout troop in the Bay of Plenty, by the District Commissioner, F. E. Boyd. Whakatane won with 198 points, •Opotiki 191, Waimana 160, Tauranga 172. and Katikati 112. The rally was held in the Domain. After the various patrols had run in on their patrol flags and formed a horse shoe, district scoutmaster N. F. Benham opened the rally with a prayer. District Commissioner Boyd then addressed the gathering, and after saying how pleased he was to see the rally so well attended, he urged all the competitors to do their utmost that day. He also emphasised the fact that they were there as scouts and he trusted that ^ it would not be merely a competition for the winning of the cup, but for the love of the game. He hoped that after this rally every scouter and scout would go away more determined than ever to try and carry out the scout promise and' lawThe Rev. H. J. Lilburn, chairman of the Whakatane Scout Committee, introduced the Mayor of Whakatane, Mr. W. Sullivan, who welcomed the_visiting scouts and scouters. The Mayor of Tauranga, Mr. B. C. Robbins, replied on behalf of the visitors. While the speeches were in progress three A.S.M.'s had been busy scattering red, green, and yellow chips over the playing "field at the back of tho horse shoe formationAfter the inspection had been taken by District Commissioner Boyd and District S.M. Benham, and the speeches had concluded, the rally leader gave a signal for all scouts to start the gold rush. This took the form of a scramble to gather up the coloured chips. On the rally being sounded by the leader's whistle, the patrol leaders ; had to race in to the rally leader j and hand in the chips to be counted. ' It was decided to break off for ' lunch a little early as rain started to fall and interrupted the proceedings. The boys had their lunches ? with them and tea was supplied from ' a field kitchen run by one of the patrols. ! After lunch work was resumed. : The patrols played "dog and bone" followed by lcnot tying cont«sts, a relay race and inter-patrol tug-of-war. Tho tug-of-war was won by the Tauranga Wolf Cubs. | The final item, a tug-of-war between the scoutmasters and assistantscoutmasters was won by the scout- ; masters. I After the rally, the scouts were, formed into a column of fours and marched to St. George's Hall for tea. I A Striking Sight The parade made a very striking sight as it marched to the hall with tho troop eolours, Union Jaclcs, green scout flags, and yellow cub flags flying in the breeze. The boys' coloured scarves and shoulder knots made bright splashes of colour against the khaki shirts. 1 The hall had been decorated with streamers while the tables were loaded with all types of eatables likoly to appeal to hungry boys. The enthusiasm which the Whakatane public showed in thus ladening the tables was only outdone by the enthusiasm shown by the boys' efforts to unladen * them. The result of this competition Was : slightly in favour of the Whakatane ! residents who supplied the spread, as try as they would (and certainly they did their best) the boys were. unable to clear the tables completely. The Rev. H. J. Lilburn, chairman of the Whakatane Scout Committee, spoke during tea on-the value, both nationally and internationally, of the scout movement. He said that it gave him the greatest pleasure to see such a splendid attendanee of boys at this first rally, and he hoped that at the next rally, . which he understood was to be held at Tauranga or Opotiki, there would be an even greater number. He called on district scoutmaster N- F. Ben- : hani to announce the winners of the cup. (Applause). j Whakatane Troop Wins i District Scoutmaster N .F. Benham then announced the results of ; the day's competitions and pronounced the Whakatane troop the winners i of the Boyd Cup for 1932. He expressed great pleasure at the. ■ keenness displayed by all troops and j congratulated Scoutmaster S. Miller ' and A.S.M. Gibhered on the fact that j their troop had won the cup. ! He also made special mention of the Wolf Cubs, who had come from ; Tauranga, and complimented the I Wolf Cub master (Mrs.) Bowyer on I the keenness and efficiency of the boysIn thanking District Commissioner Boyd for the presentation of the cup • he pointed out that it was not deI sired to develop the pot-hunting spirit, but was given to stimulate and foster the true scout spirit throughout the Bay. He congratulated those who had come from long distances to attend and more especially the Katikati troop and S.M. Cuff, as he knew what difficulties they had to work under owing to their isolated position. He considered that the scouts and their supporters in Whakatane deserved great credit for the preliminary work they had done in getting ready for the rally. He hoped that the day would come and very shortly too, when they would be able to hold a Bay of Plenty district camp, and urged all scouts and scouters present to thinlc this over seriously and see what could be done. (Loud applause). District Commissioner Boyd then presented the Boyd Cup and in a few well-chosen words said that it had

been at Mr. Benham's suggestion that he had presented the cup. It was also due to the untiring efforts on Mr. Benham's part that the rally had been made possible. The Rev- D. McDiarmid, chairman of the Opotiki Scout Committee, replied on behalf of the visitors and said what a very enjoyable day it had been. The rally concluded with the expression of thanks and appreciation to the ladies, members of St. George's vestry, the Arawa Dairy Company, the Whakatane Press, the manager of the Whakatane Theatre, Mr. Mahi, who had made the hall available., and the junior quartette of the Boys' Band who supplied the music. Musical honours were accorded the dis-' trict commissioner before breaking up.