THE BOY SCOUTS ASSOCIATION

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5278, 14 December 1946, Page 2

THE BOY SCOUTS ASSOCIATION

PATHFINDER.j

(By.

Well, lads, I suppose most of you are busy thinking about and planning your holidays; we a-1'1 want you to have a good time and to enjoy yourselves, and so you should do, ,but, oh, yes, this a very important "buit," whatever yo-u do or wherever you go, don't forget you are a Scout and being a Scout' ,you have made your threefold promise and have l'O very important Scout laws to remember and live up to, and being a Scout, you: just cannot lock those important responsibilities ~ a way in a cupboard and have a holiday without them. Take them with you, keep them shiny and ibright and use them at all' times. Down in Christchurch is a statue to a great man, who always difl his 'best, faced dangers, was loyal to his coimrades and at all times lived the Scout laws, Captain Robert. Faleor, Scott, a man v/hose wonderful deeds wiH never be forgotten. 'Captain Seott bad dne outst'anding quality and one every Boy Scout should c'opy and aim for: "personal example," and that is what I desire you lads to thinlc over and carry out especially during your holidays. All interested in the Scout movement will be sorry to learn that District Scouter C. C. R. Dallaston will be absent from this district next year. "Friar Tucik" has been a real brother to us all and his temporaiy absence will be such that each one of us is going to piiss his help and encouragement. Stil'l, we won't mimi growing a year older very quiclcly, as 1947 passes and we shall soon have god old "Friar Tuck" back with his merry men. P.U's Camp at Te Poi. Last weelc, a P.L.'s training camp was held at Te Poi on Mr. Southon's property, six P.L.'s from Headquarters Tfoop and four from 'N'gongotaha taking the course, under "Tama" (A.D.'C. Chambers) and "Friar Tuck" (D.S.M. Dallaston), with "Tawa" (H.Q. Group secretary Campbell), as camp sergeant and Q-M. For training purposes the troop was formed^ into two patrols, the "Blowflies," undei P.L. Tama and the "Gnats," under P.L. "Friar -Tuck." Tawa was, of course, a rail-sitter, but took part in the training and nearly found o;:i how much he didn't know. The party travelled over by truc-k and car on Friday evening, arriving in time to piake camp at dusik, and al 6 a.m. on Saturday they got down ti. work on the excellent programnK mapped out, duty lelader for the day : being Tama. The day was fully voccupied with lectures and practical work and ended for the majority with a camp-fire under Friar Tuck, whik a representative party of four undei Tama attended, by invitation, the annual'Scout "do" in_the Te Poi Memorial Hall. The weather was perfeel and — Well, you ask Friar Tuck whai the sun does when you go without your shirt too long; he knows. Duty l'eader for Sunday was Friai Tuck and the routine was similar ex cept that a Scout's Own was conducted hy Tama after breakfast. Thc c^nstrtjction of aw, ^erial ropeway across a swampy creek caused mucl merriment. Sagging of the rope car ried the bo'sun's cnair close to thc water at mid-stream and "someone" discoveired that, by swinging thc whole contraption violently sideways the occupants of the chair were finely deluged with spray on hitting thc water, to the entire satisfaction of the delighted onlookers. A hard "thank you" to Tama an." Friar Tuck for a great wek-end a'nc an extra hard "thank you" to Fria whose generosity made it a frec show. He doesn't do things by halve: and the menu was a thing to makt even B.P.'s mouth water. Sorry, in ■ deed, we are losing you for some time : Friar. Thanks are also due to Mi Southon for the use of his property and to' Mr. Hollis for assisting witl. transport to and from the camp. Headquarters Troop. Although last Tuesday evening was wet and stormy, Headquarter. Troop meeting v/as very well1 attendec and a good programme of work and games was carried out. A feature oi evening's programme was the patro. discussion on the benefits that accrue;. to the patrol leaders who attended thc P.L.'s camp at Te Poi last week-ehd. Headquarters now have three Scouts, namely, Roger Butt, Ron Ardern and Neil BelKngham, whc are going to. join the New Zealand contingent who are travel'ling to the Scout Jam'boree in France next year. ; Next week's meeting, which will be the flnal for this year, is to. be a parents' night and an invitation is ' extended to all parents to come along and join the troop around the campfire. During the evening a "Scout's , Own" will also he held and the evening w-ill cohclude with a light supper. Ngongotaha Troop. . Last week the parade was in* charge of Scouter Sharp, the A.'S.M., as Skip ' was away at the patrol leaders' camp. A full programme of games and instruetion was presented, and the evening was voted a complete success. At a recent meeting of the Court of Hono'ur it was decided to cancel the trek camp that was arranged for the holidays ,owing to the high percentage of green hands at present in the troop. It was felt that it would be better to have a hormal camp " this year, and to have a trek next year, when the troop would be more experienced. .There is a possibility that ihe eeniors will have a. shorter trek next ; Easter. The present arrangement is to have a standing camp at' Thorn- ' ton, and to send out patrols ' from there on over-night treks. Memhers of the tropp who attended .the . week-end camp -for .B.L.'-s at . Mata'niata Were Alan; Brake, Buzz Powell, Neil Lewis and StuaVt Kerr.