An Open Air Page

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 197, 9 November 1927, Page 6

An Open Air Page

For Big Girls and Boys

MANY MOCCASINS "IS that you standing without, Silver Heel?” I "It is indeed I, Redfeather—your Brave of the winged feet and mystic clarion. See how I speed my voice on the breeze. . . . I cup my hands so. . . . Then I raise them to my lips and call through them, thus: ‘White Canoe! White Canoe! Hast heard of Redfeather, the green trail and the friendly Wigwam?’” "White Canoe is a new name to me, Silver Heel.” .• “White Canoe is a new Brave, Redfather. . . . Listen, it happened thus. This morning I left the trail and went to the Lake to drink. As I leaned over the pellucid water, a soft voice broke the silence. ‘Greetings, Silver Heel,’ it said. I looked up and there in the shadows was a snow-white canoe with a fair maid • dreaming above its paddle. ‘Often I have watched you and the Children of Redfeather journeying to the Wigwam, and I, too, , w.ould warm my hands at the friendly fire,’ she said. . . . The new Brave, White Canoe, now lingers in the shade of the birch tree.” “Let us then go forth and give her the hand of greeting. . . . White Canoe, the Wigwam shall ever listen for the dip of your paddle. ■ • • Ah, I see other new faces. . . . Light of Eve and Grey Dawn, ’tis fitting that you should come together, for, where you walk, the shadows must melt away and the hours of darkness be as nothing. . . . Heart of the Sunset, how came you by such a name ?” "The Sun god has blessed me, Redfeather. I have dabbled my fingers in his fount of gold. Last eve, the heart of the sunset lay mirrored in a pool and, as I leaned over, I found my own face reflected there. ...” “And you, my good Chief, Facing the Wind?” “I turn my back on nothing, Redfeather. In time of storm or time of peace, you will ever find me facing the wind.” “Let us then go down the trail, for on my ears there falls the soft sound of many moving moccasins and my heart warms at the coming of the Children.” REDFEATHER.

GIRL GUIDES’ CORNER

The Kohn Cup results will be announced this week. The cup itself will toe presented at the Grand .Rally on November 19.

Guides will muster at the Domain next Saturday to hold a practice for the Rally. Word has been received that the Lady Alice Fergusson Cup has come to Auckland.

Miss M. Burgin, the popular Captain 6 i Cavell Company and the holder of the only Blue Cord Diploma in the Dominion, has been invited tc the Girl Scout Camp at Honolulu and will sail on November 22. She will be absent from New Zealand until January 29. On Thursday the Cavell Rangers held a delightful surprise party in honour of Miss Burgin and presented her with several useful accessories for tho trip. On Tuesday evening the Guides of the company gave an evening for their captain, their gift taking the form of It charming New Zealand writing companion. .Miss Burgin has done much to further the progress of Guiding in the porninion and the good wishes of everyone connected with the movement will accompany her on her journey.

, At the Epsom school grounds last Saturday a Basketball match was hlayed between Cavell Company and the Victoria Maori girls, the latter team winning the contest. At the conclusion of the match the Cavell Rangers presented the King’s Colours to the Victoria girls. The Rangers then challenged the iCavell Guides. A happy time was spent.

The annual committee meeting of tho Otahuhu Girl Guidres was held last kveek, when a very satisfactory year’s \vorking was disclosed.

Mrs. Hain, District Commissioner of the Girl Guides, occupied the chair. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: President, Mrs. Robt. Todd; vice-president find chairwoman, Mrs. A. Murdock, Secretary and treasurer, Mrs. M. Heather; vice-presidents, Mesdames !T. Clements, J. Gillies. McFarlane and McGee: committee, Mesdames Byers, Fleet, Boniface, Handisider. Ogilvie, J. Currie, Box, Payne and Misses Wyngate (2). In the annual report a very comprehensive account of the year’s activity was given and mention was made that pie first company is now up to full strength, the members holding 11 proficiency and 12 second-class badges.

'Hie company has almost finished the Course of training for the Ambulance Badge and is more than half way through the course for the fire-fighter’s badge.

A Brownie Pack, formed in March, filled a long-felt want in the district. The investiture of the pack took place bn May 5, Dr. Margaret King, Provincial Commissioner, officiating. The Brownies are fortunate in having for the Brown Owl Miss Jessie McArthur, find for the Tawny Owl Miss Bradley In August a new company of Girl Guides was formed, consisting three patrols, i.e., 21 Guides, two Lieutenants and a captain. The balance sheet disclosed a very Satisfactory balance, after the large number of donations made during the

Heart of the Sunset, a Drury Guidewrites: *T am a patrol leader of a company of Girl Guides here. We have 16 altogether, and we have some lovely times. ‘ Yesterday. October 28, we hiked up to the bush, nearly three miles away. We arrived at our destination at about two o’clock, and spent a very enjoyable afternoon.

“In a fortnight’s time the Guides are to assist in a bazaar to be held here.”

Red Moccasin, a Kakamai GuideBrave, writes that the company will hold its next meeting this Wednesday, ;up Mount Eden. With the additional }hour of twilight, the venture should be •a great success.

Silver Heel, of St. Peter's Company, [Hamilton, forwards the following jnews: ; “On Friday night. October 2S, the [First Church Company, of Frankton, held an evening to which St. Peter’s •and Claudelands Companies were incited. Two of the most interesting .items were a play. ‘Rosemary Green,’ [presented by the Primrose Patrol, and ;a game of human noughts and crosses. 'Vocal and instrumental items were also rendered to an appreciative audience.

“The girls, assisted by the commit.tee, served a dainty supper to the visiting companies, and. after the singling of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and the • National Anthem, the jolly gathering ‘dispersed.

S “Last week our president of the local nssociation passed our newest member, Red Star, for her authoress badge, with high honours. St. Peter’s Guides, and especially the ‘Honesties,’ are very proud of her.

OF INTEREST TO SCOUTS

The Patrol Leaders’ Conference will take place at District Headquarters next Saturday evening and a good attendance is requested. Tlie District Scoutmaster, Mr. E. B. B. Boswell, will address the leaders on “The Spirit of Scouting.”

St. Matthew’s Troop held a very successful social and dance in the Parish Hall last Saturday evening, when no less than 45 couples were on the floor. The troop will benefit considerably as a result.

A dainty supper was served by ladies of the committee. The District Scoutmaster was a guest at the gathering. On Monday night tho St. Heliers troop held a bazaar with the object of obtaining funds for their Christmas camp. A happy evening was spent anti numbers of keen purchasers were present in the hall.

Toward the end of the evening, the troop took the opportunity of making a presentation, in the form of a Swastika to their late Scoutmaster, Mr. Jack Reeves.

Fleet Wing, scribe of St. Matthew’s Troop (Northcote and Birkennead branch) forwards his usual • weekly notes:—

“On Tuesday, November 1, the meeting was opened by competiticns being held between the patrols in the tying of knots. The Union Jack was then revised, certain members of the troop being called upon to analyse it; then followed a talk on all the different flags by the Scoutmaster, who asked questions about the ranks of officers in the Army and the Navy. “An address on ‘Stages of Weapons’ was delievered by one of the scouts. Deerfoot forwards the following report of St. Aidan’s Troop activities: A slight change took place the other night, Scout Gascoigne being promoted to leader of the Wolves. This was a very popular promotion, -judging from the enthusiastic reception he received. In the patrol competition, lie oatrols have again changed plac es. Although the kangaroos are still leading, the gap betweeji is gradually closing up and the kangaroos musr wake up keep their lead. The positions of tho patrols are as follows:—Kangaroos (P.L. G. Hill), 398 points, 1; Kiwis (P.L. Bawkett), 385 points, Beavers (P.L. J. Hill), 383 points, ?; Otters (P.L. Morton), 280 points, 4; Owls (P.L. Robinson), 379 points, 5; Panthers (P.L. Nairn), 369 points, 6; Wolves (P.L. Gascoigne), 268 points, 7; Foxes (P.L. Law), 362 points, 8. Mr. N. M. Matheson recently held an examination for tho Athlete’s Badge for Cubs of St. Aidan’s Pack, Remuera. Six Cubs were successful in passing the test.

The Kitchener Cub Pack journeyed to New Lynn last Friday evening and held a concert there. The proceeds are to be devoted to purchasing new hymn books for one of the local churches.

The war on insect pe.sts in Hyde Park, London, early this year, carried on by Guides and Scouts under the direction of the College of Pestology, had the happiest results. The routing-out of caterpillars and cocoons from their lurking places preserved the trees, and the famous park has never looked more beautifully green or the trees more vigorous. Unhappily, the campaign was not extended to Kensington Gardens, and there the trees have been eaten practically leafless. Another great cocoon drive was held on October 1, when Scouts and Guides combined in ridding the trees of pests. —Redfeather.

“At tho cathedral this morning, November 6, we held our church parade, at which the Brownies were present. After the service the Guides and Brownies went to tlie guide hall, and six Guides were enrolled. Phyllis Howellet was made leader of the Pansy Patrol. “The Cambridge Company is celebrating its fifth birthday next Saturday night, and the Guiders and leaders have been invited. “On December 3 we are to assist at a garden party, so have been very busy practising fancy marching, drill, and signalling.” * * * Dancing Blue Water, who was associated with the First Church Company, but for some time was unable to attend the meetings, writes a joyous note that she is now linked up again with this company. She writes that the company is now twice as large, and that there is a new lieutenant. Silver Moon, of the Awataha Company, writes that on Friday night Mrs. Usher enrolled two new recruits, and that several second service stars were presented. The Guides of the company provided supper, this being the occasion of their pound night. REDFEATHER.

UNDER A SILVER SKY

Somewhat awed by the loveliness of my surroundings, I had stolen to the edge of a grassy headland which jutted out into the Waitemata, and, as I sank down under a giant poliutukawa, the full beauty of this Southern night stole in upon me. The waves winked and glimmered in the light of a silver moon, and Rangitoto, grim and silent, towered sentinellike against the starry heavens, while moonbeams chased each other gleefully up and down his rugged face. Truant beams stole through the sombre branches of the poliutukawa tree, playing at hide-and-seek with the shadows. Above these scenes of revelry stretched the blue dome of the sky. To me it seemed that the moonbeams were glistening, elfin creatures, pursued by the shadow gnomes of night. Fearfully they scampered here and there, now waiting breathless, listening; now off again on their winged feet. One or two, a little more reckless than the rest, had lingered too long in the gloom of the trees. There they had been snatched away by the shadows. Up in the sky, fluffy white clouds sailed across the face of the lpoon like birds at evening, flying home to rest. As they sped along, they seemed to leave an irridescent glow among the stars. A stately white scow rounded the North Head, a gleam of silver in her wake. The blue water swirled about her prowas she moved majestically forward, like a giant gull with wings outspread. Not a. sound broke the silence . . . Here at least was one ship that had come homing to port. —LAUGHING WHIRLPOOL. FROM A FAR TEPEE Look yonder, Redfeather — Behold the glory of the sunset above the lesser glory of the pines. The sun has set thus many times since I first set foot on the trail. See how the red is flaming through the sky. Somehow the Wigwam is very near this evening . . . Perhaps the mist is filled with magic, for is it not low and blue? Let us now depart, each on our separate trails, before the radiance of dusk creeps in and ere the night steals down . . - Farewell ... I. dare not look aloft, for the rising moon is big and round and golden, and bids me tarry too ong upon this well-loved trail. —HARVEST MOON.

. TWO BRAVES Red Star writes: “Yestereve. as 1 lay in my tepee, I heard the soft sound of moccasins without, and presently the flap was lifted to admit Red Leaf. Her stay, was all too short, as she had a long* trail to follow, ere nightfall. However, ere nany moons pass, Red Leaf, will again visit my tepee and I hope our pow-wow ■will then be longer. To-day, my tepee is a blaze cf glory with red sweet peas and Iceland poppies, shaded from dark orange to the palest yellow.

THE TRAVELLER AND THE HERON A weary traveller lay down to rest under the shadow of a fig tree, and went to sleep. In the tree lived a crow and a heron, and the heron had often been warned that he would come to a bad end if he kept company with an evil crow. But he took no heed of the warning, and continued to associate with the crow.

As the sun moved, the shadow of the tree passed away from the traveller, and he was left exposed to the heat. But the heron, seeing this, felt sorry for him. and spread out his wings and shaded the weary traveller. The evil crow, however, laughed at the heron, and then, to annoy the traveller, dropped - a stone on his face and flew away. When the traveller, smarting from the sting of the stone, jumped up, and seized his bow and arrow, he saw only the heron in the tree above, and, thinking that this was the culprit who had thrown the stone, he fitted an arrow to the string, and fired at and killed the heron. A CITY IN THE CLOUDS Imagine a modern city of 30,000 people with lio means of communication with the outer world that the smallest wheeled vehicle can use. That is the almost incredible position of Bucaramanga, a city of Colombia, South America, which has just been visited by a botanical expedition. Bucaramanga occupies a plateau 3,000 ft. above sea-level. It has taxis and private motor-cars and wellstocked shops where all the wants of civilised man can be satisfied. But the cars cannot leave the plateau. To get there the botanists from Washington sailed 300 miles up the River Magdalena, travelled 25 miles by train, and climbed 40 miles up a steep mule track. The only alternative route is by aeroplane. Both methods are regularly employed, but all freight goes up on the backs of mules or native.porters. THE MARKS ON A TIGER’S FACE A tiger one day saw a liare sitting under a tree, and asked what he was doing. “Oh,” answered the hare, “I am keeping watch over my grandfather’s gong, to see that nobody runs off with it.” “Where is the gong?” asked the tiger. “Up there,” said the hare, pointing to a large round object hanging to one of the branches. “If you like you may strike it to see how well it sounds. But let me go farther away, for the sound of the gong always brings tears to my eyes.” The tiger said he would like to sound the gong,. and the liare at once scampered off down the road. When he was out of sight the tiger raised his paw and gave the gong a great blow, which shattered it. But it was a wasps’ nest and not a gong at all, and hundreds of wasps at once settled on the tiger’s face and stung him with such violence that he nearly went of his mind. The stings made brown marks on his face, and. to this day, all tigers have marks. Danger levels brute and man and all are fellows in their need. j