SOUTH AFRICAN SCOUTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 227, 14 December 1927, Page 6

SOUTH AFRICAN SCOUTS

THEIR VISIT RECALLED

Scouts and Scouters will still have pleasant recollections of the South African hoys who came out to New Zealand two years ago to attend the Dunedin Jamboree. That their stay in Auckland is not forgotten is well evi-

denced in a letter received last week by the district scoutmaster, Mr. E. B. B. Boswell. It is written from Pretoria under date October 29, and, with the accompanying photograph of tlie Chief Scout, comes from Scoutmaster C. G. D. Groom, who was in charge of the party of South African Scouts. I’he photograph of Sir Robert Baden Powel was taken in Pretoria during his recent visit to South Africa. Mr. Groom writes: “The boys are all well and growing —which is only natural. Three have left school and are working. I took a small party to Cape Town at Easter last year and five of the overseas boys managed to make the trip. It was fine seeing Gerry again and we had some great times (as we naturally would) and in tiv evenings round the camp fires our tho.Nrhts wandered very often to scenes and incidents of our trip, and we sang the old songs again and again. “Since Easter Gerry has been transferred to Bulawayo and finds it a change being away from the sea. He has thrown hirtiself into Scouting, is assisting with three troops, and from what I hear, is livening things up . . .

Great lad. Gerry. Some of the boys occasionally spend a week-end with me here, as Benoni is only 45 miles away and the trains suit. It is fine being able to see them. “The Scout people have been collecting for ten years for a building fund, and in November last decided to start, so have completed four small halls in the suburbs, at. a cost of about £ 1,500, and the Central Hall, which has absorbed £2,000. We are having

a big fete on November 5 to pay the cost of little extras and to equip them. The Central Hall is being well equipped with seating for 200, a stage, and 240 cups for ‘bunfights.’ The kitchen is •a fine big room with a good stove,

wash-up basins, drawing-boards, two large dressers, and has a storeroom and pantry attached. Another wing contains a tine shower. The troop I am attached to uses this hall and we have some great week-ends, scrubbing and cleaning. The main hall is 93 by 23, with smaller rooms attached, so you have some idea of tlie amount of floor space we have to scrub. The boys love the week-end work parties as there is generally some fun and the shower works overtime, both with legitimate and forced duckings . . . We hope to have over 600 Scouts and Cubs from Pretoria and suburbs for the opening ceremony on Saturday. If it is a hot day all the better, as the refreshment stall will do well with the cool drinks and ices. Sunny side troop is running this stall and also tlie afternoon teas. It means a great deal of work, but, as the largest troop, we took it on. We have 71 Scouts, over 60 Cubs and 9 officers, so we should manage it successfully, and our working committee of parents is 22 strong and doing good work ...

“I hope Scouting is moving merrily along with you. The boys have asked me to send their hearty greetings to all and to the homes of those who so kindly extended us their hospitality. I wish the boys could have written perbut I find that most of the addresses have been forgotten, though they could find their way to the places again by tram. “With the very best of wishes to you all for the Christmas season and New Year. “Yours Scoutingly, C. G. D. GROOM.”