Under the Totem-Pole Chiefs and Braves

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 255, 18 January 1928, Page 6

Under the Totem-Pole Chiefs and Braves

Letters to Redfeather are answered as under: Dew of June: Gi'eetings to this faithful Brave and many thanks for your list of pen-names. I hon"* your prize book has safely reached you.

Sunlit Glade: Many thanks for your letter. I shall be pleased to see you any Thursday afternoon that you care to call/ You will have no difficulty in finding me when you come to the olfice. Greetings and good wishes to this Guide-Brave. Fleetwing: I was glad to have news again of my faithful scribe, but was sorry to learn that your fingers have been poisoned. I hope you wiil soon be ouite yourself again. Every good wish to your troop. Silver Wing: I was delighted to have your letter, written in camp, and to hear all about your open-air holiday. The little bluebird is still Hying across the Wigwam wall. Please give my greetings to Harvest Moon. 1 saw a fine little poem of hers in print the other day. Shining Feather: I was glad to have your letter and to find that you have been on holiday. Many thanks also for the list of books. Your prize will not be long in reaching you. The competition age limit is 20, but perhaps you wifi still be able to send me some of your drawings for the Wigwam. I shall always be inteersted in your work. Fluttering Leaf: I was glad to hear again from this new Brave and to find that you are having such a happy holiday at Brown’s Bay. Yes, Guiders may belong to the Wigwam. Several Captains, Lieutenants and Scoutmasters have joined our tribes, but if they are over 20, they are excluded from the competitions. I hope you will soon write to me again.

Many Feathers: Greetings to this faithful chief, who does not stray lar from the trail. I shall be anxious to hear all about it when you start work.

Please remember me to Paddle Carver and Travelling Bear. Little Buffalo: Your delightful holiday letter has reached me safely, and I am slad5 lad that you are having such a wonerful time. The bread-making must have been excellent tun. I should have liked to have watched you and your friend pounding the dough. You arc lucky in having a swimming pooi so near. Silver Ripple: Many thanks for your camping letter. lam sorry I was unable to seek you out on Visitors’ Toay, but hope you will report the camp activities Greetings from the Wigwam to you and Smoke Plume. Eagle Feather: You will enjoy your few days’ holiday in the country, and I expect will come back with great tales to tell. 1 hope you have plenty of swimming and that you thoroughly enjoy yourself. Whispering Night: I was glad to hear again from this Te Awamutu Brave and tx> know that you are to have a holiday in Auckland. Perhaps you will find your way down the trail some Thursday while you are here. The country here is very dry also, and dotted here and there with dark patches from grass fires. Many thanks for the pen-names, Whispering Night. I like them very much. Silver Dove: You have certainly found a beautiful spot for your camp, and I am sure you will all have a happy time. I shall do my best to find you on Visitors’ Day, but., if I am unable to attend, perhaps you will let me have a report of the camp. Greetings to all my faithful members in the Kakamai Company. Black Wolf: Many thanks for your excellent list of pen names. They are all very suitable. You would enjoy your visit to the Guide camp. Your Scoutmaster tells me that you are going to be the first Gold Cord Scout of the troop. I hope you win that other badge soon. Greetings to Black Wolf and qjy faithful followers at Avondale.

Flying C9oud: Two letters, a poem, a list of pen-names and a promised visit. There is much to thank my maid of the Great-Outdoors for this week. You "have found a very novel way of sending the pen-names, and I like the poem very much. Greetings and best wishes until Thursday.

Red Star: It will be splendid hearing from all the Guide-Braves while they are in camp and, when they return, I am sure they will not stay long away from your tepee. Silver Wing and Flying Cloud are splendid girls and I am so glad that they are writing to you. They are among the very faithful ones and I always enjoy their letters. The birds must watch for their little friend each day and rejoice when she is able to be out on the verandah. My warmest regards to all the people in the tepee of Red Star.

Silent Warrior: Lo! A stranger in the Wigwam, a model Indian complete even to the red feather. And when I say, “What is your name, O Chief?” he answers never a word. But he sits facing the ever-open flap watching for the coming of Silent Warrior, who knows every twig and stone on the Peace Trails. Greetings and thanks, O silent one.

Singing Arrow: Many thanks for your report of the St. Barnabas camp. You had a very happy time. I have discovered a new use for your little canoe. It makes a splendid paper weight, and at present is holding down the Totem Pole.

Whispering Pool: I was delighted to receive your letter, written in the true spirit of the Wigwam. I can picture you beside tjiat brook where the swans sail like argosies and the willows gaze at their reflections in the water. I hope I shall soon hear again from this Frankton Brave.

Wayside Flower: Greetings to this new Brave and a warm welcome into our friendly circle. I shall hold your poem, “The Gift,” for the next competition. I hope I shall see many more samples of your work.

Little Swift Canoe: It will be splendid when you turn back the Wigwam flap on Thursday. I am expecting Flying Cloud also on that day. What a wonderful holiday you had. I think you must have felt very sad when the day came for you to leave that pleasant place.— Golden Noon: Greetings to*xhis Cavell Brave and many thanks for your company news. It is unfortunate that you are unable to spend the whole time in camp, but you will receive a royal wel-

come each week-end. All good wishes from the Wigwam. Twinkiefoot: Many thanks for your interesting letter. I am glad that you are so pleased with your prize book. Yes, it is very hot up here and the brown pastures are mutely pleading for rain. The Boy Scouts of the Palmerston North district would have been of great assistance in the search for the missing aviators. It is one of life’s tragedies that no sign has been found of those two plucky pioneers. I could not resist quoting the conclusion of your letter, “Greetings to the Children of the Wigwam. May every bird that sings and every star that shines bear to them the thoughts of Twinkiefoot.” Our thoughts for you are just the same. WITH THE BOY SCOUTS Mr. N. D. Power, Chief Commissioner for Wolf Cubs in England, and Major Crum, Commissioner for Rover Scouts in Scotland, arrived in Wellington by the Ruahine on December 30, and hope to see something of the work of Rovers, Scouts and Wolf Cubs during their visit to New Zealand. They are touring the world chiefly for health reasons, and will go on to Australia and Canada before returning to England. Mr. N. D. Power is a member of Imperial Headquarters Council.

The Avondale Scouts have returned from their camp at Onetangi, Waiheke Island, where forty boys in all spent an instructive and happy time. The camping site, which was kindly lent by the Ostend Road Board, is an ideal spot overlooking Hauraki Gulf, and surf bathing, fishing and tobogganing were freely indulged in. The boys all shared the work of the camp,' which lasted two weeks, and no sickness was reported. Scoutmaster D. J. McFarland was in charge of the camp, which broke i*p on January 9. The St. Barnabas Troop camped at Deep Creek from Boxing Day until January 5, the boys being in charge of Assistant-Scoutmasters Robinson and Croft. During their stay a cricket match with the Shackleton Troop in an adjacent camp was organised, and this was won by St. Barnabas team. Sports were also held, the competitions being won by the Kookuburras. of which Singing Arrow and Supple Bow (the brothers Bell) are active members. Singing Arrow (Bryan Bell) carried off the honours in the 100 yards sprint for boys under 14. Several tracking games were held, and two patrols undertook- a trek to the Wade, a distance of 23 miles. Scoutmaster Peek was a visitor to the camp.

Twenty-nine Scouts and two Rovers attended St. Mary’s Camp at Whangaparaoa under Scoutmaster G. Iverson and Assistant-Scoutmaster Tetley, between December 26 and January 3. The particular new feature of this year’s camp was the introduction of cooking in Maori fashion, this proving an outstanding success. On one occasion the Calliope Sea Scouts visited the boys, bringing the camp bread from Arkle’s Bay. The troop also carried out their annual seven-mile trek to Arkle’s Bay, which has been a feature of the camps during the six years they have been held there. Scout Drummond Hall won the “Te Whanga” Sports Cup, his swimming being particularly promising. The camp was run on lines which made it a profitable proposition, and at least half of those who attended have had three or more years’ experience in camping at this ideal site.

The advance guard of the Glen Eden Troop went into camp at Oratia on Christmas Eve, erected the tents and stowed the stores. On the morning of Christmas Day the troop attended church parade at the Methodist Church, Glen Eden, and on Boxing Day left for camp under Assistant-Scout-master Hadaway. The first two flays were marred by rain, but on the third day the skies cleared and the boy settled down to enjoy their experience..

Brambles were cleared, a running course laid out and hurdles erected, and here many interesting events were contested.. The boys trained for the shield and other trophies presented by “Nobby,” a friend of the troop. During their stay the boys journeyed to Titirangi, and while there rendered first aid to a man who had injured his foot. They returned to camp in the evening and found that on appetising supper had been prepared by the two patrol leaders who had stayed behind. Tuesday was Visitors’ Day in camp and the boys returned to their homes on January 6. The St. Francis Scouts returned last Saturday from their camp at Mr. McDonald’s farm on the Great North Road, where they spent a week under canvas. Assistant-Scoutmaster Calvert was in charge of the twelve boys who at- ; tended and this, their first camp, was voted a great success. Glistening Spear (Brian Mason) is a patrol leader of the recently-formed St. Francis Troop. * * * * Scouts and Cubs of St. Aidan’s Troop have been in camp at Mellon’s Bay, Howick, and returned last weekend. They report having spent a very enjoyable and interesting time. * * * The St. George’s Troop, Kingsland, held their first annual camp at Henderson Valley from December 28 to January 6, when twenty-six boys attended in the charge of the Rev. K.

J. McFarland. The site was ideal and the scouts thoroughly enjoyed their first experience of camping life. During their stay they were joined by some Scouts from Hobsonville, under Scoutmaster J. W. Shaw. A sports meeting was carried through and included a number of swimming and diving events, as one of the pools near the camp was large enough for this purpose. The competition for the best patrol ■ in camp was won by the Kangaroos • under Patrol Leader Jobey.

BIG BELLS The largest bell in the world, th* Great Bell of Moscow, is 60ft round the rim, 19ft high, and weighs about 180 tons. This giant bell, according to the inscription, was cast in 1733. It fell to the ground during a fire and in 1536 the Emperor Nicholas had it placed on a platform, and the interior has been used as a chapel. Moscow also has the largest bell in use. It weighs 128 tons. The Great Bell of St. Paul’s Cathedral is the largest bell in the British Isles, weighing nearly 17 tons. Large bells are made of an alloy of copper and tin, while most hand bells are brass. THE MOLE The “little gentleman in dark velvet’ who lives in the dark underworld is fitted for the life of a tunneler. HU snout is sharp for boring. He has no upstanding ears to catch the soil. Living in the dark, he scarcely needs eyes, and what eyes he has are like pin-heads buried in his fur. Each hair of his velvet-like fur is upright, and may be pressed backward or forward without hindering his passage. Hi* limbs are very short, so that he can squeeze through a small tunnel. Hi* sharp-clawed, shovel-like forefeet*** turned outwards, as best suits th«pr task of digging, and are worked by immensely strong muscles.