WITH THE BOY SCOUTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 285, 22 February 1928, Page 6

WITH THE BOY SCOUTS

The well-known Soouter, Mr. R. Coulman, of the First Chiswick Troop, London, is at present visiting Auckland, and is the guest of District Scoutmaster E. B. B. Boswell. Under the name of “Thumbstick” he has contributed largely to Scouting journals. It is to be regretted that the Chief Commissioner for Wolf Cubs in England (Mr. N. D. Power) and Major Crum, Commissioner for Scouts in Scotland, were unable to visit the Scouts and Cubs of the Auckland district during their brief stay in New Zealand. An evening was held for them by Scouters in Wellington, but lack of time prevented any similar function taking place in Auckland. Mr. Power sent the following letter to his little friends in England: “This little message is to wish you a very merry Christmas. “I am far away from my English Cubs, but our big. family extends to New Zealand and Australia and Canada and I shall visit all these places, I hope, before I come back to England. I shall spend Christmas Day on a bigship. when no doubt we shall have some fun. “I have spent several Christmas Days on ships, and the captain and his officers always try to make things jolly by decorating the ship and giving us a special dinner, and on one ship they gr.ve us Christmas presents, which was very nice. I hope you will. all have nice presents and enjoy yourselves. “If you had bored a hole right through the earth, you would come out somewhere near New Zealand, and that is near where I shall be when you ara eating your Christmas dinner. “I think I shall write my experiences of this voyage I am making, which will last for about six months, because there are sure to be some interesting and amusing things which you Cubs would like to read about.” The Avondale Scouts have commenced Fire Drill, under Mr. L. Vincent, of the Avondale Volunteer Fire Brigade, and at the first muster 40 boys attended. Two cricket matches have recently been played, one against the Glen Eden Troop last Saturday, and the other against Mount Albert Scouts the previous week. Arrangements are in progress for a

combined Church Parade with the New Lynn Guides at St. Jude’s Anglican Church. Avondale, early in March. Black Wolf (Douglas Blackman) has been appointed Wigwam Scribe for the Avondale troop. ViRE-FIGHTING HINTS Perhaps it might be considered unnecessary to sUUe that great care should be taken in entering a burning building either for the purpose of rescue or for salvage. If possible a wet blanket should be obtained and tightly wrapped round the body so that there is little likelihood of sparks setting fire to your clothing. Some woollen article—a stocking, for instance —should also be soaked in water and held in position over the mouth and nostrils with a Scout neckerchief, so that the hands are left free. Even in the densest smoke, however, comparatively fresh air is to be found close to the floor. If you are attempting to rescue a person crawl along the ground and tie a bowline round the patient’s waist. Then bring the rope along to the ankles, tie another bowline there, and. turning your back to the patient, tie a bowline round your neck and leave the room on all fours, dragging the rescued person after you.