WITH THE BOY SCOUTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 529, 5 December 1928, Page 8

WITH THE BOY SCOUTS

Assistant-Commissioner E. B. B. Boswell, District Sea-Scoutmaster L. Thode, District Scoutmaster G. Iversen and District Cubmaster N. N. Matheson have been appointed examiners for the Swimmer and Rescuer badges. The badge test examinations will be held on Thursday, December 13, at St. James’s Hall, Wellington Street, off Pitt Street, and entries close at Headquarters to-day at 4 p.m. * • * * Mr. J. T. Peet, of Perth, a member of the State Executive of the Boy Scouts’ Association, Western Australia, is making a holiday tour of New Zealand and at present is staying in Auckland. He called at Headquarters and renewed his acquaintance with the staff, six years having elapsed since he last visited the Dominion. Mr. Peet takes an active interest in all matters connected with Scouting. • * * Mr. Vic Pointon, late Scoutmaster of the Leys Institute Troop, who has been associated with the Y.M.C.A. in Wellington for the past 18 months, is at present visiting friends in Auckland. Mr. Pointon has been appointed general secretary to the Y.M.C.A. at Timaru, and will take up his duties at the beginning of the year. Mr. D. B. Reid, district secretary, Hutt Valley, Wellington, is now in Auckland, and he called at local Headquarters early this week. During his stay he hopes to meet Auckland Scoutmasters and to see something of the troops. In the course of an interview Mr. Reid stated that a keen interest is taken in the Wellington Scouts by the Rotary Club. Members visit the troops and provide suppers and entertainments, also forwarding cases of fruit when camps are in progress. Recently, the Rotary Club had the Scout Laws attractively printed in white and gold, and every Scout in the district received one of these cards. Scouting in Wellington is at present in a very progressive state. About thirty-five boys competed in the first class tests at Western Springs last Saturday, and ten completed their passes. They are:—Scout Walters (St. Barnabas), A. H. Dallimore (Leys Institute), D. Jones and V. W’allis (St. Aidan’s), E. Cornes, C. Grimmer and D. Hall (St. Mary’s), R. Angus (Grey Lynn), R. Gross (Kitchener), N. Petersen (Herne Bay). All the remaining boys were granted partial, passes. Scouts are requested by Headquarters to observe the following instructions:— 1. No Boy Scouts can be allowed on Western Springs Estate unless in uniform and in charge of their Scoutmasters. 2. It is also important for all Scouts to remember that one condition on which permission was given to use this ground that the gate should be kept closed to prevent the cattle from straying. Last week-end the Grey Lynn Troop conducted a very successful Paddy’s Market at its headquarters, St. Columba Hall. The Assistant-Commis-sioner visited the sale and made a tour of inspection round the attractivelyarranged stalls. * * * Hawkeye reports for the First Gordon Troop:— “Last Friday the First Gordon Troop

celebrated its sixth anniversary. A birthday party was held, at which the attendance was approximately 100. The following members of Headquarters staff were present:—Assistant-Com-missioners E. B. B. Boswell and A- J. Veart, District Cubmasters N. Matheson and Mrs. Roughton, and District Secretary J. J. Mead. “A feature of the evening was the cutting of the birthday cake, on which were six imitation Scouts—one for every year of the troop’s existence. It was very pleasing to note the numbers ; of old members who attended. I “During the evening the following presentations were made by the Assis-tant-Scout Commissioner (Mr. E. B. B. Boswell): Senior Patrol, Panther (Leader L. Jacobs); Cub Instructor’s badge, Leader F. Whiting; best attendance (one absence). Leaders G. Mack and F. Whiting; best progress, Scout Anderson; best help to Scoutmaster, Leader F. Whiting. Numbers of badges were also presented. “Entertainment was provided by Mr. Gilliam (pianoforte selections), Mr. Sheddon (bagpipes) and Mr. H. P. Carlsen (humorous items). “The annual report showed that during the year the following badges had been gained: • 1 King’s Scout, 1 First All Round Cord, 1 First Class and 10 Second Class. We were also successful in obtaining the capable seryices of Mr. A. C. Marks as Cubmaster. The strength of the troop at present is: Scouts 27 and Cubs 18.” The Tauranga Boy Scouts held a social recently the whole function being organised by the boys themselves. All the items on the programme were contributed by members of the troop. The Commissioner, Mr. Fergus Boyd, attended and presented a number of badges. This troop will be represented at the ambulance competitions to be held at Paeroa in connection with the A. and P. Show. Owing to pressure on space the weekly report of the Fame Troop of Sea Scouts could not be included in this column last week. The First Mate reports that a signalling test was recently held and that all the senior hands passed. Residents of Point Chevalier are notified that the Fame Sea Scouts will give their first concert in the Armstrong Hall on Monday, December 10, and a large attendance is hoped for. The First Mate reports for this week: “The Fame Sea Scouts paraded on Friday night with 35 hands. Instructions were given in Tenderfoot, Secondclass and Ambulance work. Several lads passed a First-Aid test. “On Saturday afternoon we paraded at Walker Road Beach and held a cooking examination, the majority of the boys passing. After eating the result of their cooking and playing a few strenuous games, the crew went home tired, but nappy. “Our concert on the 10th promises to be a great success. The officers and committee of the company wish to express their regret at not being able to issue as many complimentary tickets as they would like, owing to the inadequacy of the hall. Any Sea Scouts in uniform will, however, be admitted at half-price.’ Little Thunder reports for the First Papakura Troop: “Our troop is still progressing fav T ourably. Several new members have been enrolled and we are now about 40 strong. “We have been continuing our cricket practices regularly every Saturday, and on December 1 we played Wesley College on the college grounds. The match was a very close one, the college defeating us by seven runs. On our side Patrol Leader R. Francis took six wickets for 11 runs, and Patrol Leader J. Goddard was the highest scorer, with 18 runs to his credit. In the evening we held a combined concert. “On Armistice Day we attended the Church of England, where a / special service was held. “We held a dispatch running competition on November 23, the points

counting for the patrol competition. “The shield for November was won by the Seagull Patrol.” Strongbow reports for the First Devonport Troop:— “During the last month the Devonport Troop has gone ahead rapidly. We have a new Assistant-Scoutmaster, a gymnasium instructor, a morse instructor and a. boxing instructor. “During Labour Day week-end, we j held a camp at Rangitoto. On the j Saturday afternoon we played track- i ing games in the bush, and in the j evening we tried to communicate with ! our headquarters by means of a Lucas I

lamp, which we had obtained from the Narrow Neck Camp. On the Monday another troop of Scouts visited us, and we all climbed to the summit. “On November 2 we held a pound night, and several boxing contests took place. The patrol cup was presented to No. 1 Patrol.” Miss Nancy Rew, Cubmistress of the Richmond Pack, writes: “On Thursday last in the St. Cuthbert’s Hall, Westmere, the Richmond Cub Committee held a very enjoyable concert. There was a good attendance of parents and friends of the Cubs, and the funds should be greatly added to by this effort. The items included songs by the Bayfield School Choir, elocutionary numbers by Miss Allen and Mr. Roberts, and novelty items by Miss Hinge and Mr. Black.” * * * Wary Sentry reports for the Glen Eden Troop: “On November 18. A. Allen. C. Edwards, A. Wood, C. Allen and F. Green received their pioneer badges, and C. Edwards, A. Foster and J. Taylor their cyclist badges. “On November 22 a concert was held in the Public Hall, Glen Eden, with a large audience. The items consisted chiefly of £3cout plays, which were loudlly applauded. The proceeds are in aid of a camp to be held at Christmas. “As usual, the inter-patrol competition shield is being keenly contested.”