WITH THE BOY SCOUTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 551, 2 January 1929, Page 12

WITH THE BOY SCOUTS

The party of Indian Scouts from Fiji, representing various troops, arrived in Auckland by the Aorangi on Sunday evening. The visitors were met and welcomed by Commissioner W. J. Holds worth, and the headquarters staff, and their delight at being in Auckland knew no bounds. A fine Scouting spirit exists among the boys. During their stay they visited the zoo and other points of interest and, on New Year’s Day, under AssistantCommissioner E. B. B. Boswell and District Scoutmaster K. Dyer, were taken to look over the Scout camps at Clevedon and Hunua, the Y.M.C.A. camp at Happy Valley, and also on a visit to Hunua Falls. They are leaving by the Limited this evening to attend the West Coast Rallv at Stratford.

Little Thunder, of the First Papakura Troop, writes: “We broke up our parades for the year on December 31, with a games evening, and will be in camp on the grounds of the late Mr. P. Holt, on the Hunua Road, from December 29 until January 2. The camp will be in charge of our Scoutmaster, Mr. A. Slessor, and our instructor, Mr. A. L. Lewis. “Although our time is short we are all looking forward to a good time. “During the month five Gardener’s and numerous other Proficiency badges have been gained.”

On Saturday, December 29, the As-sistant-Commissioner and District Scoutmaster, A. Tribble, made a tour of inspection round a number of Scout camps, the first being St. Aidan’s camp at Mellon’s Bay, Howick. Here, on account of the weather, only the advance party was in occupation. the remaining Scouts going under canvas the following day. Scoutmaster Eric Leikis is in charge. The next call was made at Beachlands. where the visitors inspected the Glen Eden camp. This troop has a splendid site on the cliff top. and everything was in excellent order. During the wet weather the boys took refuge in Mr. Hyatt's bach, which is close to the camp. Assistant-Scout-master Hocken. who has recently joined the troop, is in charge. The camp of the Kobimarama troop at Maraetai was next visited. This site has many advantages, and the beach provides plenty of scope for swimming and scouting games. The comp is in charge of Scoutmaster Phillips. The following day Messrs, Boswell and Tribble left for Papakura and Hunua. first going up Hunua Hoad to Puriri Farm, where the Papakura Scouts are under canvas. This site is probably the finest for camping purposes in the Auckland district, and the troop is fortunate in having the use of it. Everything in the camp had a true scouting atmosphere. While there, the Assistant-Commis-sioner congratulated Patrol Leader Fraser (Little Thunder) on winning the First Aid outfit awarded to the best Scout scribe in the Wigwam for the year just ended. He also congratulated the troop on their enthusiastic scribe. The visitors then passed through the.

Gorge to St. James’s camp on thcj proparty of Mr. Heald, close to Hunua Falls. Unfortunately the Scoutmaster and the boys were absent, but everything went to prove that the camp was being conducted in true Scout fashion. From here Messrs. Boswell and Tribble continued their journey through Happy Valley and called on the Christ Church (Ellerslie) Troop, under Scoutmaster Isherwood and Assistant-Scoutmaster Ward. This troop has a delightful camping site close to a stream, and the Scouts were being visited by about 50 boys from the Y.M.C.A. camp. Returning to Papakura, the visitors inspected the combined camp of the Grey Lynn and Gordon Troops on Mr. John Dow’s farm. Scoutmaster C. H. Swales and three assistants are in charge. Mr. Middleton, a Holborn (London) Rover, who is visiting Auckland, has spent a portion of his holiday at this camp. The site is ideal, but on Friday, owing to the downpour, refuge had to be taken in a woodshed nearby. The new trek cart, lately imported from England, was found very useful for taking breakfast from the cook-house to the woolshed the morning after the rain. All the camps visited had experienced bad weather, but the tents were so well pitched that the boys suffered a minimum of discomfort. The visitors state that there has been a great advance in camp-craft since last year. NOT QUITE SURE A countryman was sitting on a stile when a motorist stopped and asked him how far it was to a certain town. “Three miles,” was the reply. “Are you sure?” “Yes—unless it’s been moved lately.”