SCOUTS ON PARADE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 733, 5 August 1929, Page 14

SCOUTS ON PARADE

MUSTER OF 1,000 MARKS COMING OF AGE CERTIFICATES PRESENTED With drums beating and banners fluttering at the head of every troop, 1,030 land and sea Scouts of Auckland paraded on Saturday afternoon in celebration of the coming-of-age of the movement. At the head of the line was a company of proud Wolf Cubs, whose ages ranged from eight to ten years. In their green uniforms they marched like veterans behind the escore of mounted police. Accompanying the parade was the band of the Salvation Army. The Cubs were followed by various companies of Sea Scouts and the land troops in full regalia of distinctive ribbons and hat-bands. The march began at Quay Street and the parade moved up Queen and Wellesley Streets to Kurland Street, where * a loop was formed and an inspection made by the Deputy-Mayor, Cr. A. J. Entrican. At the parade ground, the scouts were drawn up in a solid square before a table at which sat District Commissioner W. J. Holdsworth, Assistant Commissioner E. B. Boswell, Cr. Entrican, Mr. J. A. C. Allum and others. A crowd assembled on vantage points beside the ground. Prior to an inspection of the scouts for the purpose of selecting the winner of the Oxley Cup for the smartest troop on parade, Mr. Holds worth addressed the scouters, informing them that they had paraded at the request of headquarters to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the movement. Cheers were called for and given with a will when Mr. Holdsworth referred to the honour conferred by the King on Sir Robert Baden-Pawell, founder of the movement. Then a bugle call, and the haka, “Be Prepared,” performed by the entire parade. Cr. Entrican conveyed greetings and congratulations to the scouts on behalf of the City of Auckland. He paid a tribute to the worth of the organisation and exhorted every lad to live up to his ideals and carry on the good work. “Ho man is more deserving of recognition by the King than Sir Robert Baden-Powell,” he declared. He closed his remarks by describing the scout movement as the greatest organisation of its kind since the founding of the Salvation Army. Mr. Holdsworth welcomed the latest addition to the scouting ranks of Auckland, the troop of the Vernon Street School, Ponsonby. He then presented a Medal of Merit to Captain R. A. Woods, R.X.R.. Assistant District Commissioner of Sea Scouts. Certificates were then presented to the following: Cubmasters and Assistant Cubmasters. —J. Graveson (Shackleton), W. Lancaster (Tahutimai), S. Strong (Onehunga Town), R. Mcßride (Mt. Albert), E. Devall (Devonport), C. Young (Devonport), D. Watts (First Cornwell), R. Mclntyre (North Memorial), W. Rodger (Leys), R. Cockfield (Leys). Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters. —G. Kirk (St. George’s), K. Bell (North Memorial), P. Gaddis (“Victory”), N. P. Walker (Ellerslie), D. H. Stewart (North Memorial), E. P. Y. Simpson (North Memorial), J. S. Brownlee (St. Mary’s), W. G. Taylor (First Cornwell), R. Salmon (Kitchener), F. E. Baker (St. Mary’s), R. A. Loe (St. Alban’s), A. J. Jones (St. Alban’s). Wood Badge Certificates.—L. S. Abbott, M. Stralen, A. Crawford. The Kitchener troop was awarded the Oxley Cup.