The Wigwam

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 753, 28 August 1929, Page 6

The Wigwam

Here toe (father, here we meet in yow-wow friendly and discreet , To talk of earth, and sea, and sky , and natch the world of men go by.

SEPTIMUS SEPTIMUS lived in a deep pool whose door was patterned with slippery boulders that offered many intriguing crannies for exploring. On calm days the pool mirrored the sky, but the sunshine, glimpsed from among the boulders, was always tinged with green. Even on calm days the water purled gently through the reeds where Septimus had many secret hiding places. Septimus was king of the river—a speckled trout of mighty proportions. In the transparent underworld where he reigned his decree was law, and the lesser fish would speed hither and thither at the mere flick of a fin. . The day was lazy—and so was Septimus. Across the surface of the pool moved the shadows of clouds and soaring birds Through the green twilight glided Septimus, half asleep. Suddenly a winged something alighted on the water almost beside him. As quick as thought he seized it, but this was no ordinary insect. Attached to it was a sharp hook and a long- line that grew taut as he endeavoured to free himself. This way and that he sped, the line running with him, then relentlessly it would tighten, staying his frenzied progress. Septimus knew what this meant: he knew that annihilation waited at the other end of the line where the sunshine was golden instead of green. Other kings had gone the same way. . . . Then Fate, in the shape of a submerged willow branch, took a hand. The insistent tugging ceased, and the rest was easy. With a final wrench Septimus freed himself and dropped like a stone into the green depths. There he lay meditating on many tilings until a slioal of lesser fish came crowding round. Whereupon, being in no mood for explanations, Septimus gazed upon them coldly and, putting the past behind him, deliberately flicked his most aggressive-looking fin. REDFEATIIER.

.RAGMENT Maybe you and I were dust aeons ago. And you were in the east then. And I was in the west. And so. You and I were worlds apart. But to me came the wanderlust; I stirred. And little scurrying winds blew by; T tried to flee with them . . . I heard The far east call, but could not go. And aeons now have passed Away . . . I was born with the wanderlust Beep down there in my soul. One day Our unquiet dust shall meet on earth. —Little Lone Bine (Phyllis Agar).

The so-called ship-worm, which beres holes ir* the wood of ships, is in reality a form of shellfish.

WITH THE BOY SCOUTS

Air. N. AI. Alatheson supplies the following results of the First-Class tests;—

; About 50 Scouts were present at ! Western Springs last Saturday, and the tests were carried out in ideal weather. The following passes were gained:— Cooking.—V Storey, C. Schofield, E. Smith, W. Hooper, J. Clavey, L. Perkins, R. Marks, J. Watson. Signalling.—L. Perkins, R. Marks, AI. AlcNeill, D. Evans, J, Alatthews, P. Bennett, G. Catchpole, W. Waldron (excellent), T. Foster Bassett, F. Hyde, L. Hulme. Judging Distance. —Perkins, Dick, Bennett, Catchpole. Alatthews, Fleming. W. Black, D. Black, Johnson, AlcNeill, Ashforth, Taylor, Foster, I-iulme. First Aid. —L. Perkins, R. Marks, J. Dick, D. Evans, P. Bennett, C. Catchpole, J. Taylor, IT. Ashforth. Conventional Signs. —L. Perkins, R. ; Marks, J. Alatthews, P. Bennett, G. j Catchpole, C. Schofield, J. Watson, T. Foster, F. Hyde, L. Hulme, H. Ashforth. i A. Carden, of the Onehunga Troop, j has completed the tests. ATcCallum and Claney, of St. Alary’s Pack, have, passed the Swimmer’s badge. The next Proficiency badge night will he held at West Street Church of Christ (off Karangahape Road, Bank of New Zealand corner), on Wednesi day, September 4, at 7.15. Be sure to i bring bandages, splints, pencil, etc., if j required. | A combined pound night for Sea Scouts was held last Friday at the ; rooms of the Flying Angel Alission, ; lent for the occasion by Air. Vickery. | Four out of the five Auckland comj panics were represented, there being , present about fifty Sea Scouts and twelve officers. Commissioner Holds- ' worth and Assistant-Commissioners Woods. Boswell and Veart also ati tended, and the arrangements were ill : the hands of District Scoutmaster Thode, of the Vindictive Company. Mr. Uoldsworth and Air. Woods addressed the boys, after which the room was cleared for games, then, following • supper, which was provided by Airs. Woods and lady friends. Air. Boswell i gave a brief talk. i During the evening Air. Vickery announced that Air. Jaffers, at one time of the Ship’s Company of H.M.S. Calliope, had asked him to present a large photograph of the Ship’s Company taken on the return to Auckland after the Samoan hurricane of ISS9. This gift was for the Calliope Company of Sea Scouts as a memento of the ship from which their name originated, and Air. Jaffers asked that it be hung in the company headquarters as a fitting I reminder. The Calliope Company received the presentation with great enthusiasm and i gave three hearty cheers for the

Air. Vickery also offered the use of his rooms for similar meetings on one night of each month. On Saturday, August 24, AssistantCommissioner Boswell and District Scoutmaster Tribble visited Drury to bo present at the formation of the new Drury Troop, which has been founded by the Rev. John Hubbard, minister ol’ the Presbyterian Church. The troop, which comprises about 24 boys, six of whom -were initiated by Air. Boswell, will be under the charge of Scoutmaster RobinsonOthers present at the function were the Drury Girl Guides, Captain Gee, of the Pukekohe Troop, with several of his boys. Scoutmaster Andrew Slesser, of Papakura, with a Papakura Scout, j and three representatives from St. David’s Troop. A troop committee has been formed with Mr. I-layson as chairman. No. 1 Division District Scoutmaster Fred E. Walls advises: A meeting of Scouters (Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters) of No. 1 Division will be held at West Street on Wednesday, August 28 (this evening), at 7.30. It is desirable that a representative bo s.ent from each troop, and Scouters who are unable to be present should see to this. Boxing Tournament Alention of a boxing tournament for Scouts has caused the keenest interest, and intending entrants are herewith supplied with full particulars: The tournament will be held on Saturday. October 12, in Shed No. 12 at Central Wharf, the contests commencing at 7.15 p.m. It is being conducted by the Legion of Frontiersmen, and Lieutenant W. Palmer will be in charge of the contests. All entries must be in the hands of the secretary at Scout headquarters not later than September 30, and envelopes must bo marked “Boxing.” Not more than two Scouts may be entered from any one troop. Each entrant must give his name in full, his age and weight, and state which troop he repreBouts will be of three one-minute rounds with one-minute intervals, and no competitor will be permitted to box in two weights. Points will be given for the most scientific boxing, sportsmanship in the ring, and the best troop costume, which must be from neck to knee with shorts of dark material. The winner of each bout will receive a medal, and the Scout scoring the highest number of points will be presented with a shield to be held for one year by his troop, the winner himself | to receive a special medal. Rovers The Rovers met at the Grey Lynn Troop headquarters last Saturday at 5.30 p.m., between 40 and 50 members attending. The business of the evening was interspersed with tea, games and community singing, and many interesting decisions were arrived at. The lease of rooms at Grey's Buildings, Courthouse Lane, for use as Rover Headquarters was decided on, and eight Rovers volunteered to form a working bee and fit up the rooms to fill the requirements of a Rover Den. It was also decided to form a tennis club. Aliss Lillian Braitliwaite has offered I to produce an operetta, “The Bosun’s j Bride,” to raise funds for the Rover I crew, and her offer was accepted with j thanks.

The working 1 bee will meet at the Den on Monday, September 2, and the next general meeting will be held at the same place on September 5. At the invitation of the Y.M.C.A., the Rovers will spend next week-end at Hunua. On Monday, August 26, AssistantCommissioner Boswell visited the Vermont Street Marist Troop on the occasion of its initiation ceremony. This new troop has a membership of 30 boys who are in charge of Scoutmaster E. Coleman. GIRL GUIDES’ CORNER Four Girl Guide officers from the First Cambridge Company, Miss Florence Clark, Miss Pat Levesque (Moccasin Maker), Miss Jessie Anderson (Sun Cloud) and Miss Margaret Hicks (Evening Gold) called at the Wigwam

last Alonday on their way to Otimai, j where they will spend a week at the j Guiders’ training camp. Dancing Star reports for the First I j Takapuna Company: “On August l we were examined for ! the Kohn Cup. The commissioners, j i who arrived during inspection. in- j spected us in our patrol corners. Our j i parents were invited to our next j I meeting, and many of them took the j j opportunity of seeing us at our work, i | During the evening two members of the Red Rose Patrol were enrolled, and badges and service stars were presented. “Church parade was held at the Presbyterian Church on August 18. “We played a match against the Takapuna Methodist Basketball Club on Saturday, July 27, and were victorious by 15 points to 5. Alany of our Guides won their Athlete badges this month.” ; Wood Spell, of St. Aidun's G.F.S. ; Company, writes: t ‘Next month we propose to hold our

first birthday party and are very busy practising a play.

“We held a fancy dress dance not. long ago and were very successful with it. It was for children under 13 years of age. “We, or rather the Girls’ Friendly Society, have made a banner, and each of the Guides put one stitch in it, as we also belong to that society.” Little Star, of St. Thomas’s Company, reports under date August 26: “We have been fairly busy this month with executive concerts coming off. On August 6 the District Executive committee held a concert in All Saints' Hall. The Guides acted “Mary’s Dismissal,” and the Brownies “The Dollies.” both of which had been staged at our own concert. “On August 13 Mrs. Seagar enrolled some of our new recruits. Our company will soon be as large as it was before our previous Captain went away. “East week the Second-class Guides

| were taken for Ambulance by a St. j John Ambulance nurse. ‘*We have 43 Brownies in our Back | now.” White Smoke, of the Tahutimai j | Company, writes: "A few weeks ago our hall looked i j very pretty decorated with ferns and | greenery. It was the annual commitj tee meeting. A new committee was i elected. We had supper, kindly pre- | pared by the committee ladies. “East week Mrs. Mels air came to inspect us for the Kohn Cup. We had various amusing games and gave a drill display “For a number of Saturdays we had been practising basketball in the hope of doing something brilliant at the tournament, but. unfortunately, we were beaten in the first round. After the tournament was over all the Epsom companies went to a tea at St. Anj drew’s Hall. Here we spent a very ! merry evening. Our company gave a shadow display. Much amusement was caused by the Heather Patrol’s mock operation. The evening ended with a ‘ camp-fire.

‘The patrol competition for last month was won by the Red Rose patrol, with the Snowdrops second.” V 4* “Still Pool, of the First Whangarei Company, writes: “As the badges have not yet arrived from England we have not had a ceremonial evening this month. “On Friday, August 16, we were told that a Mr. Houghton was coming to give us a lecture on “Mosquitoes.” This was very interesting, as we learned how mosquitoes breed, where they breed, and what they live on. Mr. Houghton illustrated his talk with pictures drawn on a blackboard. “Lieutenant Baigent has given up the position of Acting-Captain, and Miss Millington, the Ranger captain, has taken her place. “Captain Millington is attending a Guiders' training camp, and, as a number of the Guides will be away for the school holidays, we, too, are to have holidays for two weeks.” | Green Leaf reports for the Second ! Whangarei Company: “Our meetings this month have been ; Just ordinary ones. The new patrol has j been progressing steadily, and their | corner is very good. “On August 13 the First Hikurangi j Company celebrated its first ceremonj evening. Our Captain and two of our leaders were invited, and they were warm in their praise of the new company’s work. “As our holidays are drawing near many of us are preparing for them, and we are looking forward with much excitement to the joys they as yet have not disclosed. The death of a prominent man in church life occurred recently, and our company was lined up at full salute when the hearse went past. “Many of us are studying for our Needlewoman’s badge, and some are preparing for the Toymaker’s." AN UNKNOWN SCOUT -Twenty years ago an American tray- ! eller found himself hopelessly and j completely lost in London. Seeing a boy passing he turned to him for aid. The lad not only gave the traveller the address he wanted but guided him to it. Then, firmly but politely refusing the tip that was ofteied him with the remark. “I am a Sc °ot, ’ the boy went on his way l he American, impressed by the boy’s !F an l ° “ nd out wh ° and what the Scouts were. His investigations ■ over he carried the idea overseas and founded a bcout organisation in his : own city. That was the beginning of the Bov Scout brotherhood in the United States, and it had an interesting sequel some years later when the American Scouts, as a sign of goodwill and m memory of the English Scout’s good wr'i Se Jl t . °\ e T a bronze figure of a buffalo (the highest honour they can confer* to their English comrades. The scHptiom- bearE the toll °wins ln“To the Unknown Scout. whose daily good turn brought the Boy Scout America"' toth 6 tTnlted Statesof Today the American Scouts are about a million strong, and their Chief bcou. is Mr Ernest Thompson Seton ' Mr Tvnuam 0 f “ unded t! 'o organisation! Mi. 'ViUiain D Boyce. has latelv passed beyond this world to vrtier'. good deeds are not forgotten.