THE WIGWAM

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 913, 5 March 1930, Page 7

THE WIGWAM

Here we gather, here we meet in pow-wow friendly and discreet. To talk of earth, and sea, and sky , and watch the world of men go POW-WOW A BUTTERFLY has just flown in at the Wigwam, a russet specimen with the gold of the sunshine dusted on its wings. It has circled the walls on a tour of inspection and come to rest on a bowl of flowers. But the flap of the Wigwam stands open and now, with a flutter of farewell, it seeks once more the wide spaces that butterflies know. Yet, strangely enough, tlie wide free spaces seem to have entered in its wake, for was not the gold of the sunshine dusted on its wings? A born rover, it will visit scores of gardens during the day, trespassing here and questing there until the sun sets on its adventuring. Somehow that butterfly recalls a Wigwam member who has grown up a daughter of the sea and sun. She swam, she fished, she rail with the wind ; now she works in an office with the sea framed in a square of window. The door stands open, the sunshine calls, but duty bids her stay. Alas for a work-a-dav world ! There are thousands of such people whose longing for freedom is so great that sometimes it becomes almost a physical pain, hut environment is what one makes it. Freedom is a state ot mind ; the sound of far oceans can be heard in a sea-shell, and Summer still powders her gold on every butterfly’s wings. REDFEATTIER.

GIRL GUIDES’ CORNER The Ft. Chevalier Guides held a oienic at Sharp’s Bush in the Waitakeres on Saturday, February 22. a pleasant time being spent with competitions and games. At the conclusion of the last Guiding year, a fancy-dre«s ball for Guides and Brownies was held, the sum of ten guineas being raised. (This company is invited to communicate with Kedfeather, with the object of appointing a scribe, as it has not yet had a representative in the Wigwam.) New Moon, chosen as scribe for the Tahutimai Company, reports: “This year Tahutimai hopes to do Sreat things. Our roll call being considerably enlarged, a fifth patrol is being added. Our recent companyleader has been promoted to the Poe»tion of lieutenant, and. as others of our leaders and seconds have left, th© younger members must take their places as ably as possible. “W© propose to make a speciality of Basket-making this year, and also to have some lessons in Maori, Natural History, Country Dancing. Physical Drill and Ambulance. “.Some of our members went up *0 Otimai (the Guiders’ home in the ranges) during the holidays and enjoyed their stay very much. W e wouid like to take the whole company there fot a camping week-end. “At the Epsom district swimming sports, Cuvell and St. Cutkbert’s car-

ried off most ’of the laurels, but we intend being present at the divisional contest to cheer on our district.”

The Hikurangi Guides held a church parade last Sunday. This company is now preparing for a bazaar to bo held on March 27. FROM A LETTER Today (Sunday), we drove to Maraetai, then to Beachlands. It was beautiful. The sea was racing up the sandy shore, singring to the shells and plaving on the rocks. The poplars made the sweetest music, and all the sunbeams glittered on the ripples, turning them to precious colours. Away in the distance the tall outline of Rangitoto was stretched across the blue, while near at hand the dead branches of a bluegum were scribbled against the sky. I loved every minute of the day—the drive through the early morning arr, the race with the wind to the chfts, the little creek that slithers its way past the wooden bridge to rest in silver pools under the drooping willows, the path of the sea on the hot shells. There were so many things to love. —Flying Cloud. The largest insect in the worU is found in Venezuela. It is the elephant Settle, which when fully grown weighp half a pound.

WITH THE BOY SCOUTS Life Saving Competition On Friday, February 28, representatives of a number of troops met at the Society of Arts Hall on the invitation of the Legion of Frontiersmen to make preliminary arrangements for instruction by members of the Royal LifeSaving Society for the competition to be held on March 2 9 for the Legion of Frontiersmen’s Shield. Headquarters issues the following instructoins for those taking part in tliis competition: “In order to comply with the rules of the Royal Life-Saving Society, with which we are affiliated, the number of competitors forming the teams of lifesavers from each troop in the competition for the. Legion of Frontiersmen’s Shield must be four Scouts and an instructor. Please increase your teams to that number, and try to choose Scouts about the same height. The instructor need not be an expert swimmer, but should be, if possible, a patrol leader or intelligent Scout able to learn the words of command in the land exercises and give them clearly. If the • Scoutmaster or tlie AssistantScoutmaster can take the position so much the better. “Each troop entering should let Headquarters know at once, as the Royal Lifer Saving Society will provide an instructor for each troop and there are now only three weeks for training. Try to get a team going. “Next Friday (March 7) a class for instruction will be held at Ley’s Institute Hall, Ponsonby. On Saturday at 2 p.m. instructors will be at Shelly Beach Baths, and at the same time Scouts will have the advantage of seeing the Ponsonby Club’s Life-Saving teams being put through their train“Do your best to make our LifeSaving competition a success.” The First Cornwell Troop has commenced activities for the year and already the boys have been on a hiking expedition to Rangitoto, using the Devonport Troop bach to sleep in. They anticipate another hike this weekend, the destination yet to be decided. Scoutmaster Taylor has just returned from Rotorua, having hiked part of the way. He made the acquaintanve of Scoutmaster Gordon, of Rotorua, who has charge of a troop of sixty Scouts. ' First Cornwell Scouts who have not been present at the meetings held this year are requested to report themselves as soon as possible. Great Lone Eagle, returned as scribe for the First Devonport Troop, reports:— “During the holidays we held at Rangitoto many camps which were greatly enjoyed. The total number of Scouts in the troop is 25 with 35 Cubs. Our Cubs were successful at the annual sports, carrying off the shield for the second time. “Last Friday night the Scoutmaster of the Cambridge Troop visited us unexpectedly, and on March 14 a farewell evening is being given for our former Scoutmaster, Mr. Frank Jones, who joined the troop as a Cub.

Le Roy Campcraft Cup The competition for this trophy will take place on April 5. Entries close at Headquarters or with District Scoutmaster Tribble, P.O. Box 672, Auckland, on or before March 24. General Conditions: The competition shall be open to one team from each Troop. Each team shall consist of six members as follow: One leader, one second and four Scouts. Scouters may be present during the competition, but may not offer any suggestion or assist their teams in any way during the competition. The competition shall be conducted by three judges, who -will be appointed by the Examination Board. The judges’ decision shall be final. Naiture of Competition: 1. The competition shall be held over a period of one weekend, commencing at 3 p.m. on Saturday and concluding at 3 p.m. on Sunday. 2. Gear and equipment necessary for a weekend camp shall be carried by each team. 3. On arrival at the camping ground, each team will be inspected and will select its- camping area. 4. Having chosen their camping area, teams will proceed with their own arrangements for spending the weekend in camp. 5. During the period of the camp, no member of any competing team shall enter the area of any other team. Points Will be Allotted For: 1. inspection on arrival at point of assembly, points to be awarded for method of packing and carrying gear, general neatness, and knowledge of kit, utensils and rations required 30 points. 2. General layout of camp, method of handling wood and water, construction of necessary arrangements, general balance and tautness oi tents and the adoption of Scouteraft methods lor comfort 30 points. 3. Preparation of meals (10 points for each.; 30 points. 4. Method of spending Saturday evening 30 points. 5. Conduct at Reveille . . 10 points. G. The arrangement and conduct of a “Scouts’ Own during the morning programme, and conduct of team after midday meal 20 points. 7. Scout spirit displayed throughout the camp .. 40 points. 3. {Striking camp and condition in which area is left 10 points. Total points 200 FOR WISE HEADS j Word Diamond: 3.—The end of all. 2. —An extinct bird. 3. —Btately. 4. —Consumed. 5. —The middle of eye. Word Changing: I am small, but, when entire. Of force to set a town on fire; Bet but one letter disappear, I then may hold a herd of deer. Take one more off, and then you'll find * I once contained all human kind. Answer to last week’s word square: Easel. Apple. Spade. Elder. Beers. THE WORST VOLCANIC ERUPTION In August, ISS3. two-thirds of the Island of Ivrakatoa was blown to pieces by a volcanic eruption, the biggest in modern times. A cubic mile of earth and lava was flung into the sky. and an air wave laden with volcanic dust circled the earth four times, causing remarkably* vivid sunsets. ' Thirty-five thousand lives were lost |as a result of the explosion, and the ; noise of it was heard 2,000 miles away i n Australia.