DISTRICT NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 180, 29 January 1912, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS

EG MONT VILLAGE. (Fr«m Our Owm Ccrrwpo&dent.) The Inglewood Boy Scouts, under Scoutmasters Humphrey and Kennedy, had a field day at Egmont Village on Thursday last. About 2 o'clock between 20 and 30 scouts, including several New Plymouth boys, wljo had come out specially for the occasion, assembled at Mr. ■A. Mcßeth's residence, whence operations were to be conducted. The following was the plan of campaign:—A telegram from Inglewood was sent to the \illage post office, which is about a mile and a-quarter from Mcßeth's residence, and the three despatch runners (B. J. Mcßeth, H. Massick and R. Mcßeth) were to try and get a copy of it through to the house without being stopped by the other scouts. The excitement commenced about 2.30. As all the Village people had been invited to go and watch the proceedings quite a number of traps, etc., were coining at intervals down the road. All these were ''held up" and their contents most carefully scrutinised. There were scouts all over the place, and even & motor car was stopped and examined. About 3.30 a butcher's cart, with Mr. A. Burrows driving, and a lady with him, came down the road. The cart had the top off it and contained a tallow cask. As the boys had got a hint that B. J. Mcßeth was going to try and get through disguised as a lady, all the ladies had been most carefully' watched, and of course a lady on a butcher's cart was under suspicion at once. Mcßeth, however, was in the cask, which had been most carefully coopered up, and although the boys, turned it over and upside down, etc., they did not discover him, and although Mr. Burrows was stopped four times on the road he got through safely, and when the hoops of the cask were removed and the top taken off Mcßeth appeared, much to the delight of the onlookers. At 4.30 the scouts were called in, and as the other two despatch runners had. exceeded ths timfe limit they were considered out of it. Then tea. was served in .the large wool shed, which had been nicely decorated for the occasion. ; A really sumptuous repast was .placed, before the boys, who fully appreciated the efforts of Mrs. McBeth (helped by other ladies of the Village) in this respeet. After tea a signal-reading competition was held. Mrs. Mcßeth had presented a telescope for the winner, who proved to be Scout 11. Massick. As signalling is practically a new thing to the Inglewood Scouts, the results right through were surprisingly good, and much credit is due to both the boys and the scoutmasters, their instructors. Then followed races etc. Results:—Slow bicycle race (for B. J, Mcßeth's silver medal), H. Massick; sack race, 11. Ennis; lifesaving, J. Morton and T. Ilaslett; three-, legged race, E. Massick and H. Julian; wheelbarrow race. R. and J. Morton; 200 yds handicap, E. Massick 1, Frewin 2. This concluded the afternoon's programme. ' Scoutmaster Humphrey thanked Mrs. Mcßeth and all concerned for the enjoyable time they had all had. Outings of this kind helped the scout movement "on tremendously, and give the boys a really live interest in their scout work. It is to be hoped that this will be an incentive to others who are interested in the scouts to do their best to help them along. Mrs. Mcßeth presented the prizes won by the several bovs, and was accorded three hearty cheers for her hospitality. They then all set off for home feeling that their field day at Egmont Village would long remain in their memories as one of the most successful and pleasant afternoons they had spent.