SCOUT NEWS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21206, 31 August 1940, Page 14 (Supplement)

SCOUT NEWS

(By “Hamutana.”)

Last week I explained to you how, by making- your Hikes Have *>uine object or purpose behind tbem, you could get interest and romance into your hiking. t*plorallon Hikes, I think. Headed the list of these “ objects ” hikes, so this week l’li ueal more rully with this subject. The object of a pioneer’s tramping: was to explore. The boy who sets out to walk rrom here to there becauee it's a long way away, and tries to travel as far as he can each day, is just wasting bis time and will eoon get tired or bis Job. Plan your exploration bike to some part or the countryside where you will have plenty of scope for your hiking. Then take your time getting there, lt'f much better to travel only four miles a day, provided that you see something, learn something that Is new to you than to travel 2u miles, see nothing and have no knowledge or he places through which you have Just passed. The Waikato abounds In Maori legend, history and associations and has unlimited opportunities toi exploration In this direction. Some jears ago, I remember a hike, In which 1 participated, with the object or trying to find an old Maori food trail near Te Awamutu. We spent a whole day scrambling around in the dense ecrub, fording creeks and getting well and truly torn by blackberry and bush lawyer, until eventually one or our party suddenly disappeared rrom human ken into a large ditch, and lo! we had discovered our trail. I can tell you that we felt like old Balboa did when he first viewed the mighty Pacific, and when we found an ancient Maori carved post, marking a tribal boundary, our Joy was complete and we bore our trophy home with great pride, all our wounds and ratlgue rorgotten in this great moment! We all voted that hike one of the best we had ever undertaken. There is much like this to be discovered and the world is full or helpful people, if you ask nicely. Just as the old pioneers came to villages and parleyed with the natives, discovered their customs and ways or living, we can do the 6&me—only In a modern fashion.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK You oannet dream yourself Into oherecter. You must hammer and forge it for youreelf. Froude.

HAMUTANA ROVER CHEW Once again we bad to forego our usual weekly meeting on Saturday night, as we were away visiting our old friends, tbe Te Matarurus, and helping tbem to celebrate the coniing-of-age or their esteemed Mate. Only three of us were able to go, duo to the limited amount of room available In a Baby Austin, and what a splendid time we had! Our rorces were considerably augmented, however, on our arrival at Cambridge and this probably accounted for the warmth or our welcome When we all rolled Into the Matamata Den. 1 think that their highly-respected Commissioner —the teller or “ true ones ” —was the only person who didn’t fully enjoy himself during the evening due to the tnsny anxious moments he had to spend watching some or our Rangers trying their beet to play themselves out or bunkers and other hazards on the billiard table with tbelr cues! We would like to thank the Te Matarurus for the great evening we had, and congratulate Don and wish him all the best luck in the future. Scribe. ST. FBTEH'S Last week our meeting commenced with roll-call and flag-break. Due to the school holidays, over one-third of the troop was absent so no inspection was held. So, apart Horn hair an hour’s Instruction un der the P.L.’s, during which time one of our Junior seconds amused himself and the remainder of the troops by his experiments with some home-made fireworks, we decided to turn the meeting into a games meeting. After an Investiture, therefore, our time was spent playing games, including many new ones shown us by “ Littlejohn ” during his stay here. Cocoa was served to conclude the evening. Congratulations to Patrol-Leaders Peter and Noel Lincoln upon gaining tbelr Pioneer's Badges. Some of our P.L.’s and Seconds Intend paying a Visit to Claude* lands on Wednesday. By the time these notes appear this evening will be all over and we will, we are sure, have Lad a great time. But more about this next week. Cheerio! •orfbe. rr. BEOHQE’S TROOP On Sunday last we visited eur camp site and did some very valuable work, including cooking and estimation. Seven of our boys turned up and also four Rovers rrom the Hamutana Crew, an<T their presence was much appreciated. On our parade night we did not have a very big attendance and so after a very hearty game of hockey we broke parade. Our gear custodians remained at troop headquarters and cleaned up all our gear In preparation for our summer camping, to which we are eagerly looking rorwtra. As school holidays will eoon be ending, we expect a big parade next week. Hang tore.