WITH THE SCOUTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 153, 29 June 1911, Page 7

WITH THE SCOUTS.

(By AEEART.)

Tlie city ana suburban Scouts are invited to attend Dlvlno service at Pitt-street Methodist Church, on Sunday nest. Scouts will parade at reservoir comer, Ponsonbyroad at 10.20 a.m., in full uniform, but, no staves or haversacks. The Otahuhu Troop, under Chief Scoutmaster Dmieumb, are making themselves 'Very efficient, and liave challenged tor the' Walker Cup. Ponsonby No. 1 nave also, challenged, so the first round, which comes off shortly, is between these two troops. The winners then attack the e*inte, who hold the cup..

The Frahkton Junction Boy Scouts are X making good progress, and at the recent BS Hamilton show gave exhibitions of signal- B ling, ambulance, and bridge building. This g should encourage the Hamilton boys to get & a first-class troop of their own going. The k Frankton lads are under Scoutmaster Gbuld,- 're, who will be only too pleased to ,-ny M other district to form a troop. i:

The South Auckland Battalion (Chief Scoutmaster George), which was disbanded some time ago, are reorganised, and going strong. . They had a good muster on the Domain on Coronation Day. A number of the boys in.this troop are attacked to the volunteers, thus exploding the argument that a boy will not do his military and scout work together. This battalion consists at present of 'the Onehunga Troop (Scoutmaster George), the Eden Troop, Ellerslie (Scoutmaster Hills), and a new troop In process of formation at Greenlane.

The Buckland Troop (late Scoutmaster Abel) have been keeping themselves well to the front. At a concert and dance which they Held lately In aid of their uniform fund, they had a large aud appreciative audience In tiie Public Hall on Friday evening. Mr E. Allan presided, and the programme included pianoforte duets, songs, recitations, boxing competition, and a play introducing the Boy Scout movement. When Scoutmaster Abel left the district sonii; short time ago', 'he was presented with a "Swastika," the Badge of Brotherhood. This :is given only to people who have done the mdveinent some good service, and entitles the holder to the assistance of any Scout at any time. Needless to say-the gift is much appreciated. <

The arrival of a Scout from Home is always hailed with, pleasure by the local troops, and much competition sometimes ensues for his possession. He is looked upon as bringing the latest tidings of "how things' are being done at headquarters," and if he has seen "the Chief," Sir Robert BadenPowell, he is indeed a treasure. Just such au one is Scout D. E. Stacey, who was tor 11 months attached to the First Hereford Troop, England, and his recent arrival' and permanent settlement in' Auckland has resulted in his joining the No. 1 All Saints' (Inspector Campbell"). He has seen the "Chief," and heard him lecture, holds the St. John Ambulance. certificate, and has just passed his first class test under Inspector Stebbing with much credit. He hopes to have some good times with the Auckland Scouts, and looks forward- to his first fight with. a rival troop.„ He. thinks the Scouts are much more enthusiastic in New Zealand than at Home, and this he puts down to the splendid open country they have for practice. The 'Scouts at Home have often a considerable distance to go before obtaining any open ground for games.' ' .-'■, ' '77

Another series if Scout "good turnS" are just to hand. At the Coronation ceremonies in London many people were waiting in the street for hours before the arrival of the procession, and 10,000 Boy Scouts were-.at .work providing them wish water and acting on the ambulance sections with the police. 7 These boys,. who. had to miss the greater portion of the day's displays, did so cheerfully, knowing that they were obeying No. 3 of the Scout law, which says: "A Scout's duty Is to be useful and to help others." Again, when Mr Cokely, tho American aeronaut, was flying over the Saskatchewan Hlver, his machine became unmanageable,, and fell into the river, a Boy Scout named Bossiter swam out ana rescued him. Deeds of this sort have made._the Boy , Scout known and respected the world over, and so long as the boys carry out their duty they need never fear' that scouting will die out for want of men to lend a helping hand.

The Coronation Day parade was not a large one from the Scouts' standpoint. When the. Junior Cadets pnrade, they, of course, take aU the junior boys -with them/ and only the -Senior Boy Scouts are left. On Coronation, Day, of these latter, - a number 'had to be at business, us their places of business were not closed. This reduced the number of Scouts on parade to 140 scouts ' and 20 officers. Those ou parade at the various churches reduced the general muster at the Ponsonby reservoir for service at All Saints' to about SO. These, under Major Cumming, attended service at All Saints' Church, where Archdeacon Calder officiated, and performed the service of bless-, ing the Union Jack, which the Northcote Troop (Inspector Stebbing) had been presented with. The work by the boys on tho Domain -was Tbetter than usual, and at the conclusion Of the parade - Major Cummiug was heartily cheered by the boys. When dismissed' the troops we're supplied with a light lunch by the City Council, and this kind-thought' was much felt by the boys who had. been On parade from 9 a.m. until dismissed at L3O p.m. The afternoon was spent in various ways by the different sections. W.Y.M.1., under Assistant Scoutmaster Johnson and Sergeant-Major Everson,, and the Saints, spent a pleasant time at flag raiding, etc., over Mt Eden. The Northcotes met at their club room for general recreation.

(Manoeuvres on a large scale were undertaken by the Ponsonby District Scouts on Saturday Week. Ponsonby Ho. 1, with Richmond ahd Kingsland, challenged Mount Albert and No. 1 Ail Saints' to a fight over by the Stone Jug. The challenge was promptly accepted. Alberts and Saints posted a flag at the Stone Jug, and the combined forces, which greatly exceeded them in numbers, attacked. Capture . was by taking shoulder knots. The attackers charged in three places, and a real sharpengagement took place, but the attack had been delayed too long, and time went with the flag untaken. The umpires, Chief Scoutmaster Rust and Mr W. Kingsbury, declared in favour of the Alberts and Salute. That the fight was hotly contested can be seen from the fact that while Ponsonby lost 22 shoulder knots, Alberts and Saints lost 21. The' afternoon concluded with Sheers for umpires, scoutmasters, etc., until the air tang with them. The work was voted a complete snecess from every standpoint, and they are talking of more at. an early date, that section combined proposing to take on the rest of Auckland—a pretty tall orderJ

The officers taking part were:—Attackers, under Chief Scoutmaster Ash ton; advance patrol, Chief Scoutmaster Chapman; right flank, Scoutmaster Robinson; southern enu, ■Scoutmaster Berry. Defenders, under Inspector Campbell and Scoutmaster Afitley; left flank, Adjutant Moore; southern end, Adjutant Veart; right flank, Sergeant-major Hicks; northern end, Scoutmaster Partridge; reserve, Instructor Walters.

The Scouts connected with the Baptist Church in Ponsonby tot so long have at last had to leave that school, getting notice to leave by the Ist of Jnly. Through the kindness of the Rev. Bush, vicar of Epiphany Church, Newton; they will hold their meetings there in future. The Bey. Lush has done much for scouting in a quiet way; for a considerable time No. 2 Ponsonby held their meetings there, and when they disbanded No. 3 AU Saints' were granted the use of the hall on Wednesday nights, and now again the Rev. Lush has come forward with help to the No. 1 Ponsonby. It is'such kind deeds as these that help to keep the movement going. Ponsonby is worse sitnated as regards hall where the troops can meet than any other district. Some time ago AH Saints' No. 1 had to mßke room in the school where they met for another kind of parish work, and they, through the kindness of the Bey. Lawry, of St. John's Methodist Church, were granted the use of the schoolroom attached to that church on Thursday nlgbts; but what is urgently wanted in the district is a room which can be converted into a club room where the boys of the various troops can meet oti wet Saturday afternoons and evenings, where, model bridges, aeroplanes, derricks, etc., can be built. 'Such a room —any fair-sized shed or loft would do —Is not to be had .at a fair rent, which many. Scouts would willingly pay. A room of this sort, with magazines and papers, would do much to keep the older boys together, ahd would help lads working for proficiency badges to get the necessary practice This is particularly .desirable now that the Senior Scout Cadets are to be formed, as many of these boys will no doubt bo glad to Join such a club, and pay whatever nominal subftcrigtloa ls.Bece*9_q, -