WITH THE SCOUTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 91, 17 April 1913, Page 8

WITH THE SCOUTS.

f • ij'j] TiiiiaaT-* — r r is >-' I "" " ~" The recent big rally In which over 200 scouts ' took part at Mount Eden was an immense success. After an hour of very strenuous manoeuvring, the attackers,, under Inspector Thomas of the First Eden troop, made a determined but unsuccessful assault on the flag. It seemed certain that the defenders would gain the day until a mounted patrol under Scoutmaster Prosser. of the Takapuna Troop, broke through the lines and captured the flag.-' 1 Scoutmaster Simpson, of. the Ist Devonport troop, has returned from a holiday at Cambridge. "He reportsthat the scouts are doing' excellent work there. During his visit arrangements w.ere made to enable a troop to come to Auckland during "Battleship week." ,-,.,' '.". Devonport No. 3 troop bad a well attended meeting last Tuesday, night. Scoutmaster Thomas, of the Ist Eden troop, was present, and helped Scoutmaster Bongard to_put_ the troop through their paces, and the boys showed great efficiency. Three new members have lately been admitted to the troop. A New' Plymouth correspondent writes that Mr G. Rust is rendering good service to the troops of that district. He has delivered two lectures, one on poisons, and the other on the mariner's compass. The ceremony of "preseutiug colours" was performed recently in the Herne Bay Scouts' Hall. The troop was presented with a handsome silk Union Jack, donated by a gentleman-residing iv tbe district. • The Scouts of the Devonport troops are keeping well to their work, aud have entered the largest number oi "boys for proficiency examinations. They are also commencing winter sports, and are prepared to meet any other troop at football. On Friday night a district parade has been called for 7.15, at the Queen Street wharf, from where troops Will proceed to the Town Hall, in order to be present at the grand concert and presentation of I address in honour of their much respected chief. Mr Horace Stebbing. .The- programme, which is being contributed by some of Auckland's most talented musical artists, whose names appear in another column of the "Star," is an excellent one, and arrangements have been completed for a first-class entertainment.' There will be no charge for admission, and a cordial invitation is extended to ex-scouts and al' parents and other citiwins who are interested iv the Boy Scout movement. A correspondent at Waihi advises us that there is a very evident need for Scoot train : ing among the boys of tbe district,, and active Bteps are being taken for the formation of a troop there. Much aetivitv is racing manifested in the Bay of Plenty district, writes a Waimana correspondent, and new troops are now being l'ornfed at Waimana, Whakatane. Opotikl, and other towns in the district. The local secretary, has been p.articularly busy during the past few wceTra organising In these new fields of usefulness. It has been suggested that the difficulty injlurred in properly organising troops in country districts might be overcome by obtaining the assistance of ladies who are interested in the movement. A lad? -can take up the organisation of a troop, and manage its finance, equipment, and club with every success. The field duties and management of camps, etc., can then be undertaken by a man who will do it all the more readily since be is not hampered with the business management of the troop. It is proposed in scout circles that senior scout classes should be formed for young men who are anxious to adopt scout qualities »>ut are too old to join the ordinary patron. -tTUese young men would, of course, appear ridiculous among a lot of small boy s<-outs, but it is obvious that their inclusion In the movement would greatly add to its power for good, and would afford, many of them opportunities ,to become scoutmasters. King. Alfonso has written to the'-Duke of Tamames. the founder of the Boy Scout movement in Spain, expressing his regret that, owing to the tender age of his sons — the Prince of tbe Asturias, who is five, and the Infante Don Jaime, who is four—they arc not eligible, at present, for enrolment as Boy Scouts. To show bis sympathy with the' movement, bis Majesty promises an annual subscription of f-"00 to the corps.