WITH THE SCOUTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 277, 20 November 1913, Page 8

WITH THE SCOUTS.

(By VTATCHFCL-j

St. Sepulchre's Troop will hold ineir ' : weekly rally to-morrow (Friday) eveuinc s instead of Saturday. *' ; Scoutmasters who wish, to obtain any more copies of the Labour Day photos are ■ requested to make application at once tv the District Secretary. > | The Scouts of I'onsonDy So. 1 Troop r.peut last Saturday on Cheltenham ileach, and were in charge of the trooi sergeant. A very pleasant day was spent, and several scouting games were in.l dulged in. His Excellency the Earl of Liverpool has been requested to forward the Kiu-'s ■ Standard to Colonel Cossgrovc. in oruecthat arrangements may be made to have ; it presented to the Lytteltoa Troop. As * soon as the flag arrives the matter will be • put in hand. fl Owing to the sudden illness of Chief 1 Inspector Campbell, tne social evening and N.C.O.'s camp which the First All Saints' " Troop had purposed holding this week in :? celebration of the anniversary of their ; formation has had. to be indefinitely post- § poned. The appointment of Captain Bennett, ofAuckland South, as commissioner has nowj been approve!. Mr. Urenrell. of Gore. ami I Dr. Bedford, of Auckland, have been ' approve;! us district commanders. Dr. ~ liijjlis handed lv the names of thirteen oih'cers to whom he has issued commissions - Among these are two lady instructors ami '"■-. examiners in Ashburton. ,j| The resignation of Mr. S. Bongard as I Chief Scoutmaster of Devonport .V>. :; : Troop has been received, owing to bis ; removal from Auckland. Mr. liongardd * removal from Scouting activities will be much regretted as much by his boys as 'by ' his fellow officers. It is with much pleasuie that we announce that the command or this troop is being taken by Mr. i. R. v Bongard. who is himself an ex-Scout, and i it can be safely presumed that the high p efficiency of the old troop will be maintained under his charge. ■ i

The result of the King's Standard com- \i, petition has jnst been received from head- -i quarters, tlie Das being won by the S I.yttelton Troop, who were also the - winners of the Sargood Challenge Shield '.-'■ for swimming. »Xt in order of merit for :'■' the Standard is the New Plymouth Troop, M who were runuers-up in la.st year's compe- 5; tition with Auckland. All Saints' Troop ;-.- were third. Mnch regret is felt that the 'A King's Standard is to be held by a M Southern troop, but the Auckland boys are ; • fully determined to secure the flag, and a also the other shield, next year. . 5g It was pointed out by Colonel Cossgrove '. at the last meeting of the Dominion I Council that the conditions governing the i= , King's Standard competition were most un- txj satisfactory, and stated that he had request- ; ed the London Council to draft a set that J would be fairer to all troops, and which | would remove the temptation to juggle | with patrols. The Council replied that the ■ Dominion Council should draft conditions of its own. A sab-committee, therefore, consisting of Messrs. H. S. J. Goodman and J. B. Douglas, and Dr. Inglis (convener), was appointed to draft a set, and submit it to the chairman for approval before next meeting, at which it would be discussed. The headquarters secretary (London) has written to Colonel Cossgrove regretting that he was unable to award the H.S.W. decoration to the gentlemen . recommended by Colonel Cossgrove. but was pleased to award the Honorary Award of Merit to them. It was the desire of the Headquarters Council to make this award of the highest value. There were only three H.S.W.'s in Great Britain with 800 commissioners, and one each in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Colonel Cossgrove states that the London Council was ! evidently not aware of the fact that he had applied some time ago for six Silver Wolf decorations, and that they had been sent to him. ■

AH Saints' No. 2 Troop las formed another patrol (Tie Foxes). Scoutmaster Grieves (late adjutant of. the South Auckland Battalion) Iras been attached to this troop until after the Exhibition, and-, with.. Captain "Woods (seamanship instructor), the i work should so well ahead, and a; thoroughly good display should, result. '-: The troops have been (having some particularly good outdoor games at their nstial tj parades on Tuesday night. Next week m three of the scouts •will endearour to deliver a dispatch from the Grey Lynn tram terminus to St. John's Scnootroom. Scout-J? master Veart will command the parade, ,;5.ami a good evening's work is assured, M : s*' every arrangement has been carefully planned, and the boys have prepared some suitable disguises. «f

The Australian rally which, was arranged to be held in October has been postponed till January IT, 1914. The organising commissioner, Mr. J>artjrshire Roberts, is very anxious that New Zealand should be represented by a patrol or two, and a representative officer. Though the tune is short, it was decided at the last meeting of the Dominion Council to send two patrols it possible — one from each Island — and Colonel Cossgrove agreed to communicate with the Union Steamship Company regarding concession;) in fares, and also to advise commissioners throughout the Dominion. It is thought that the centres or districts in which the movement Is strongest might send a representative or t*'i> ami organise entertainments to provide funds. It is estimated that £10-or £12 per boy would be ample for fares ana incidental expenses. A NEW COMMANDER. Tli" district command has been taken by Mr. G. V. Thorpe, whose appointment has been approved by the Provincial Commissioner. Dr. Bedford. Mr. Thorpe will enter into his duties at once, and it is to be hoped that his connection with the organisation will be a lengthy and prosperous one. He has had extensive English Territorial experience, and is a champion athlete iind swimming medallist- He is also a member of the Legion of Frontiersmen. The District Committee have for some time past felt the need of such a man to handle the affairs of the dletrict, and ran assure Mr. Thorpe tha,t he has the unanimous co-operation of his officers in his work of extpnuins* the sphere of Scouting activity in Auckland.