WTH THE SCOUTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 53, 2 March 1916, Page 8

WTH THE SCOUTS.

The Blrkdale Troop has now been divided j into a junior and senior section. The junior will meet on Fridays at 7.30. and the seniors on Thursday evenings at 7.30. Although the ; club room is not yet completed, »the troop Is able to make good use of it. and greatly appreciate the new conditions. Mr Frank Fisher, of Blrkdale, has proved himself a great friend to the boys of Birkdale. He has spent many hours la forming a very Rue swimming pool on his own property. Many boys have learned to switn,.and gained confidence in the water by his help. Instruction is also given in throwing the life line. A meeting of the Advisory Board was held on Tuesday last, under tnc presidency of the Provincial commissioner. General routine business was transacted, aud the reports presented by the Lilsirlct Commander were received. Favourable comment W3e made on the amount ot work undertaken, and the ability displayed In dealing with Che many intricate matters Involved. Properly .attested applications were received irom some sixteen scoutmasters. It is hoped to publish a special report, of appointments ne.it week. A Scout i-j Clean.—The Chief Scout, in his leading article in one ot the issues of •'The Scout," says: "When boys are getting big they generally want to snow oil ana impress oiuer boys with their 'manliness—or at least what they think is mar uness. It generally begins with smouing. They think it Unc to smoke, so they suck and pun at cijj-jretteo, partly because they arc* cheap, anu partly because a pipe would make tiiein sick. Tne reason why half ot them do it Is 'because they arc arrant little cowards, and are afraid of being laugned at by other boys it they don't do it. 'lhcy think themselves tremendous heroes, while In reality they arc little assce, Theu they like to use swear-words, because they thma this, makes them look tremendously teroclous and big. Also they think it the height of manliness to talk -dirt.' but tnets things do not say much for the boy who docs., them. He generally curls up and hides them the moment a man Is p.esent. i

-He only produces them for swauking In tne t pretence of other boys. This shows that t( he Is not really very proud of his accent- n pllshments, ana the boy who has a sense J, of honour in him knows at once that such things arc against his conscience-jaw,- and tl he will have nothing to do with them. Tn.n often puts hlin In v difficult position when among boys who arc showing off, as tfley will be ready to jeer at him; but if he has ■honour and pluck, In a word. If he is a true scout, he will out, and, as a result, he will come out the only real man of the party. Tnen the probaballty will be that, though they do not show It at the moment, some of the others will see that he Is right, and that they arc wrong, and will pluck up courage themselves and follow nis example In being clean and straight. If. by his conduct, a scout can in tuls way save oae fellow, he will at any rate have done something in the world." The moral Is obvious to all my renders, and I trust that any boy who is tailing into these suares will take heed of what Uoneral * fiadeu-l'owell says. On Saturday the Ponsonby Scouts held j

their swimming championships, at Sentinel Road Beach. The lollowing were the results: —Championship uuder 12: Scout ,1. Preston 1. Under 14: Drummer T, Sainty 1. Under 16: Corporal. T. Marshall 1. Troop championship: Drummer T. Sainty 1, Corporal T. Marshall 2, Sergeant W. Sutcllffc 3. Next Saturday there will be a fire brigade competition for trophies presented by Superintendent Woolley and Foreman Ileadlund. The eveut w-ill take place in Bercsford -Street. The Drum and Kite Band will supply the music. Altogether 34 teams have entered, and a keen contest is expected. In conversation with an oinciul or the organisation, Foreman Headlund, who takes ,-iv active Interest in the Scouts, referred to their usefulness at a large city lire which occurred a few months ago. The Brigade were several men short on the occasion, which meant, of course, a greater strain ou those present. A number of the senior Ponsonby No. 1 boys were employed In carrying lanterns through portions of the building where the tire had been suppressed, and kept guard whilst firemen were engaged In other work. A sqnad of boys did their good turn also by visiting the Salvation Army barracks, where they made coffee and toast for members of the Fire Brigade, who greatly appreciated the thoughtful act. On Sunday evening the Ponsonby l Troops attended a service at the Bercsford : Street Congregational Church, when a roll of honour for the members of the church who are at the front was unveiled by the Itev. Warner. There has Ween a very satisfactory response to the appeal made to the city and suburban troops to contribute a week's subscriptions towards the cost of the tricolour flag which was purchased at auction last week on behalf of the Dominion Boy Seonts for presentation to their brothers in France. The district commander would be glad If those troops who have not already forwarded their contribution would do so as early as possible, so that the total amount may be handed over without delay to the French Red Cross Society. There was a large attendance of Scouts at the ceremony of investiture which took place at the Council Chambers, Northcote. on Tuesday evening last. The Mayor (Mr. Geo. Fraser> and the councillors expressed their pleasure in witnessing the impressive manner in which the boys were, received into the brotherhood. A. limited supply of the Boy Scout's pocket-book, which contains a remarkable amount of information on general Scout j training, is now available at one or two i booksellers in the city. The pocket-book ' has reached its fifth edition, and its costfid—makes it possible for each boy to possess a copy. The book is published by Messrs. Gale and Polden, and has the approval .of the Chief: Scout (Sir R. S. Baden-Pbweu. Officers are requested to note, as already advertised, all commnnications 'should be addressed to District Commander, Northcote, and. not city address^

Captain C. E. Hood has been recommended for a commission as director of Sea Scout instruction, and his appointment should give a fresh impetus to this.most important branch of Scout training. ; C. Ballantyne, master,of the Devonport-Sea Scouts, has stuck •to his patrol despite mabv difficulties, .and deserves credit for the 'manner in which he has kept his boys together. The smart appearance of the S>ea Scouts when they parade is an example to Scouts generally. The Edendalc Troop (Scoutmaster J.. L. Turner) held their monthly church parade on Sunday last. On Tuesday, the 22ud, two boys "tried to reach the top of Mount Albert with dispatches, which were hidden in their clothes. The mountain was guarded at the base by twenty of the' Edendale Scouts, who proved equal to the occasion, both boys being captured, aud the dispatches' found. The dispatch runners stated that they reached the Avondale side of the mounting by lying in the bottom of a, cart, and. finding good cover, thought they were safe, but the splendid way In | which the defending Scouts kept out of sight made' their task very difficult. It was not until they were pounced upon that they wcrp aware of the presence of the defenders. Registration has been effected during the past fortnight, of a large number of lroops. AIJ patrol dues (2,'G for eight hoys) are. payable to Mr. J. 11. Buddie, provincial secretary. The District Commander desires to thank the officers and Scouts for the splendid manner in which they combined to make last Friday's function a complete success.