SEA SCOUTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 251, 23 October 1922, Page 7

SEA SCOUTS.

A STATE SCHOONER. (By Telegraph.—rress Association.) GHRISTCHUKCH, Saturday. An event of considerable importance In the history of the sea scout move- j wont wa-s celebrated in the christening l of the headquarters schooner Annie Hill this afternoon at Snmner. General A. \V. Andrew said the meeting that day would long reign as a landmark in the development of the scout movement in New Zealand. He traced the plipnomcn-.il growth of the movement since the time, 15 years ago, when an obscure country schoolmaster, Colonel Cossgrove, took up Baden-Powell's scheme of scouting lor boys. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart said he Tegrettod very much that a more athletic member of the Government was not pre-s-eiit to represent the Government. He ivas merely the deputy of the Dominion; Chief, Lord Jellieoe. -who had sent this' message to him before he left Wellington: "It is most kind of you to take my place to-morrow. Kindly express to those present at the inauguration c?re- • mony my very sincere regrets that I ami iinaWe to take part myself as Dominion: Chief Scout. Convey nn- keon appro- j Ciation of what has been done, an.l my! earnest 2 ood wishes for the continuous; and growing success of the movement. , Before I left England, two years ago, : Sir Hubert Baden-Powell told'me of the preat interest lie had in the growth of! the sea scout movement. As a n.ival officer I share his vlpws. I realise that the sea scouts' training , , besides imparting ail those qualities which I make for pood citizenship, imparts that] spirit which made our Empire and h needed to hold it together." ' That me--s :>ge, said Mr. Downie Stmva.rt, covered the ground entirely. He congratulated! those who had inaugurated the movement and made the schooner t!:c centre of the sea scout movement for the Dominion.