TE KORERO

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 204, 29 August 1928, Page 17

TE KORERO

Examination Board meets to-night. * ♦ • * Cancelled Meeting. Owing to the fact that a number of Scouters will be helping the Headquarters Staff on Thursday night, it haa been decided to cancel to-morrow's meeting of the Scouters' course.. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, September 13. « • - • D.S.M. Berry Retires. After nearly 16 years' active work in the movement Mr. A. E. Berry has found that scouting was encroaching too much upon his private life and has now tendered his resignation as district scoutmaster to the Commissioner. Realising that district work would take additional time Mr. Berry recently handed over scoutmastership of his troop to Mr. McKerras, so he can now return to the bosom of his family safe in the knowledge that the work which he has started will be successfully carried on.

Mr. Berry's retirement from scouting circles was not altogether unexpected, for one by one, our senior scouters drop cut as advancing years and ever increasing domestic calls make their presence felt. As a scoutmaster Mr. Berry ran an excellent troop which owes its present position to his untiring labours. As a district officer too, Mr. Berry's efforts were ceaseless and untiring, and in his retirement Mr. Berry can look back on the fruits of his labours. * * » » Heme Bay Doings. With regard to attendance last Friday's parade of the Heme Bay troop was very poor, owing to the fact that many of the boys are away for their school holidays. However, the rest of the troop worked well and after the parade the troop orchestra had a short practice. On Saturday afternoon, August 11, a cooking parade was held and several good stews and dampers were made. At the examinations held on August 15 the troop made a good showing and the boys are looking forward for the next one. The troop is running a stall on Daffodil Day and hope tQc-make a fair bit to help along the good work. # ♦ * * Fraternal Greetings. Mr. Swales has received a letter from P.L. Jack Plowman, posted at Rarotonga. Jack, who sends fraternal greetings to his Auckland friends, says that the first few days were very rough, and that for a short period he was confined to his bunk. At the time of writing, however, the weather was good and he had quite found his sea legs. * * «• * Victory Sea Scouts. On Wednesdya, Aug. 22. at Victory Sea Scouts' Hall, Heme Bay, 20 boys paraded under S. M. Foote, writes the Troop Scribe, P. Caddis. The troop was visited by the Ist, 2nd. and 3rd mate 3 of Calliope. who helped to instruct the boys in different subjects. Sea Scout L. Legge was presented with a book for general improvement. On Sunday a church parade was held at All Saints' Church, Ponsonby, with a total of 10 Victory Sea Scouts and 15 Vindictive, under Ist Mate L. Lees.

A Popular Appointment. "Michael" wishes to congratulate Mr. C. H. Swales upon his appointment as district scoutmaster. Mr. Swales had consistently refused this appointment in the past, although it was felt that valuable scouting service was being lost to the movement. With Mr. Berry's retirement, however, Mr. Swales agreed to fill the vacancy rather than let the full weight of district work fall on the shoulders of the remaining D.S.M. Mr. Swales is well known as a scouter of a number of years standing; when Mr. Rasmussen left Grey Lynn in 1925, Mr. Swales, who had been co-scoutmaster, took over entire control of the troop, which still maintains its high standard of efficiency. In this connection it will be remembered that this troop held the King's Standard, the New Zealand Standard and many other Dominion and local trophies, over a long period. Those who are acquainted with Grey Lynn's past history will well remember their fine orchestra, in whose activities Mr. Swales took a prominent part. The district is very fortunate in securing the services of a man who has had such a wide and successful experience in scouting.

Daffodil Day. A well attended meeting of Scout Officers and Troop Committees was held at Scout Headquarters for the purpose of finalising arrangements for Daffodil Day. From the activity and enthusiasm displayed, it is very evident that all that is necessary 19 for the Clerk of the Weather to send a fine day on Friday, August 31. The district secretary has promised the league a donation of £100, but it is confidently expected that this total will be considerably exceeded. The Troop Committees are doing their part very thoroughly. It, therefore, rests with the boys themselves to make the day a success. One of the secrets of success is flowers, flowers, and still more flowers! Every endeavour should be made to collect every spare flower in the district. The flowers may be left at Scout Headquarters on Thursday until 10.30 p.m., and on Friday from 7.30 a.m. Badges and collection boxes for all stalls are now available at headquarter*. Some of the stallholders have not yet supplied headquarters with number of [telephone near their stalls to enable the jexecutive officers to communicate with them when necessary. As headquarters I will be used as a depot on Thursday and Friday, the office will be dosed on those days for all business other than that connected with Daffodil Day. • % » • Lady Scoutmasters in Charge of Troope. Much against the policy of the Boy Scout movement our late commissioner sanctioned the appointment of a lady cubmaster to the position of lady scoutmaster of a newly-formed scout troop. At the time it was understood that every effort would be made to obtain the services of a man suitable to carry on the work, but since then some six months have passed and as yet nobody has been forthcoming. This seems to point to either a lack of interest on the part of the committee or else a state of lethgarv to be much deplored, and "Michael" merely voices the gener-il opinion of the movement when he suggests that it is time something was done in this matter, which should be treated as one of extreme importance. Our chief, General Sir Robert Baden-Powell, himself has said that "the essence and spirit of scouting centres round the campfire." With a lady in charge it means that the Punua boys will have to forego this great part of scouting unless some effort is made to provide a man who is competent to take over the troop and get the confidence of both parents and boys before the camping season sets in. This is a matter which should be brought up at their annual meeting, which is to l»e held to-morrow (Thursday) night at 8 p.m. in the Methodist Centennial Hall, Dominion Road. * * * * Calliope Sea Scouts. The following report conies from R. Haselden, first mate of the Calliope Sea Scouts:— A very successful dance was held by the Calliope Sea Scout Cofnpany at Devonport on Saturday evening last, the object being to raise money, and although full particulars are not available it is thought that the funds will benefit considerably. Considerable progress has been made with the cleaning and painting of the gig, and it will be ready for the water early next month, when a race will be sailed against the officers and cadets from s.s. Devon. The company is working hard to try and retain the Silver Trident, and also to try and win some of the shields and cups which are to be competed for in the near future.

Meeting of Sea Scout Officers. On Sunday afternoon last a meeting of the Auckland Sea Scout officers was held (writes their secretary). Mr. L. Thode, District Scoutmaster, occupied the chair, and there were also present Messrs. Iversen, Hasclden, Hender, and Tipping, from Calliope; Lees, Dunnand, and Bigwood, from Vindictive; Foote and Dean, from Victory; Vcart, from Hawke; and Cottle, from Fame. Mr. Haselden was appointed secretary. Mr. Cottle was welcomed as the representative of the newlyformed Fame Company, which has for some time beeu out of existence. It was decided that combined church parades should be held in each district, the tirst one to be held at Takapuna. The meeting also decided to hold a combined sports day very soon, and a committee, consisting of one representative from each company, was appointed to make arrangements. The sports day will be followed by a pound night. In future the officers will meet on the last Sunday in each month, and it is hoped that by this means to forward the Sea Scout movement in Auckland. * * * * Vindictive Sea Scouts. Last Friday night only 17 boys paraded, as many are on holiday or working, so cannot att«ud. An ambulance team was picked, and Mr. A. Buchanan, of St. John Ambulance Association, continued instruction. Yeo. Sig. A. Goodale instructed the signalmen. On Saturday Bowman McClenaghan painted a lifebuoy prior to printing the troop's name on it. Of course, the Master and Bosun must lean against it and take half the paint home. The troops' storeroom was cleaned out, and all bands carried the gear to the Bosun for stowage. A new recruit, Stuart Jones, signed on, and George Carter was promoted to Coxswain, and Jack Forsyth to Bowman of Xo 4. Boat's Crew. The troop will soon have a fifth boat's crew. On Sunday, 15th. boys paraded with Victory Sea Scouts for a church parade at All Saints' Church, Ponsonliy. Mr. L. Lees was in charge of the Bays water boys.