TE KORERO

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 61, 13 March 1929, Page 18

TE KORERO

LX

Trident Tests Again Postponed. Word has again been received of the further postponement of the Trident testf>. Although no definite date has been arranged it is understood the competition will take place shortly afier Easter. • • • • Vindictive Regatta.

What bids fair to be one of the biggest individual Scout efforts for a number of years, the Vindictive Regatta will be held on Saturday, March 23. No stone has been left unturned to make this a huge success, and Michael hopes that the Sea Scouts of Auckland will pull together to help Vindictive make a success of their unique enterprise. • • • • Visiting Scouter. An ex-Australian Scouter now resident in Wellington, Mr. C. Pagcy, is at present in Auckland on business.* When he first arrived in Wellington Mr. Pagey took over the control of the Wellington Boys' Institute Troop, bnt later had to relinquish it owing to the fact that his business frequently takes him out of town. Mr. Pagey hopes to vieit Auckland troops during his stay here and •'Michael" is sure all troops will extend to him the spirit of brotherhood.

St. Aidan't Troop. St. Aidan's have been having very good parades since the beginning of the year, averaging 35 each night. The progress of the patrol competition is as follow:— Lions, 306 points, 1; Wolves, 305, 2; Owls, 291, 3; Tuis, 279, 4; Foxes, 272, 5; Kiwis, 243, 6. As there are still some weeks to go the final result is very open. The flag competition will commence next week. A new boy Horn the Dutch East Indies has just joined up and has made many friends. At the last Court of Honour, Second Smith was elected leader of the Owis and has already effected an improvement in the patrol. Troop Leader Morton is very busy at present organising a concert, which, from all accounts, promises to be a good one. We were all eorry to lose Athol Foster, who gained a boarding scholarship at King's College and has had to leave. He was one of the most popular boys in the Troop.

Calliope Sea Scouts. La»t week-cud the members of the Calliope Sea Scouts Company completed their preparations for the forthcoming examination for the silver trident, writes H. W. Larsen, P.O. At present they are the holders of this trophy. The company's gig is now ready for sea, and the greater part of the gear haa been overhauled. Special Instruction classes were held during the week-end, the boys all working well. * * * • Vindictive Sea Scouts. Last Friday night's parade was fair, 22 boys mustering. Two seniors practised Morse buzzer work. Mr. Bigwood instructed the Sea Cubs and Mr. Dunn had a party of seniors on revision work. The parade concluded with a little marching. On the presentation of a first-class Sea Scout badge to Cox J. Melville, he was given hearty applause. As he is the first boy in the last 12 months to pass that rating he was promoted to bosun's mate. Mr. J. McKay (chairman of the company's committee), was present and, after a few words to Melville, offered to the boy (Scout or Cub) who shows the most improvement between now and Easter, a trip away in his launch for four days. Someone is going to have a great Easter holiday. On Saturday afternoon the Sea Cubs were kept busy on knotting. The seniors had a practice for the regatta obstacle race. TBe quick stepping of masts and setting of sails being rehearsed. • • • • Fame Sea Scouts. We paraded last Friday night with 16 seniors and 10 Cub 3, writes T.J.C. Cottle, first mate of this company. The seniors practised squad drill and had instruction in the rule of the road at sea, finishing with a sing song. The Cubs received instruction in signalling and other seco?id-class work. The Cubs only paraded on Saturday.

Our Horse Section. In order to prepare Scouts for next week's writing, which will contain a number of abbreviations, we publish today a list of official abbreviations. Scouts are advised to learn this, in order that htey may become conversant with them. In last week's reading the second group contained two f's instead cf two l's. The message read:—"Callers" take charge of the message form and call out each group to the "sender" who works the Hags etc. The '"Answer Reader" watches the'distant station and informs the caller immediately the distant station makes any signal. AK. G.J3. The abbreviations Scouts arc recommended to learn are:—

Morse. Semaphore. Meaning. . —. —.— AA.Y KiiH stop. . —. —. Alt Knil of message. —. —. C "You are correct." . —... GB "iiood-byo." — —.. —. Git "Number of groups so anil so." .. .. ii Break sign. iii Decimal point or point used with figures. —. — K "Carry on." —. . — KK Brackets. .—..— I/r Oblique stroke. MM Separating whole numbers from fractions. . —. MR "Move to your right." . —.. ML "Move to your left." .... Mil "Move higher up (or further off)." MO "Move lower down (or closer in)." —.. —. NR Horizontal bar. —.... — XV Hyphen. —- ■—• t— —.. OL "Open light." — —. — Q "Wait a minute." — — 4 —. —... — QRU "I have nothing to communicate at present." .—. . R Message received. . — ..-**-'. KR Inverted commas. . —... — RU "Who are you?" ... .— UK Block capitals sign. ... —. VB Calling up sign. . W Call for light. . . — WA Word after. . —... WB Word before. 8 dots Opposite to l> Erase.