SCOUT PAGEANT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 45, 23 February 1931, Page 5

SCOUT PAGEANT.

FINE DISPLAY ON DOMAIN.

FOUNDER EXPRESSES DELIGHT

ADDRESS TO THE CHILDREN'.

Scouts, Cubs, Girl Guides and Brownies from all parts of the Auckland Province mustered at the Auckland Domain on Saturday afternoon to pay tribute to their leader and founder, Lord BadenPowell. It was estimated that 5000 Scouts and their sisters and younger brothers were .present, and the terraces were packed with mothers, fathers and other relatives who had come to see the inspiring display. Loud and prolonged cheering greeted the arrival of Lord and Lady Baden- ! Powell, and as they took up their posi--i tion in front of the grandstand they received an ovation. Following the arrival of the honoured,guests a minute's silence Was observed out of respect to the victims of the Ilawke's Bay earthquake. The colours were then broken out and the Guides, already in position on the field, gave the Chief Guide a typical Maori welcome in the form of a liaka. Cries of Welcome. Uttering their grand howl, the Cubs rushed forward to give their pack call of welcome. They enjoyed every minute of the time they were in the centre of things and they did some great tumbling tricks in sheer joy. The Brownies then gave an extremely colourful welcome. At the cry of the Old Brown Owl they poured from underneath multi-coloured "toadstools" and danced in circles round their chicfsi Next the Scouts made a collective call and gesture to assure their leader of the great following he had in the Empire. "Eengonyanm," a typical Zulu greeting, lias been adapted by the Chief Scouts as the Scout welcome, and the boys showed their joy at seeing their -Chief by the abandou with which they uttered the strange cry. The most impressive display of greeting was given by the Girl Guide". Preceded by the colours of their .various districts and divisions, long columns of the girls in blue marched up.jio pay tribute to their Chief. Each 'division was loudly clapped and cheered for the splendid performance, but an ovation was reserved for a small troop of Girl Guides from Napier. Boy Scouts' Display. The Boy Scouts then took a hand in the entertainment of their honoured guests and enacted several incidents ill the history ,of New Zealand in realistic fashion. The Ellerslie and St. Aidan s troops enacted the landing of Captain Cook; the hoisting of the flag proclaiming New Zealand a British possession, and the exchange of gifts with the Maoris. The signing of the Treaty of Waitangi was portrayed by the St. David's group, assisted by Heme Bay and St. Aidan's troops, while the felling of the flagstaff at Kororareka was well done by boys of the Heine Bay troop, assisted by the St. David's troop. The use of rifles and blank cartridges made I the enacting of the siege of 1 Orakau extremely realistic. The boys of the Leys Institute troop, assisted by the Cornwall, Gordon, Eden dale and St. David's troops, played their parts excellently. Hardly had the display finished, when the Giri Gides came into the limelight and in an incredibly short time pitched their camp. Tents were set up, fires lighted, and the colours hoisted in less time than it takes to tell, and the Guides entertained the spectators with two country dances. In an equally short time the camp was struck, and the area cleared for the most inspiring spectacle of the day, the Peace Pageant. The Peace Pageant was symbolical of universal brotherhood and sisterhood throughout the world. At the call of a piper a Brownie, a Cub, a Scout and a Guide ran into the centre of the area. As the piper played again they turned and beckoned, and in response the Scouts and Guides, representing every country in the world, came from the north, south, east and west. The. figure of peace advanced, and handed her laurel wreath to the v Chief Scout. The whole .multitude then sang the Peace Hymn. Chief Scout's Message. '"'I am delighted with what I have seen to-day," said Lord Baden-Powell, addressing the massed Scouts and Guides. "It has been a real joy to see you, and seeing you all assembled here together reminds me of the jamboree in the Old Country." The Chief Scout read messages from the Prince of Wales and the GovernorGeneral, expressing hopes that the movements would grow, not only in numbers, but also in the spirit of good will and fellowship shown by those who fought in the Great War. "I, too," said Lord Baden-Powell, "have seen New Zealanders in war, but I don't want to flatter them when I say that there were none better oil two counts. The first was that they were courageous, and the other that they were gentlemen. A gentleman is a man whom you can trust, and that is what I want you girls and boys to be. Above all, keep truth and honour well before you.''