TE KORERO For Boy Scouts

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 182, 3 August 1932, Page 16

TE KORERO For Boy Scouts

(By "MICHAEL.")

No. i District. The annual meeting, of No. 1 District Scouters' Association will be held at 7.30 p.m. on August 10, at metropolitan headquarters. All'holding warrant's in No. 1 District are asked to be present. * ♦ * * Rover Notes. The monthly' meeting of the' A.R.T. will be held on Thursday, August 11, at 7.30 p.m., at M.H.Q. "The Geology of the Waitakere Ranges" is the subject of an interesting talk to be given by Mr. Bartrum. at the Wayfarers' evening on August 10, at 8 p.m. A combined Rover-Ranger evening is to be held in the Jubilee Hall (corner Sandringham and New North Roads) at 7.40 p.m. on Monday, August 8. The talk of the evening will be on astronomy.

Scouting in China. Infinite patience, and a great love of the. boy animal seem to be the main requirements of one who would hold warrant as Scoutmaster in Hongkong. It would appear that the S.M. in China has a, task fraught -with difficulties. It is the old story of the war against home environment; but Scouting always has blazed a trail through even the darkest of places, and it is pleasing to learn that in a comparatively short space of time the boys respond to Scouting methods in a highly satisfying manner. Assistant Commissioner Christian, who is at present in Auckland, en route to the Old Country, has many interesting stories to tell of Scouting in China which, if nothing else, at least makes the average man realise that his troubles and difficulties are very small in comparieon to others. • • * • First Class Results to Date. The following list contains all passes gained in first class tests held so far this year: — COOKING.. — Ellerslie: Nieholeon. Northcote: T. Eadcs. St. Aidan's: Bowkett, Ashcr. CONVENTIONAL SlGNS.—Ellerslie: G. Jones, Vause, Woods, Taylor. North Memorial: Dixon. Northcote: Eades. Tahutamai: Noall. AXEMANSHIP. — Ellerslie: Jones, Vause, Wilkie. St. Aidan's: Parvin. SIGNALLING.—EIIereIie: Taylor. St. Aidan's: Paivin, Bowkett. St. Barnabas': Milne. COOK'S BADGE.—Ellerslie: Vause, Jones.. St. Aidan's: Kawnsley, Crosby. Young, A. Jonee, Urquhart, Steers. St. Barnabas: Candy, Milne. North Memorial: Dixon. Leys: McKenzie, H. M. Dowding, Fisher, Crawford,' A. Wright.

First Class and Badge Exams. First clase tests will be taken at the Western Springs on Saturday next. Entrants are reminded to bring with them full and eueh gear as is. required in any of the tests. A badge night will be held at 11, Commerce Street to-night. Candidates are reminded that they are required to bring such gear as may be required, in the passing of these tests. • * * # Northcote Group.

On Wednesday evening, July 27, the troop concert was held. In spite of wretched weather conditions there was a large attendance. Commissioner E. T. O. Downard (No. 4 District) gave a brief introductory speech and afterwards took part in the campfire scene. The following items were rendered:— Pianoforte solo, Mrs. Mayall; recitation, Sixer. D. Pike; song, Second J. Simpson; comedy, "Lady of the Lake," Mount Albert Rover crew; dance, Mise Bettina Edwards; physical culture display, Scout team; song, Scout K. Logic; pianoforte solo, Sixer D. Shaw; combined display, ambulance and signalling team; song, Second D. Sharpe; songs, Mr! R. Simmers; recitation, Cub J. Foley; play, "The Magic Hat," Troop eeconds. The item rendered by the visiting Rovers under, R.L. Monkham, was very much appreciated. "» • » • . St. Thomas' Troop, New Lynn.

The troop in this district is making splendid progress, and discipline is good, writes the S.M. The boys generally realise the great value of the principles of j the Scout movement, and feel they can be a power for good in the community if these splendid principles' of citizenship are aimed for and lived. We feel that it is not numbers , that count, but realise that a few diligent and conscientious boys can do more in leavening with goodness and honour than a big group of boys who have little discipline and whose aims are low. Last Sunday the troop went to Titirangi for their church parade, and the service in the little Soldiers' Memorial Church was a real inspiration. This little church is situated in a real setting of Nature among beautiful native trees; above were the bushclad hills, and below the sparkling waters of the Maiiiikau.

The signalling: is progressing well under Mr. Forster, and for ambulance instruction we have an interesting and capable instructor in Mr. Stock. Monthly reports are ready, and will be given to Scouts for their parents' signature on Sunday. The S.M., Rev. Harold Heaslip, asks all parents to take an interest in these reports, as they show the progress or otherwise of their boys. Mr. Forster will help the troop with some drill exercises next parade. The boye are reminded of the parade next Sunday morning at St. Thomas' Church, New Lynn.

Of Interest to Old Wolves. Writing to a friend in Auckland, Miss Nancy Wilson, Dominion Akela Leader, says: "We have just had a very successful palaver at Napier, and it is very fine to see the way Scouting has progressed of late. The earthquake haen't quenched the Scout spirit—that 'still small voice' which is the mainspring of Scouting. Hawkeye gave a eplendid talk on 'Romance Other Than the Jungle,' and dreseed up in many ways showing how it can be done; but he will.never surpass 'The Wreck of the Mary Ann' that day at Te Fiiriri. We often think and talk of those happy days at Te Puriri. . . ."

Dsvonport's Annual. The twenty-second annual meeting of the Devonport Troop was held in the ; Methodiet Hall on Friday night, July : 29, writes ' the troop scribe. We had present with us the Mayor and Mayor-, ess, Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Meikle, three. Scouts from the Paremoremo Troop and a large number of parents and friends. On the arrival of the Mayor and Mayoress the haka was given by the Seoute, after which the National Anthem was sung. The first item on the programme wae a song by Miss Christie, followed' by a piano solo by Cub Tapp, each responding to encores. Cub Tapp was complimented on his high standard of playing. A tableau describing the Scout law was--a humorous item. A duologue by a Scout and Guide was followed by a gymnastic and pyramid display 'by the Scouts. During supper the 35th Athletic and Social Club's Orchestra ren- : dered some lively' music, and a special item by Messrs. McMurtrie and Strude (guitars) and Mr. Gale (mandolin) was greatly appreciated. The Mayor then presented the Pascoe Cup to P.L. Pope, of the Curlews Patrol, and wished him further success in retaining the cup. The concluding item was a play entitled "The Ghost That Gibbered." This item was a great success, and received a wonderful ovation. The boys were assisted by Mrs. Batten, who gave all the I.elp she could, and must be congratulated for her splendid achievement.

The annual church parade was held in the Methodist Church on Sunday morning, when a full muster of Scouts and Cubs was on parade. It is with regret that CM. Young , had to resign, but nevertheless Miss Totman, who is now in charge of the cubs, will "do her best." The officers for the following year are as follow: —President, Mr. H. F. Meikle (Mayor) ; chairman, Mr. R. Michaels; vice-chairman, Mr. A. Robinson; secretary and treasurer, Dr. F. 0. Pope; assistant-treasurer, Mr. D. Cornwall; committee, Mesdames Cornwall, Evans, Gale, Goldsworthy, Robinson, Power, Taylor, Tapp, Miss Brown, Messrs. Chapman, Lee, Matthews, MeMurtrie, Shand and Smith.

Splendid Service. A remarkably fine tribute to the Boy Scout movement was paid in an address to the Auckland Optimists' Club at the Y.M.C.A. during , a recent lunch hour by Sir Joseph Smith, the distinguished engineer, who rendered 35 years' service in the Punjab, India. The point he was making was that not only did the splendid men who comprised the Indian Civil Service care for the physical well-being of India and her people, but they also sought to improve the social conditions. He had time only for one illustration. The one he chose related to a great religious festival, whither came tens of thousands of Indian people to bathe in what they regarded as the holy waters of what we would call a small and filthy poo). So great was the crush on these pilgrimages that accidents, both major and minor, had been customary. The authorities desired to regulate the traffic and improve the hygienic conditions. However, the task was too big for the police, and it became a matter for gratification when the Boy Scout movement undertook the job. Several thousand Scouts came from all parts of the Province and took complete charge of arrangements. They met the crowds of incoming pilgrims, assisted them with their possessions, guided them to their quarters, and for several days cared for them in such orderly manner as to avoid even minor mishaps. The efficiency of the Scouts was a. wonderful tribute to the value of their movement. Sir Joseph declared that the Indian Civil Service is composed of men who, for noble purpose and high endeavour, are among the finest in Britain or the world. * * * » Chief, Addresses 15,000.

About 15,000 Scoutts, representing 20 South London associations, met at the Crystal Palace recently, and were addressed by Lord Baden-Powell. There were exhibitions of organised games, sword and Morris dancing, physical training, bridge building, gymnastics, etc. The Cubs did country dances, jungle dances, items from local history, demonstrations of "Cub law," and the many things which budding Scouts do, with zealous enjoyment. The Scouts of the North and Central Lambeth Associations were more ambitious even than the others, for they produced a pageant of the history of their own district, illustrating, as the foreword put it, that "those 'high endeavours' that history records can find their parallel in the scheme of the game of scouting for boys given us by our beloved Chief." Lord Baden-Powell rode on a charger to all the parade grounds to see his Scouts at work and play.

Before the final rally there was community singing, conducted by Mr. T. P. Ratcliff, with the band of the Royal Horse Guards. The Scon/, were in mass formation on the terrace below the Royal box, from which they were addressed by the Chief Scout, whose appearance was the signal for a "grand howl," which rose to a tremendous crescendo.

He urged them all to greater proficiency, putting before them the ideal for every Scout —to be a first-class Scout. This meant the need for many of them to learn swimming, an art to be warmly commended, not only because of the enjoyment it gave, but because of its life-saving importance. A fellow, he said, was not a man until he could swim. Combined with this determination to become first-class Scouts. Lord Baden-Powell impressed upon them the duty of doing good deeds, and still more good deeds.