TE KORERO For Boy Scouts

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 49, 27 February 1935, Page 17

TE KORERO For Boy Scouts

A BOY SCOUT. Just a little cleaner, smarter than the rest — Rather better mannered, rather neater dressed; Prompt obeying orders, thoughtful all the while, Not forgetting ever to whistle and to smile; Kind to every creature, gentle with the old, Strong against the bully, honourable and bold; Bold against the bad things, for the good things strong— There you have a Boy Scout—subject of my tying. —Cohvyn Philippe.

"MANY HAPPY RETURNS."

In every happy family, birthdays are always an interesting event, and as a scouting and guiding fraternity it is only natural that we would be interested in the method observed by our respective chiefs, Lord and Lady BadenPowell, on their joint birthdays, which occurred on Friday last. At tho timo they 'were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Riddiford, of Featheraton, and it was in an ideally situated New Zealand home that for the second time in their life, this important day was spent on New Zealand soil. We feel sure that even e'er the eun was showing his rays of light over the eastern horizon, our two chiefs, with happy hearts, wished one another many, many happy returns of the day. Early in the morning of this most auspicious day, a party-of cubs arrived to sing the glad tidings of another year of usefulness gone by and to herald in the dawn of a new year and of good things to come. The kitchen and breakfast room, too, was full of animation as a party of brownies cooked and later eerved breakfast, and it was a meal full of loving thoughts from the thankful, happy hearts of those brownies who were serving those to whom they, as well as the whole world, owe a debt of gratitude and thankfulness. The universality or scouting and the great esteem held by all those who have The honour of knowing Lord and Lady Baden-Powell was very soon in evidence, and cables of congratulation from all parts of the world and telegrams from far and near in New Zealand soon began to arrive, and a party of scouts took up the duty of messengers between the home of Mr. and Mrs. Riddiford and the telegraph office at Featherston. (Their contribution of service and appreciation to the Chief Scout and Chief Guide.) It is interesting to note the activities of our honoured guests during the day, .■lβ it is undoubtedly an indication of where their whole-hearted interests lie. The morning was spent in planning and arranging scouting and guiding matters, and the greater part of the time was covered by conferring as to how they could best see as many scouts and guides in the South Island. On Saturday afternoon at the Trenthain guide camp, a. wonderful sight awaited the arrival of the Chiefs; with coloured decorations and candles, a, complete living birthday cake made of the sweetest things imaginable was prepared, and as Lord and Lady BadenPowell advanced to the centre of a circle of admiring guides, the Chief Scout was handed a huge wooden knife about 6ft in length, and cut and drew forth with ribbons a slice of cake made up of thankful, happy hearts and contented minds of brownies. The Chief Scout. in his own inimitable style, then went round the brownies who composed the cuke, and, picking as it were, a piece, from each one, tasted and declared it good. Advancing to the centre of the cake through the cut-out portion, they wore completely hidden by the remaining brownies, and at a given signal several complete circles were formed and the brownie grand howl of welcome liven.

It Avas a day which we feel will linger in the hearts of both our chiefs as a treasured memory of their New Zealand tour; and in wishing them many other such joyous occasions in the years to come we add the wish that their trails may ever be smooth.