"WHITHER AWAY?"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 91, 17 April 1943, Page 6

"WHITHER AWAY?"

MYSTERY OUTING

AUCKLAND BOYS' BRIGADE

The clouds were hanging so low this morning that they were pierced by the tip of the Maori Centennial Memorial on One Tree Hill, but the spirits of 130 boys soared high for a mystery "bike hike" was on.

Over 12 companies of the Auckland Battalion of the Boys' Brigade were represented in a gathering at the junction of the Great South Road and Panmure Road at ten o'clock this morning. Boys came from as far as Otahuhu, Mangere, Mount Albert and Devonport. Tyres were pumped hard, and there was an air of keenness among the cyclists as they got away to a good start.

The officer chosen to lead the "hike" was Mr. S. George, captain of the 10th Auckland Company, and the destination was Eastern Beach, but only the officers knew that. The boys may have had an idea of the place for which they were bound, or else they had implicit faith in the ability of their officers to think up a -bonza" outing, for there was not one doubtful face as they pulled away from the kerb in double file. Mr. F. E. Wooller, the Auckland president, and the Rev. D. Hickman, secretary, had spent some time in thinking out games to fill in the afternoon at the beach, and the boys will set out for home about five o'clock. The companies will disperse on the Mount Wellington highway, and each will find its individual route home so that the battalion will not be mixed up with the heavy race traffic that will be filling the mam roads to the city in the late afternoon.