(By VICILANY.)

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14327, 12 April 1912, Page 5

(By VICILANY.)

| Commissioner T. F. Taylor, of West- ; laud, reports that ho made his official ! inspection and examination of the ; iiitinnerton Troop on the lu'ih of las; ■ moutli. Tlie following are a few ... . the highest points obtained in the vaii- ' oils tests: —Discipline .SD. despatch carrying 6j, knowledge ol laws ?0, general , -smartness SO, physical drill 70. and , stretcher drill 70.

! The Commissioner mentions tbo foi- | lowing as showing exceptional ability : 1 —Scouts Carson, H. William*., C. Wd- ; hams. If. Talbott. J. id-id, and K. Ward. A niunl>ei of recruits have lately joined, which pivv.-nted a higher . percentage, of marks being obtained. The troop has gained S secoml-elass ; budges, -I ambiilauc" badges, and 7 , signallers' is'idges. The troop has built : a splendid hut of saplings at tho rear .of the .Scout (platters, also a strong and useful bridge ov«t a jjnlloy. C.roat credit is due to Dr. Peid for the success | win. b has attended his ctlotts on their I behalf.

Of the 1! eel ton Troop the Commissioner says:—This troop continues 10 maintain its high of omcieney. It holds 1(3 second-class badges, o ambulance badges, 3 cyclists' badges, and 22 ecoking badges, and on ihe occasion of his visit two boys qualified for the first-class badires. They obtained the following marks in examination set:--- -. Discipline SO, despatch carrying £■">. knowledge of laws 40. .general smartness So. physical drill 70, stretcher drill 70. A nnmlxr of recruits has also brought down the average. This troop has at present no District Commander, nor Inspector, but havo two gentlemen in view for these positions. "1 must specially commend." be snvs. "S. Merr's. A. Patterson, and H. Marr" for their excellent work. Black Point Patrol iprogressing most satisfactory. I cannot, adequately express my high opinion of tho officers who by their selfdenying efforts are doing such excellent work for thc troops.

Mrs M. Moss, of Mangamaunu. rope.rts that her patrols read with the greatest interest of thc preparation being made for the reception of General-Baden Powell. They regret that they will not be able to lake part in tho great Review. They arc keen on their examination tests. They are. however, much keener on the doing ol good turns. She .says: "I find that the .Scout training h-as a good hold on them in their homes, and,, that even tho parents now talk of 'doing a good turn.'" Ono of her boys, 17-years of age. who. by the way, i.s a scion of. a noble family—was so iinpreseH by the ceremony of swearing-in. that ho -went homo and destroyed his pipes ami cigarettes, as he felt that as a man he might havo much influence upon others.

A member of tho Napier City troop writes to say the report tliat the Napier troops have ceased to work in not correct. The C.'ty troop has been in existence from the fir«t, and though it hai" met with many discouragements, it has all along done good work under its scoutmaster, Mr M. Love!]. Tho troop has a complete set of telegraph instruments, and has made arrangonieiit.s to tsft up a wireless installation. These will probably be inspected by the Dominion Chief Scout, -who intends to visit Napier on his way up to meet, tlr* General.

General Godley L.ics informed C'lom! Cossgrove that under the new regulations thc Senior Cadet uniform, '-shii; and shorW is to all intents and pui- ; poses praet : callv exactly the game n-5 that which the Boy Scouts wear, and it should be. quite a. Miffioien. distincrion to allow them to wear the B.P. hat' instead of the ordinary hat lor the Senior Cadets. The Scouts will under these regulations provide their own B.P. hats, but will be allowed the price of the Senior Cadet hat instead.

To those of thc Boy Scout officers who have followed the Chief Scout's efforts on behalf of the senior boys, it will be interesting to recall his efforts to have this concession granted in the interests of the movement. At Lho first conference hold between the Christchurch officers and General Godley, the Chief Scout urged thc desirability of providing the same kind of uniform for the Senior Cadets as the Boy Scouts wore wearing—with the 8.-P. hat as a distinction.' He also urged tin's upon Major McDonald, late Cadet Commandant. Tlie latter, however, did not take tho suggest ion kindly. Subsequently, the Senior Cadets were placed under the control of the Defence Department, and the gallant Major had no fay in deciding upon what uniform should be worn.

This concession on the part of Gone- | ral Godley is another instance of his ' tact and good management, as well as j a manly acceptance of a useful sugges- . tion from a junior officer. Under the j new regulations there will be nothing ; to offond the military eye in tho mix- j ture of Boy Scout and Senior Cadet uniform, as except for tho hat, both arc j: to lie the same. No doubt some of tlie .- older boys who have slouched alvont in j long pants will be disappointed with i the shorts but there is no comparison ; between tho slacks and the shorts as a i suitable uniform for growing lads. It | should ho some soiaco to them also to ] know that regiments of our sol- i' diers wear shorts, nnd the regiment of I Ghoorkas. commanded by Major An- j drew, of New Zealand, in India, are i uniformed in shirt and ..horts. whilo the • King's Royal bodyguard in Siam are ; arravod in the Roy Scout uniform. j