SCOUT NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20056, 11 October 1930, Page 6

SCOUT NOTES.

[By Lonb . Wat,*.]

The Metropolitan Commissioner says: The office is now busy with the annual census required by Headquarters, The retufns come dribbling in slowly. Some of the secretaries seem to have no sense of time. The census will do good in one way: ifc will throw up the groups which have failed to i;eep records. Circulars have been sent out, and the importance of reeordß uave Deen impresses on tlie Advisory troui time to time, but a improvement is needed. Ail borts ot excuses are maaa ror the incompleteness of the records. J.t is cu.iuy olamed on aumeouu who has left the troop. From the returns to iinnd it appears that there will be a decrease in the numoer of boy Scouts m Christchurch, but this will not represent the true state of affairs, as every care hag been taken .n this census to t-nsure that only those Scouts who are actually attending and being trained are included. Thus, we have insisted on being supplied with information aa to the date of birth, date of enrolment, and date of passing tests. Only warranted officers are included.

You remember how the Matamata Scouts came down here some months ago. The Matamata Scouts are not the only ones who travel. Commissioner Rich is taking a party of Scouts—patrol leaders —round the North Island, in January and February. They will be three weeks away. Mr Rich will show his well-known lantern slides of the Jamboree. They will meet troops of Scouts everywhere, and will have n fine lot of camping practice, and learn something about the North Island. They are sure to have a topping time, and it will do a lot of good to the movement. Don't vou all wish you were going ?

The camping season will soon be commencing. Most of you know that through the generosity of the Rotary Club we now have the use of that splendid camping ground, French Farm, for a year It is an ideal place for a camp, and for all sorts of Scout exercises. The Edgeware Troop have been down there already for a patrol leaders' course, and also the Addington leaders for last week-end. Major Furby is camp warden, and applications for camping should be made to him. Now that we have a camping ground, Scoutmasters should make a point of camping as often as possible. Sooutine is an outdoor game.

Wolf Cub officers will be interested to hear that a wood badge camp for officers, which is open to any cub officer in the Dominion, will be held at Dunedin from October 25th to 23th. For those who are able to get away this _ will be a fplendid chance to qualify for the wood badge. Another moonlight hike took place Inst Saturday. Twelve Rovers and others walked from Lyttelton to Chriitchnrch, over Drer's Pass road. Thev started at midnight, breakfasted at Corsair Bay, and reached town at G o'clock. They were fortunately able to render assistance to a stranded motor party on the road.

There are eleven entries for the firstolnss badge examination, and we have 50 applications for proficiency examinations. By the wnv, the date stated in this paper for the closing of the entries was incorrect. No more entries can now be received.