LONG TREK BY SCOUTS

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31729, 12 July 1968, Page 15

LONG TREK BY SCOUTS

Ashburton To Christchurch

A group of about 15 Venturer scouts from Ashburton start this afternoon on a walk to the Scott statue in Christchurch to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the beginning of the scout movement in Ashburton. The scouts will leave Ashburton about 4 p.m. today, and camp overnight at the Rakaia scout den. Tomorrow they will attempt to reach Burnham by lunch time. There they will be guests of the Christchurch Venturers, who will give them lunch and provide showers. The group hopes to cover the distance within 24 hours. In 1909 a similar walk was conducted by Ashburton Scouts; however It took three days, as did another in 1960. Several of the original walkers are still alive and living in Ashburton. The scouts of 1909, who were members of the second troop to be formed in New Zealand, walked to Bankside on the first day, and to Rolleston on the second. On their return journey they were invited to wash, have tea and stay the night at Burnham, which was a boy’s reform school in those days. However, after witnessing the treatment of some of the boy’s at the wash basin, they decided to brave the rain and proceed to Selwyn where they stayed the night in a railway shed.

On their arrival in Christchurch tomorrow the Ashburton group, comprising members of seven troops and an air scout, will be welcomed by the Canterbury Venturer commissioner. The Venturers are selfsupporting, and most of the boys will be sponsored on the walk. Funds raised will benefit their building fund and help to maintain their present den.