THE GOVERNOR AND THE BOY SCOUTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2326, 7 December 1914, Page 2

THE GOVERNOR AND THE BOY SCOUTS

AN AFTERNOON AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE. On Saturday—long to be remembered as a red-letter day—tho Boy Scouts of Wellington were the guests of their Excellencies the Governor (the Earl of Liverpool) and the Countess of Liver--2.30 p.m. all the troops in the Wellington district paraded at Essex Street, the following representing tho parade state: Kelburn Troop, 58 scouts, under Scoutmasters Joyce and Dernwell; St. Thomas's, 58 scouts, under Scoutmasters Bell, Sherwood, and Yore; Brooklyn and Mornington, 56 scouts,' Scoutmaster Macfarlane; Roseneath. 19 scouts, Scoutmaster Dorwent; Porirua afad Johnsonville, 32 scouts, Scoutmaster Burnett; St. Paul's, 36 scouts, Scoutmaster Godfrey; Northland, 8 scouts, Scoutmasters M'Donald and Moss.' Sooutmaster W. Smith aotod'sb. Brigade-Adjutant, and the staff was represented by Provincial Commissioner Baldwin, Deputy Commissioner M'Leod, .Distriot Oommander Lawson,, Chief InMacfarlane,'. and • Inspector •uirant.' In all 260 scotits and 17 officers marched to Government House with flags, drums, and bugles. On arrival at Government House the parade marched past Their Eycellencies at the salute. Twelve teams were then selected from tho various troops for a tug-of-war competition, which was personally supervised by His Excellency, while the smallor boys at the same time engaged in saolt, three-legged, wheelbarrow, and relay races. During tho afternoon a signalling station, controlled by Sergeant Fox, of ,the Kelburn Troop, -sent messages to Their Excellencies. At 5 o'clock all the scouts mustered in the ballroom, where tea was provided for them, while the scoutmasters were entertained by Her. Excellency in the drawing-room. After tea a few songs and a haka ware given by the scouts, and Her Excellency then awarded the prizes won in the numerous events during the , afternoon'. Before departing the Commissioner thanked His Excellency arid the_ Countess of Liverpool for their kind invitation; and the boys gave tlireo British cheers for Their Excellencies.

In replying, His Excellency said that it had been a great pleasure to receive the" Boy Scouts, and he wished to thank them for the services rendered to him and to the Defence Department. He told them that they had made a very good start, and advised them to continue to do' all tilings well. The National Anthem was then siing, and the scouts marched away, very happy.