SCOUTING

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 122, 21 February 1928, Page 15

SCOUTING

INVESTITURE AT PETONB. A very pleasiug ceremony took place at St. ’David’s Ball. Brittannia Street, Petone, on Thursday night, it heiitg the occasion of the Investiture of the Greenhoiiia of the Petone Sea Scouts to the rank of Sea Scout. The ceremony was conducted by Naval Commander S. L. Young, R.N. Retd., District Commissioner for Sea Scouts, and there were also present Sir Alfred Kobin. District Commissioner for Hoy Scouts. Mr. Nelson, Commander of St. Augustine's, (Petone) Land Scouts, with some of hig troop. Sea. Scoutß and officers from the Collingwood and Evans Bay Troops, and a number of parents and friends, A number or Legion of Frontiersmen were also present, and made striking figures. Advantage was taken of the beautiful evening to hold the investiture in the open. The twenty-six hoys to be invested were the object of much comment on the smartness of their appearance, with navy jersevs and neat white-covered caps with cap bands announcing in rold letters the name of their troop The remainder of the troops formed, in the Sea Scout fashion, the bows of a ship, and after a very appropriate address by Sir Alfred Robin, the investiture commenced. Four boys at a lime approached the table, to repeat before Commander Young the Scout Promise and their al legiance to all that it stood for 1 hey then received their caps and badges, and as fully fledged Sea Scouts continued the formation of the ship. After this successful and interesting investiture had been completed. Sir Alfred Robin, with Altins remarks, presented Master

A. W. Mowat and Frst Mate 11. CairnsLeo with their warrants, and congratulated them on the splendid progress the troop had made within a short period, also eulogising the work of the officers and the ladies’ committee. Master A. W. Mowat suitably replied. Other speakers were Mr. G. 11. Seiwood, chairman of the troop committee, Mr. R. CairnsLee. and Rev. J. C. Loan. Chaplain of the troop. The ladies’ committee had prepared an excellent supper. Parents and friends greatly enjoyed the antics of the boys in their games and many were sorry when the evening came to an end. A vote ot thanks for the kindness of Sir Alfred Robin and Commander Young in al' they had done for the troon was warmly responded to by lusty young voices The investiture did much to help those parents who were present to realise the value of the scout movement to themselves for their own boys, and to the community. BOY’S PLUCKY RESCUE OF GIRL. Knowledge of swimming and life saving learned as a member of the W hangarei Bov Scouts, combined with unhesitating courage, has enabled Erm. the 15 years of age eon of Mr. and Mrs. I’. Reynolds, to save the life of Laurie Potter. daughter of Mr. \V. P. InUer. at Taurikura Bay (states the Northern Advocate." Whangarei). , The girl, who was being towed behind a small punt, rowed by Mrs. I arner. released her hold, thinking that she was in water sufficiently shallow to waue ashore. Instead, she was out ot liei depth. Her struggles were noticed by Eric Reynolds and others, who about 200 yards along the beach. They raced towards the scene, the lad outstripping liis elders and swimming out

to the spot where the girl had sunk. When she was coming up again, he dived down for her. As people m danger of drowning frequently do, she seized him, and but for the rescuer having learned as a Boy Scout how to deal with the situation, the result might have been a double tragedy. However, the lad escaped from the grip, turned the semiconscious girl round, and swam unaided on his back ashore. When he reached the beach he carried her. but fell, and the fall luckily started the resuscitation process, which was successfully carried on by others, before the girl was taken home and put to bed. Master Reynolds is to be highly commended for his prompt action, which averted what otherwise would in all probability have been a fatality.