SCOUT NOTES

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 51, 23 November 1928, Page 17

SCOUT NOTES

(By

“Rover.”)

The Evans Bay Sea Scouts held their third Investiture ceremony last Wednesday, in the Evans Bay Yacht and Motor, boat Club house, when Commander'Young (Sea Commissioner) Invested seven “greenhorns” Into the company. It was a line sight, the company drawn up In ■•boat” formation representing the bows of a ship. The greenhorns were marched to the quarter deck, and when they had been duly Invested as Sea Scouts, took their places with their crews in the “bows." The quarter-deck was then occupied by Sea Master J. Cooke, who went through the “Ipise” ceremony and received his warrant as a skipper. Cheers were called for, and the boys heartily responded. Commander Young then entertained with some very Interesting reminiscences both of the merchant service and Navy, in which he served for some years. Among those present were parents and members of the committee, also Mr. L. Scorrar, first mate of the Collingwood Company, with some of his boys. Thanks to the Collingwood Company, Evans Bay now have another boat (Collingwood), which they are putting into commission this season. This will give more scope for getting together training for the regatta early in the New Year. The Te Pere is very handy, but is on the small side, only 14 feet for a company of forty. In the final of the hand Soccer competition, which was held recently, St. Thomas’s won from St. Cuthbert’s by seven points to one. The winning team may be challenged by any who were in the competition, and challenges should be sent to R. Waterhouse, 91 Wilson Street. Great keenness is being displayed by the Hover Inter-crew competition,, which will be held for a period of six months. The Takatunas crew (under Rovermate H. Millier) are at present leading with a total

of 093. The Sea Hover crew Is second with 359. The other crews are Te Kootis (385) and Arawas (383). The competition will conclude the end of February, and a cup is being presented to the winning crew, who will hold it for six months. Rover H, E. Browne gave an Interesting evening last Saturday on pioneering work, and the instruction will continue until Christmas. The company were glad to have Mr. Harold Blick, of St. John Ambulance, and Captain McAlister with them, and all are exceedingly happy in their new hall. A hearty welcome Is extended to any who are interested in Rovers’ activities to join them any Saturday night at St. John Ambulance Hall, Broadway Buildings, Courtenay Place. The movement is increasing throughout the Wairarapa, and a troop of Scouts and Pack with 22 Wolf Cubs has recently been formed at Carterton, while at Featherston 30 Scouts and 15 Cubs belong to this world-wide organisation. It is hoped that troops will shortly be formed at Greytown and Martinborough. At Featherston on Saturday last the Pack enjoyed entertaining the St. Mathew’s Cubs from Masterton. On a little clearing at the foot of the Domain Hill, the boys went through the jungle dances and games. Then all enjoyed a scramble through the broom to the top of the hill to see the wonderful view of the Wairarapa Valley and Lake. Before departing, the A.D.C.M. presented several Cubs and Scouts with various badges they had gained, and after thanking the Featherston people, Scoutmaster and Scouts, for their kindness, they drove away amidst lusty cheers.

A cordial invitation is extended to all scouters to meet in Riddiford Hall at 6 o’clock on Friday evening next to discuss district matters.

If you are a fcout, of course you are going camping. Why? Well, how could you be a scout otherwise? Camping Is as necessary to the scout as a door is to a room. Both take you out, and both take you inside. Camping takes you inside all the things that make for the good scout —fresh air, healthy activities, the beauties of nature, the wind, on the hills, the clean sparkling waters of the rivers, the lakes, or of the sea. It takes you inside yourself and enables you to find out whether you really can do things for yourself. In the clubroom we talk about things and try to learn how to do them, so that when we go put to camp we will not waste any time in the doing of them. But as so frequently happens, that when we come to do the many jobs they seem more difficult than when we merely talked about them. No one can be a real scout until he has camped, and by camping I do not mean a picnic, but the real thing—where every single scout is expected to do his fair share of work, to do things himself, and not have them done for him. You are going camping, then? Well, there will be certain things to prepare beforehand; there will be certain questions to ask yourself. “What am I to wear?” For the scout that question is very easily answered. His complete scout dress, including the hat, is correct. An extra shirt to knock about in will not come amiss, and it does not matter is it is an old one, so long as it is clean to start with. An extra vest and an extra pair of stockings are necessary. Your dress boots or shoes should be good stout ones in good repair, and for knocking about camp a pair of light shoes or sandals are very useful. Then you should have something, pyjamas or such-like, to wear at night. It is unhealthy and unscoutlike to sleep in anything you have worn during the day. A sweater or jersey should not be left at home, for you cannot be too sure of our summers. If you have a sweater, a coat is not necessary, provided you have something waterproof against rain, which you often meet with. Pay special attention to your footwear. You are bound to do a good deal of walking about in camp (I know some who do not), and quite a lot if you go for any hikes or expeditions. Comfortable boots or shoes and woollen stockings are absolutely essential. The uppers of the boots need not be very heavy, but the soles should be good and stout, and if they are nailed so much the better. “What else am I to take?” you ask. Well, that rather depends on the kind of camping you Intend to do. First of all, do not take more than is necessary. All know the mistakes that Johnny, the Tenderfoot, made, and the stacks and stacks of things that he took with him to camp. It would really have needed an elephant to carry them all. Consider cleanliness. That tells you to take soap, towel, toothbrush, hairbrush, and bootbrush. Consider sleeping. That means taking a ground- sheet and a pair of blankets. You can make a sleeping bag of your blankets, or pin them together with blanket pins. Consider eating. I can see your smile. That will tell you to take a mug, in addition to the one you carry round with you every day, a plate, knife, fork, spoon, as well as something to eat, but that is another question. I would like to mention that it is a long time since I have receleved notes from some troops and packs. I hope they have not forgotten my address, “Raumai,” Humber Street, Island Bay. Contributions should be delivered on or before Monday of each week.