BOY SCOUTS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 33, 2 November 1929, Page 26

BOY SCOUTS

WELLINGTON DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT “It is with pleasure the Central Committee present this report on the progress of the Wellington Scout Area. The result is wholly due to the fine feeling of Scout spirit with service cheerfully given by all the Seouters and Scouts. Largely assisted by the various Troop Committees, parents and suppqj’ters, not forgetting the fine regular weekly publiicty alforded the movement by the newspapers of Wellington,” states the Central Committee of (he Wellington Metropolitan District of the New Zealand Boy Scouts Association in introducing its annual report. for the year ended .September 30. The report states that the strength of the Wellington district comprises fifty Wolf Cub Backs, five Sea Scout Companies, sixty-six Scout Troops, and one Kovei’ Troop, totalling 2623 in all % “The three Johnsonville Troops, by mutual consent,” explains the report, -are combining into one strong troop; Island Bay Sea Scouts amalgamated with Evans Bay, and Caledonian and Mayflower ceased to exist, principally due to committee inactivity. New troops formed during hte year were:—Martinborough, Greytown, Otaki Maori, and Fonrua. Bequests to form three Troops will have attention when suitable leaders and committee are available. At a conference with Dominion headquarters on June 13, at Christchurch, the higher status of the Wellington district and the introduction of the Group System was agreed to. AU Troops have committees oi ladies and gentlemen, parents and supporters, in most cases being very attentive and of real help to Scoutmasters and Scouts. An inclinatoin in some cases to go beyond the function of general administration set out’in the rules is to ba. guarded against. The visits by D.S.M.’s and DCM.”s to troops during the year has been of great value, helping to bring about some uniformity of m ® tbod - _ *“® Denutv Camp Chief, Mr. C. L. S. Greeu (Wood Badge), and Miss Wilson (^ k £la Wood Badge) cannot be over-thanked for their work and successful management of these necessary instructional camps and correspondence courses for Seouters. “A steady improvement was shown during the year by all the companies in the Scout Section. A new Troop is in process of formation at Seatoun. An endeavour is being made for a thirty-ton ketch to further train the older boys. SCOUT NOTES (By BA.M.) formation of the WeUingtoi JewKA Scout Troop and congratulate them ou their strong parents committee witn Mr. Gottlieb as cuairman and Mr. Weinstein as honorary secretary. llie bo vs are to bold their enrolment meeting next week and start on their tendertoot test. rnorudou’s Annual Meeting. luoruuou meiuouist troop’s annua meeting was aueuued by a large gathering “ irmiTus. A sausiactoiy report unu nuaucial statement was reau by Mrs. Aktd. A programme of jungle dances by the cubs auu trestle work uy scouts, interspersed with scout songs and recitations, entertained the visiters. District commissioner vosseier presented many proliciency and hobuy badges, aud the 3i^ l ' op “ 1 \ iwu u f u “; nussiouer luvested a wolt cub. Dibap poiutment was expressed by the meeting in not having present their bcoutmastei, Mr. Bridges, who had recently undergone a serious operation and was- now in the Hospital, wuere he is reported to be making satisfactory progress. Lhe meetiu o wished him a speedy recovery. Kmwarra. Troop. * ’Assistant Scoutmasters and lurksma and nanaielt, ot the Kaiwarra Troop, received their warrants by Ipise last auursday, giving the responses in a clear voice indicating their interest aud study ot the questions asked. The chairman, Mr. P. Hartnett, sen., called on Mr. lurksma, sen., to present, the proficiency and hobby badges earned during the past few months. A large gathering ot parents was entertained by games. Supper concluded a pleasant evening. Lower Mutt Troop’s New Status. Last Friday evening was a historymaking night with the Lower Hutt Iroop at their "Den” Kiclimuud, Strand Park. A splendid attendance ot parents aud Iriends welcomed the advance in status ot this troop to be a "group,” with a Rover Crew, Scout Troop, and Woli Cub Pack under the existing committee. The Metropolitan , Commissioner presented the following badges;—Artist, Secretary H. Beattie; Entertainer, P.-L. M: Bayley; Surveyor, P.-L. P. Foster and P.-L. J. Lines; Missiouer, P-L. H. Horlor; Ambulance, P.-L.’s P. Foster, J. Lines, M. Bayley, D. Warburton, J. Mair, H. Horlor, and V. Reynolds; Second, B. Liver, D. Tate, R. Burgess, H. Beattie, and Scouts, C. Watson-Munro, J. Webster, and K. Collins; First Class, P.-L.’s P. Foster, J. Lines, M. Bayley, D. Warburton, and V. Reynolds; First Allround Cord, P.-L.’s P. Foster. J. Lines, M. Baylev, and D. Warburton; King Scout( P.-L.’s P. Foster, J. Lines, M. Bayley, D. Warburton, and H. Horlor. The Metropolitan Commissioner, under the camp fire light, presented the following assistant cub and scout masters with their warrants under the ceremony of Ipise:— A.S.M.’s A. L. Burn, A. D. Davies, A. A. Vaughan, and A. J. Stonehouse; C.M. D. F. Horlor and A.C.M.’s Darnell and Rathbone. The Rover Crew Investiture was held in a separate room, and the following wore Invested:—Rover Mates Simpson and Stonehouse, Rover Seconds Darnell and Fleet, and Rovers Oliver, Thomas, and Bowman. The entertainment programme was rent scouty, songs, recitations, and Illustrations of the Scout laws being much appreciated. The lion, secretary was presented with a Thanks badge for his great help and work with the inauguration of tile commodious Scout “Den.” District Scoutmaster F. W. McKenzie and his assistants may well be proud of the position of the Lower Hutt Valley Troop. Bt. James’s Troop. The St. James’s Troop is making great progress under A.S.M.’s Ellery and Wilson, with a roll of fifty. The Patrol Competition was won by the Wolf Patrol and the shield presented to P.-L. Harry Green. A visit w;is made to the Kilblrnie Troop last Wednesday, and after a most pleasant evening the thirty-seven Scouts of the St. James’s Troop came away with a greater vision of the brotherhood of the Scout Movement. St. Augustine’s Troop. St. Augustine's Petone Group was honoured recently by a visit from the Boys’ Work Committee of the Rotary Club and their wives, when'a full meeting of Cubs, Scouts, aud Rovers greeted the visitors with a troop haka. A programme of ceremonies was arranged, beginning with a Cub Tenderpad Investiture and concluding with a Rover Investiture. After the Cub ceremony several jungle dances were given, and then seven Cubs who have grown too old said good-bye to the pack and went up, through the “Going-Up” ceremony, into the Scouts. Then followed the investiture of a tenderfoot Scout, as signifying the first step in scouting. Carrying on with the upward climb, there were presented a second-class badge to .Scout Simmonds, a first-class to Second Holmes, and King’s Scout badges to P.-L. Allison and Second Holmes, thus reaching the pinnacle of scouting, as the boys themselves do it. A few games were played by the troop, and following ou that the first Rover “Going-Up” ceremony was Held, when P.-L. Estall left the troop to join the Rover Crew, and was received with cheers. Supper was then given by the Rotarians to the boys, and the visitors were entertained by the Troop Committee, after which the troops and packs dismissed, leaving the field to the Rovers. Rover R. Tyler was then invested as a Rover Scout, receiving the buffet on each shoulder with the “Sword of Honour,” as dfd the knights of old. Five Rovers then received their first Rover Service Star, and, starting from the left of the semicircle, called out, for the visitors’ benefit, the number of years’ service as Cubs, Scouts, aud Rovers, the lowest being two years and the highest twelve. Cheers were then given for the Rotary Club visitors and also for the visiting Seouters and Rovers from the Wairarapa, these last being reciprocated. .The Wairarapa visitors were llic following:—Masterton, D.S.M. Rev. E. McLcvie. A.S.M.’s Hubbard and Seddon, Rovers Lamb and Robinson; Featherston. S.M. Rov. Durrad. A.S.M.’s Halpin and Galbraith, and Rover Carlyon. Mr. L. T. Watkins, as speaker for the Rotarians present, described the night as The most interesting and inspiring he had ever seen. He stated that never before bad he realised the importance and significance of Scouting, and he wished that the whole Rotary Club could have been present. He further stated that Petone should feel proud of such a' splendid, active body, which was making a name for the town in Scouting circles. Comparing the Rovers’ motto, “Service,” with that of the Rotary Club. “Service before Self,” he said that the Rotartnns could learn much from the Rovers. He once more reminded all present that if at any time they needed advice and they approached a Rotarinn thev would not be let down. On a recent Saturday the troop per- , ( formed °«slon at

2YA, rendering a programme of band items, recitations, aud mouth-organ solos, and a song was sung by Scout Lockhead, which was repeated by request, and the troop haka. At the Labour Day week-end the troop camped at Butterfly Creek, Gollan’s Valley, under S.M. Aldrich, and the RoVer Crew, under R.L. Zainbrawas, always at hand to render service. A Call Answered.

Congratulations are offered to the Rovers, Scouts, and the Sea Scouts who responded so promptly to the call for assistance to beat out the fire behind Muritai ou Sunday last. The fellows travelled the distances from their camps to the scene of the fire in an almost incredibly short time and worked with a will at the job. all of which was carrying out the Scout

motto and spirit. The especially pleasing part of the incident, however, was the spontaneous offer to remain after the excitement was over to guard against any further outbreak. It was a good job well finished.

“Patients" Wanted. The annual competitions of the St. John Ambulance Association are taking place next week, and an urgent appeal is made for patients on the following days:—Wednesday night, November 6, eight Scouts wanted; Friday night, November 8, six Scouts wanted; Saturday, November 9, from 10 a.m. and all day (dinner will be supplied), at the Garrison Hall, Buckle Street, twenty Scouts wanted. The Boys’ Institute Troop have offered to help, but further Scouts are wanted, and the names should be sent in to P.O. Box 624 without delay.