DOMINION BOY SCOUTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 74, 30 March 1910, Page 4

DOMINION BOY SCOUTS.

♦■ ■ ■• (By "Tnuker.") Notes of general interest from Scoutmasters will be inserted in this column. They should be addressed to "Tracker," care the Editor Evening Post, and should teach me each Monday for publkatioa on th« Wednea- ! day. i The Petone troun of i>cont« could not stay at home at Kaxter, but journeyed over the Wainui hill« and camped. On Sunday morning early the troop set out for their destination, arriving then about 7.45 o'clock. The camp wna in charge of Patrol-leader Martin, owing to Scoutmaster Brear being unable to attend. Wheti the tioon reached their proposed camping cround the Kiwi and Tui patrols joined and erected their tents, while the Morepork patrol built their tent tome distance away. When tento had been pitched the fire was lit, and soon breakfast indulged in, after which th« Kiwi and Tui patrols went for a bathe. When they returned at 2.30 o'clock tea was ready. During the day there were a few visitor* to the camp. They were treated very well by the boys. In the evening there wa* a "King *ong." On Monday, at about 10 o'clock, the Petone troop challenged the combined troop (Newtown and Mount Victoria) in a despatch run. U in interesting to note that the Petone troop won the day. They struck camp about 6.30 o'clock. The Petone troop deaires to th»nk •Scoutmaster Woodward and his ■ troop, Ditto the Mount Victoria troop, for accepting the challenge from them. It was some encouragement for the newly- formed Petone troop. The following Petone boys, under Scoutmaster Brear, have succeeded in gaining "tenderfootV badges :— PatrolLeader Martin, 100; Patrol-Leader Aplin, 100; Corporal Pointon 100; Corporal Caverhill, 100; Private Savage. 100; Private Hae Cowie, 90; Private Cclquhoun, 90; Private Hogg, 90; Pri vate Prebble, 90 ; Private Sheldrake. 80. The minimum number of pass marks was 75. The Easter holidays were taken advantage of by nearly all the Boy Scouts for scouting tnaMO'-iivrc, and t-everal troop.* spent tlic whole tim<> under ennvas. The ppleufiid weather made the outings the more enjoiahln, and report* to hand show uork clone. The JohnsouyiUe Si out*, under Srout master Mills pitched camp in the Uluriu Vnlley, about twenty lads attending. A

swimming pool was formed, thus adding to the many attractions of a camp out. The Keiburno troon, together with the "Morepork" patrol from Khandall.ih, found a resting-place near Ngaio. andhere spent Friday to Monday enioyably. Thanks to the outdoor life, tne lads benefited greatly, the strum upon the rommTmwiaC department speaking volumes for the health of all present. They were visited by fellow hcouU from Mount Victoria troop on Friday,, and from Brooklyn on Saturday ana Monday. Friend* from Khaudallah kept the camp supfriied with apple*, and their thought fulnetn was much appreciated. Other cantpa were held at Miramar and Plimmerton, but details are not yet to hand. On Sunday about forty scouts paraded for service at Miramar Presbyterian Church, under Scoutmaster M'Leod.and the same day a detachment from the Ngaio camp paraded at Kliandallah for special church service for the young. Recently <the Kilbirnle troop, underScoutmaster Perry, spent an afternoon in the ground* of the Anglican Church at Kilbirnie. They did a good turn by tidying up the paths, etc., and deserve commendation for their work. At tlie Ngaio encampment sentrie* were posted each night. On Sunday night they went on at 7 o'clock and came off at 1 a.m. It wbb thought that no a-ttack would be made after that hour. However, at a quarter to 2 a patrol of Brooklyn Scouts attacked the camp and captured the sleepers. The latter turned out and made hot cocoa for the raiders. The latter had left Brooklyn on Sunday evening, marched till 9 o'clock, when they camped under a bivouac till 1 a.m., and then attacked the Kelburne camp. Leaving the latter an hour lwter they marched through Johnfonville to the J Ohariu Valley, but were unable to lorate the Joluisonville camp. On Monday afternoon they returned to town. J They were picked boys, and had a strenuous time, covering close upon twentyfive miles, with very little Bleep. A boy correspondent writes to the Editor of The Post:— "Dear Sir,— At an early nour on Kaster Monday morning, the Redcaps of Lyall Bay left their batch to raid the W. 8.1. Scouts, who are under camp at Miramar. Mr. Coloneus, who is in charge of the camp, was told that the Redcaps would pay them a visit before they struck camp. On Sunday night the littlo fellows were spying out for the boys in white short trousers and sweaters. At a few minutes past 4 in tlie morning the pegs around the tent were released and it was a few minutes before the boys were awake, the smallest boy being the first to attack the raiders. The Redcaps then gave a helping hand to put up the tent and help the cook get the brcakfait. Mr. Coioneus expressed his appreciation of the boys arriving at eueh a suitable hour, as the boys were&upposed to tail in at a quarter to five for a day's march."