SCOUT NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 115, 12 November 1930, Page 19

SCOUT NOTES

{By "B.A*M.") The report to be presented at the annual meeting of the WoUiugtoa. Metiopohtant Aiea at the pavilion, Basin Reberve, on Satuiday evening embodies the work accomplished by the tour diitttct associations and the Hover and Sea Scout feoetions. N \\ith the experience of a full twelve months' woiking under the highfti status, which wa» contained in the Metropolitan CommfssiOnei's cnculat of Septemboi, 1929, the past jem. has shown a gradual increase m number, as well as greater efficiency in the woiUing of the large gioups, due- in no small measure to tho interest taken by Scouters in the district training courses -which ivere held dining the \v inter months, to bo fmther augmented, in the near future, by ,the summer camping session. Since tho appointment of the Metropolitan Commissioner, Sir Alfred Bobm, on 16th June, 1924, a gradual evolution has taken, place in the movement in Wellington, -with improvement in all-round efficiency, until the Wellington area can claim to be the leading Scout centre of th.o Dominion. Considerable effort, a great deal of thought, and what is of inestimable value, the human touch, has been put into th« administration of tho higher status, which is now •well-established. Decentralisation has been one ot the main factors in bringing aboU this state of affairs, and under the Commissioner* of the four districts, the Bover section and the Sea Scout_ section, considerable piogress has been"* made. The reversion o£ tho Boy Scouts' Association of New Zealand to tho Imperial policy organufatioa and rules has had the effect of standardising the work of the movement throughout New Zealand, and with amendments embodied to suit local conditions everything points to oven greater projr&ss being made in ihe future y«ari. With the visit of the greit Chief Scout, Lord Baden-Powell, of Gilwell, early in the New Year, all those interested in Scouting are eagerly looking foiward to the great rally m March of next year, tor which prepaiations are well under way. The annual report discloses the comparison of the strength of all giades covering the period of the last sue years, and makes most interesting reading. From the email beginning in 1024 of seven Cub packs, seventeen Scout troops and two- Sea Scout companies the jear ending 80th September, 1930, shows the i era ark able advance to 68 Cub packs, 65 Scout troops, 12 Rover crews, "-5 Sea Scout companies, qnd 1 Rover group, ■nith a total of all grades of 2654. To accomplish efficient work with any group of boys fcha provision of a permanent "den" or liall, which should always be available foi fkd purpose on at least one iegular night a. Week, is essential. The experiences of geveial groups in the Wellington area during the past in not being able to have this prrulege, has had the desired effect of making group committees rea^se, their duty in this connection to the. boys, with the result that halls have been elected for the Lyall Bay, Seatoun, and St. Thomas-groups recently. Camping is! engaging tho thoughts of many Stouts "at Jhc present time. The merry camp fire, fynghth glowing on "Mother Nature's hearth," has always been the school of boy's imagination. PerJBtapsit is because it speaks to the long ago in his make-np^or perhaps because his sturdy foiefathers loved its hour of fellowship after strenuous days of work. At any rate, undoubtedly it is the real gateway to thp'injier heart of almost every healthy boy. When the fire roais and crackles, then tho boys chincc about it and yell the wild yells of the Maori or Indian, as they add log after log to the blaze until the pile is exhausted. Then when the file dies dar.n and nothing remains but the heap of biighfcly glowing embers, they crowd clobe together and •it and look into the mjstenous e\erthanging light, fascinated. "In chanote of flame drawn by tiny spaik steeds," or in swiftly curling wreaths of smoke, their thpughts are carried off into strange note of fancy until every burning stump and dying ember is alive with spiightly imps. It has ever been the story hour since the world began; the abiding, place of fellowship and brotherhood, Campers, grown oW> looking forward, remember with remarkable distinctness even parts of camp fire conversation—and who shall ever undertake to estimate the number of changed lives that are at least an indirect result of the evening talks and fun about the camp fire? The Lyall Bay group, now that they Lave taken full possession of their new hall on the Recreation Ground, ha\e settle settled down to steady progress, with the result that ten now boys have; joined up during the past month. On Tuesday, 7th Octobei, the group held its tenth birthday, wheff District Commissioner H. Hitchins and D;S.M. E. Heath were present. Tho birthday cake, pre tented to the group by Mrs. E. Rudkm, was cut by SM. L. Buce, who has been with tho tioop since it was formed in 1920. The Kilbirnie gioup \vei.e the guests of the evening, and participated m game* contests with the local boys. The annual meeting of the group was held last month, all members, with the exception of two, etandmg for re election, with Mr. W. Collier as chairman for the new year. Special thanks was extended to all the members of the committee for the most valuable work done in the past, especially in connection with the transition stage of transferring from makeshift premises,to a new, fine hall. It is fully intended before the Christmas period-to hoia a big parents' gathering, for all thotc who are inteiested in the boy life of Lyall Bay. The recommendation of the committee has had the approval of District Commissioner H. H. Millei, and the Metropolitan Commissioner for the appointment of Scouter W. Phillips to Gioup Scoutmaster and Assistant L. Brice to the position of Scoutmaster. A Rp-ver patiol of ten has been formed, and all old Scouts of the group axe asked to get on touch with Scouter Brice if wishing to enter into this higher branch of Scouting. Five Scouts, one old Scout and two Scouts of the vTrinity Troop bad a most enjoyable week-end in the Wainui Valley —a fresh locality for this troop at a Labour Day camp. The party hiked from Muritai by Burdan's track and camped on ground kindly lent by Mr. W. Burdan beside the Catchpole Stream. Three of the party walked through the "five mile' to tho Orongorongo River, while the others explored around the camp site. The camp was little affected by the adverse weather, and was judged a great success and ended with a most lively finish—on thp harbour terry. All Scouters, parents, and others interested in the -welfare of the Scouts, Cubs, and Rovers in the Hutt Valley are, reminded of the annual meeting, which will take place in the St. Augustine Scout Hall, Recreation -Ground).. Petone, to-morrow. It is anticipated that the annual meetiug will be one of the best yet. The Di&tiiet Scoutmaster o£ the. We] lington South District leports that the semi-finals of thp hand Soccer competition took place last Wednesday, with the lesull that Boys' Institute, bt. James's, and £>t Thomas's are lei£ m the senior oompeti tion, and Trinity, St. James's, and St Thomas^ in the juniors. The St. James's Troop are KblSing a parents' evening at ihe Scout Hall, Riddiford street, next Thursday at 7p m. There was a good attendance of parents at the Cubs' evening at the Seatoun Pack last Tuesday. A demonstration of a, model Cub Pack meeting was held, and C. N. K. Kear told the story of Cubbing as based on the Jungle Book. The chairman of the group presented a portrait ot Mr J H. Owen and his son (the Pack mascot)- to be hung in the new hall. Valuable assistance was given by the ladies with the provision of supper. .... ■ Play forms a very large part in the social adjustment of boyhood. Play teaches a boy loyalty, team woik, co-operation, the philosophy of sacrifice, humility, respect for the Hgnjs of others, promptness, saltmastery, subordination to leadership, courage, and many other virtues necessary to make-Em a useful and worthy member of society. ';■■ Lessons learned on the playing field 'prepare for the seriousness of the greater game of life itself; theiefore the play life of a group is most important and ..should be carefully diiected ' The annual metmg of the Dominion Boj Scouts' Association will be held m Wellington on Tuesday and Wednesday of , next week. Tho D S M/s, D C M's, and iD.R.S.L.'s meeting in committee hat Tuesday endeavouied to provide an oppoi tunity for all local Scouteis to meet oui new Chief Commi&siODei, Di F. C. Fen wick, C.M.G, V.0., and hi» ewcutiw The only evening available i<s Wednesday, 19th mat, and as the majority of the dele

gates attending the conference will be travelling back to their homes the samo evening arrangement have been made to hold a Scouteis' meeting over tea at Gamble and Creeds, LiUnbton cpiay. The charge, based on an attendance of 50, will be 2s pei head, so will all Scouteia please keep this in mittd and 101 lup The Chief C6inmisßioner has kindly accepted the in vitation, and lephes aie awaited fiom the Metropolitan Comrnis'uoueife at Auckland, Chrietchuich, and Dunedm. llio chair will be occupied by Sn Altred Robin, and it is anticipated that a number of other District Commissioneis attending the con ference ivill be pieuent. The gathonng will be open to all uaumt ofllceis, chairmen, And becifltanes, and one lepregentative Of gioup committees Unifoim is optional The -co operation of ill concerned is i eqnh'ed to make this, tea a leal Seouty gathering, and e\tortd a. real welcome to the Chief Commissioner on his fust official visit to Wellington Please adviso your attendance at the tea by mailing a post card, stating nutubci ot lepiesentativce from your group to "Sscoutei," P O. Box 183, Te Aio, on oi befoie Saturday. As an emeigency, telephone 28-128 on Monday i moining. Please note that the announcement of any alteiation in the above arrangements will be advoitised undci Pub lice Notices" m the "E\ening Post on Tuesday, 18th Novembei In anticipation of tho finals of the Wellington Aiea competitions at the Drill Hall on Saturday, 22nd November, Dibtrict Rover Scout Leader and a party of Roveis visited Ma&teiton over the weekend and examined the groups m the Wauaiapa in semaphore signalling, which was won by Grey town -nitb 9Q points, Caiteiton weie second with 69 points, and Featherston thirdwith 81 points. The winning team aie to be congratulated oft the Effiaitness with which they earned out the tests. The Wellington North Distnet competitions take pW at the Banks College giounds next Satuiday afteinoon. Eleven out of sixteen troops have entered for the various events—a iecord. All troops and packs are «sk«d to be piesent, and the Dietrict Commissioner, Mr. F. W. Voaseier, is looking forward to an excellent- attendance. Scouters of all ranks aid Urged to make next Saturday's lally on<y to 1 be tememThe rally of the "Hill" district will take place at Ngaio on 29th November, at 2 pm. A true "Seouty" programme- has been ananged, and an enjoyable afternoon's entertainment js in t>tore for all. The Ist Wellington Ro\ers, _ Guides, Brownies, and Cubs will be assisting. The Maon Guides and Cubs fiom Otaki will be doing poi dances and hakas The support of all people inteiested m the movement h solicited in making the rally a great success The annual meeting of the Ist Wellington City Rover Tioop will be held m their "den," Coyrtenay place, on Saturday, 29th Noverabei, when it it expected that all Rovers will bfcjpresent. Keep this date in view, . ".