SCOUT NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 17, 21 January 1931, Page 15

SCOUT NOTES

By "8.A.M."

The annual camp of the St. Augustine's (Petone) Group '■ was again held at "St. Albans," Wainui, on-Mr. M. J. Burdan's property,, from Boxing Day to Saturday, 3rd January, being nine days, inclusive. Twenty boys were in camp under Commissioner R. Nelson, assisted by three other Scouters and two Rovers. On the Saturday a trip was made over the hills to Fitzroy Bay, where a good, if distant, view was obtained of the new site of the Pencarrow lighthouse at Baring Head. Divine service was held on Sunday up among the birches on the ridge above the camp, in ideal surroundings. On Monday the usual trip to Cape Turakerei was made, and the day spent in exploring the beach, and climbing the huge rocks that abound there, in search of "Treasure Trove." On the Tuesday a tramp was held to the Oroiigoroiigo Ridge, where good views were obtained of Wellington Harbour and the coastal suburbs. Wednesday morning was spent in building a huge bonfire, and tho afternoon was taken up with a cricket match against the Petone Sea Scouts, who were camped three miles up the valley. In the evening. New Year's Eve, the boys dressed up in blankets in tlie manner of Red Indians, and at dusk marched over to the fire, which they encircled three times in absolute silence, except for a Maori cry, which was shouted at a given point. The first verse of the National Anthem was then sung, the fire was lit, and as the flames mounted to the sky, the whole party gave the "Dominion haka." All then sat around the fire and a programme of songs, recitations, and jokes was given, followed by supper. Cheers were given for Mr. Burdan, who was present, and the singing of the Doxology brought the "Old Year" to a close, even though a few hours early. New Year's Day was "Visitors' Day," but not many turned up. However, those who did come enjoyed -the outing in what is probably one >of the finest pieces of bush in the Valley. A return cricket match with the Sea Scouts was played on the Friday morning, the afternoon being spent iv badge work. Camp was broken on the Saturday, all having a good trip home, really sorry to leave a place of such, happy memories. Badges were gained in camp by the following: Ist class, M. Pointon and D. Boniface; 2nd .class, M. Cummick; cooks, B. White, .M. Robertson, G. Lockhead, and A. Blyth; athletes, S. Frame and M. Robertson. In gaining his first class M. Pointon also qualified for his King's Scout badge. The weather throughout the camp was really wonderful, and the, rain on the last night was only sufficient to wet the tents very lightly. S. M. Aldrich had the misfortune to sprain his ankle rather badly, on the first day while gathering firewood, and had to return to Petone, but we are pleased to report that he is now doing - very well. R.S.L. Zambra and R. S. Shugg biked to Masterton during the holidays, .and spent n few days in camp there with the Scouts, while Senior R.M. A. Bugg took a trip through the Orongorongo Valley, joining the troop at camp on New Year's Day. Six Scouts camped on Miss Crowther's property, Wainui, for the purpose of gaining the camper's badge, and D.C.M. Bugg lan a Cub camp at the Rover Hut, "HaeI'amai," at the Reservoir for a few days. AH sections of the group have resumed 'n order to prepare for the Chief Scout's visit. Last night Assistant Commissioner Rich, %ith a party of his patrol leaders from the Papanui 'Group, Christchurch, who are touring the Nflrth Island, gave a most interesting lecture on the Jamboree in England, showing a fine set of slides to a large audience of Hutt Valley Scouts assembled for the purpose in the St. Augustine's Hall. The Lyall Bay Group' commenced last night, when G.S.M. Phillips outlined the part the troop would take in the forthcoming rally to the Chief Scout, including the hope that all Sqouts in the troop would be fully clothed in accordance with the regulations as outlined in P.O.R. At a meeting of the Group Committee held last Thursday it was decided to recommend A.S.M. Ashenden as Cubmaster of the Pack, and the transference of A.C.M. Carr's warrant from the St. Jude's Pack to Lyall Bay. Special mention was made at the committee meeting of the splendid time the boys of the troop had in camp under the District Scoutmaster. Scoutmaster C. L. D. Groome, of Pretoria, South Africa, who was in New Zealand when the South African party passed through Wellington on their way home from the Wembley Jamboree, intimates that a small part of South African Scouts left Capetown on 26th December for Sydney and New Zealand, reaching Auckland early in February. They propose to spend a few weeks in New Zealand prior to their return home via Australia. The campcraft party for the display spent the week-end at Silvcrstream collecting the material for the "rally at the Basin Reserve on 28th February. The Seatoun Group were camping in the vicinity, and occasion was taken to pay a visit there and enjoy their camp fire circle after the day's work was done. On Saturday night the Seatoun Troop were invited to the Observatory of Mr. Gifford, and a most enjoyable time was spent with the campcraft party there. The No. 1 Wellington Rovers opened their New Year activities last Saturday with a full muster, some of the Hutt Valley Rovers being welcome visitors. The ceremony of investing a squire was observed with due attention by a sitting of the Rover Court of Honour at the Round Table of the group. A most interesting and instructive talk on Central Africa of thirty years ago illustrating the tragical, the comedy, and the awfulness of the slave trade at that time was given by Padre tho Rev. Harry Johnson. The lecture was listened to with pleasure and profit by all concerned, the padre being requested to continue such talks later on in the year. The various sub-committees of the Joint Rally Committee meet on Wednesday night to prepare final reports to present to the special meeting of tho Joint Committee on Friday night at the Girl Guide Headquarters at 7.30 p.m. The meeting is to finalise the programme, display items, all detail for transport, camps and billets to enable early printing and circulation of same. The Chief Scout and Chief Guide Lord and Lady Baden-Powell arrive at Wellington on Friday, 27th February, at 12.30 p.m., a Mayoral reception being arranged for that evening. On Saturday, 28th, a rally of combined Scouts and Guides will be held on the: Basin Reserve, Sunday being a free/day. On Monday, 2nd March, there will be a Government afternoon reception, the chiefs leaving the same evening for Christchurch by ferry steamer, returning from the South on Friday, 13th March, and leaving for Sydney the same afternoon. The Chief Scout desires that all functions be free and easy, with Scout and Guide work predominating; no formal guards of honour on railway stations, and he will only be • able to undertake one function a day. He also desires that any interviews be collective and not,by individual representatives of the Press or other organisations. In connection with the forthcoming Wolf Cub Palaver will Cubmasters please note that this is to be held at "Wirihana," Lowry Bay, on Saturday, 31st January, ending on Sunday evening, Ist February. The palaver is called at the request of Miss Nancy, Wilson, N.Z. Akela Leader, who will be present with Mr. 'J. R. Middleton,.Deputy Camp Chief, together with the District Cubmasters.. Mr. E. J.. Hill: has kindly consented to attend for the purpose of teaching the Maori song of wel-' come, composed by Mr. Hongi for our Chief's visit to New Zealand. At this; palaver a special programme of cubmaster's stunts is to be drawn up, which will i 5t interfere in any way with the Cub work already -in progress.: It is hoped that all Cubmasters.will make a point of attending, as most important items are to be decided. An early communication to the area secretary, P.O. Box 624, is desired, stating that you will be in attendance on the above dates. ,/ Guatemala, a Republic in Central America, has been accepted as a member o£ tha Boy Scouts International Bureau. This addition to the countries adopting Lord Baden-Powell's movement makes the number of such countries 45, Great Britain, with 46 branches overseas, counting as one. The growth of the Boy Scout movement has been phenomenal. Those attending the experimental camp, under Lord Baden-Powell, on Brownsea Island in August, 1907, only numbered 21. The following, year (1908), the Scout movement was inaugurated and immediately gripped British boyhood. Its critics told

Lord Baden-Powell that his Boy Scout system of character building was far too British to take abroad. Nevertheless, i:i 1910 Chile took. up. .the Scout movement, it being rapidly followed by other countries until to-day, 22 years later, with the addition of Guatemala, it includes 45 countries and totals a membership of 2,----000,000. The director of the Boy Scout International Bureau, which has its headquarters in London, said "Guatemala is the second of the Central American Republics we have welcomed into the Scout movement, the other being the Republic of Panama. The Guatemala Boy Scouts have been fortunate in securing the President of their Republic, General Lazaro Chacon, as the honorary president or their movement. Last year's eoming-of-age Jamboree at Birkenhead, when we welcomed representatives from 42 countries, has given Scouting a great impetus throughout the world. It undoubtedly brought home to the public of all countries something of Scouting's possibilities in the direction of goodwill and brotherhood." Lord and Lady Baden-Powell presented plaques to the new railway engines of the L.M. and S. Railway Company on the morning of 9th December at Euston Station. They were accompanied by a number of headquarters commissioners, who were greeted by a posse of welcome of 12 Scouts and, 12 Girl Guides from the headquarters of the two associations. After the ceremony the Chief Scout and the Chief Guide made an inspection of the two engines in company with Sir Josiah Stamp and Sir Henry Fowler, chairman\ and chief mechanical engineer, respectively of the railway company. A party of Scouts and Rovers from the- 14th Derbyshire (L.M. and S. Railway) Group, were present, several of their number having assisted in the construction of- the en-' gines. It is interesting to recall that Lord Baden-Powell's godfather from whom he derives the second of his names, Robert Stephenson Smyth' Baden-Powell, was Robert Stephenson. Robert Stephenson was the celebrated civil engineer and builder of bridges, the son of George Stephenson who, in 1821, .was Engineer of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, and won fame with the locomotive ip 1829, afterwards constructing the Liverpool and Manchester line, the beginning of the railway era. Lord Castlereagh, speaking at Seaham Harbour, said: "My only regret is that I never Was a Boy Scout. If I had been I could have been a more useful citizen. "We live in difficult tiffies aiid the training received by a Scout is a great asset to him. We are up against economic troubles which require almost as much patience' and bravery to overcome as the troubles we overcame in : the Great War. The future of our Empire is in the hands of the younger generation. You must all dp your best to carry on according to the tenets of the splendid Scout movement, and I have every confidence that you will" ...