SCOUT NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 65, 18 March 1931, Page 15

SCOUT NOTES

(By "8.A.M.")

The Boys' Institute Rover crow will camp at Khandallah at Dr. Gray's property for the coming week-end. The troop now meets on Tuesdays with cubs and rover crew on Monday nights. S.M. G. Bell is now in charge of the Scout group, with Cubniaster J. Benfield in charge of the Cub pack. Meetings of the Joint Rally Committee of Guides and Scouts will be held at the Guide Headquarters, Kelvin Chambers, to-night. At 7 p.m., there will be a meeting of the Finance Sub-committee, followed by the Joint Rally Committee at 7.30 p.m. Sympathy is expressed with the relativesof the late Scout Usmar, of the Wadestown group, who was killed in a bicycle accident recently. The deep sympathy of all those in • the Wellington movement is also expressed to the relatives of the late Mr. Bert Dunlop, Scoutmaster of the Frimley Troop, Hawkes Bay. Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell, on the eve of his departure from our shores last Friday afternoon, wrote to the Metropolitan Commissioner, Sir Alfred Robin, and expressed his great pleasure- at the rally of Scouts in Wellington, and stated "In numbers and appearance they were most satisfactory. Here and there it is true there were some under-sized little Scouts more fitted for Cubs than Scouts, and it does harm rather than c;ood to promote theni to soon. Also many troops marked their appearance by not carrying staves. The 'comradeship of the staff has not apparently been fully realised as yet. The Cubs made a brave show and the individual troops did well, and I was glad to see so many King's Scouts, and first-class Scouts among them, as well as a jolly enthusiastic spirit. I also noted with satisfaction that a fair number of Scouters had earned the "Wood Badge." The Rovers in particular struck me as a remarkably fine upstanding lot, and I was much pleased to hear the reports of their earnestness and good services. They will be a big help to the movement in its coming development, if they put their backs into it—as I know they will. May I congratulate you and your staff on the success of the rally, and may I at the same time offer my cordial thanks to the Scouters, Scouts, and Cubs for the fine welcome they gave me, and for coming, as so many of them did, long distances to do so. I loved their cheery march past." Regret is expressed by the Chief Scout that he was not at the meeting of Scouters on the Saturday evening after the rally, although Colonel le Breton had given him a glowing report of their enthusiasm and their evident determination to develop Scouting to a big and far-reaching success. Colonel le Breton stated that the trip to "Wirihaua" on the Sunday afternoon made a big impression on him and wished that he could steal one or two of the huts visited at Petone and Lower Hutt for West Dorset—his homo county. A gathering of all officers in the Wellington District is called for the evening of Saturday, 28th March, at the Lower Mutt Scout Hall. Addresses on the fundamentals of Scouting will be given by the District Commissioner and others, who will be on time limits. A social evening is to follow. The north and central districts have settled down to work after the Chief Scout's visit, and many of the groups are now looking forward to Easter camping time, after which they will settle down to indoor work for the winter months. Commissioner F. W. Vosseler, and Rover-lead-er C. Meachen, honorary secretary of the district, recently visited the St.' Peter's Troop of Scouts, and found all the patrols working hard on their tenderfoot, compass, and first-class tests. The two assistants in charge on the evening are to be congratulated on the general turnout. A visit was also made to the Ist Jewish Troop, Commissioner Vosseler giving a short talk on "Bush Life in and Around Wellington." D.S.M. H. Donkin visited the Terrace Troop of Scouts, when 18 were present under S.M. C. Homer. On the same evening a visit was paid to the Molesworth Street Troop by a party from the Natural Camp Group, and joined with the boys in the campfire. During the same week the St. Michael's Group was visited, the Cub Pack and Scout Troop were visited, a number of new boys, being enrolled. The Karori Group (troop and pack) had a good attendance at their weekly meeting last Friday. All are looking forward to the demonstration to be given to parents on 17th April. Around the campfire Don. Gamble, Scouter H. Wood, and the Rev. \V. Payne entertained the Scouts with yarns. Scouts and Rovers not attached to any particular church are reminded of the address to be given next Sunday evening at the Webb Street Methodist Church, at 7 o'clock. The service will especially appeal to all boys and young men. Mr. Kirkland is from Western Australia. He is most interested in the movement, and is placing the Aro Street Hall at the service of the West End Troop for their weekly meeting. A meeting of the Dominion Executive of the Boy Scouts' Association will be held in Christchurch on Friday next, 20th March, at 7.30 p.m., when important matters in connection with the Chief Scout's visit will come up for consideration. It was unanimously recommended at a recent meeting that ex-Commissioner F. W. Kibblewhite, of Oamaru, be granted the rank of honorary commissioner. There will be no inspection for the Sea Scout Trident this year, and the trophy will remain in the hands of the present holders until recalled. Issue of the association's long-service medal has been approved for the following Scouters:—G.S.M. J. E. Stokes; D.C.M., J. G. Olds; CM., L. R. Berry (Christchurch); S.M., J. Chivers; A.S.M., C. Scarfe; and CM., H. Flatt (Nelson). Fraternal greetings from the Scouts of the Transvaal were conveyed by Scoutmaster Groom and his party. The party had been hospitably received in Dunedin, Christchurch, Timaru, Picton, Wellington (Lower Hutt), Wairarapa, Rotorua, and Auckland. The party was inspected by the Dominion Chief Commissioner, Dr. Fenwick, who expressed his pleasure at meeting them, and hoped they would carry back kindly remembrance of their visit to the Dominion. A sample of the new troop register compiled by Commissioner Montgomery, of Christchurch, has been recommended, and no doubt will be available from Dominion Headquarters in the near future. On Friday last the "Hill" district was very fortunate in having Commissioner for Training Sandford present to give a demonstration of one way of running a troop meeting. A combined meeting of Ngaio and Khandallah Groups was held in the Khandallah Town Hall, the gallery of which was crowded with interested onlookers. The Cubs were included in the parade in honour of the visit of the Commissioner, and gave a lusty grand howl, led by their cubmaster. A haka by the Scouts followed. The Rev. Mr. Cowie and members of the Group Committee present extended a hearty welcome to Mr. Sandford, as well as to Mr. Mallache, son of the first Scoutmaster in New Zealand. D.S.M. Olson thanked the Commissioner for attending, and handed over the meeting to mm. In opening, he gave a very interesting talk on Scouting in the early days. Reference was made to the World Jamboree, where Scouts of all nations met as brothers, and where, at a given signal, after the Grand Rush towards the Chief on the great parade, day, and all were mingled together, a cartwheel was formed ,in three minutes with representatives of each of the nations in position. The Commissioner stressed the necessity of Scouts always being on the alert and demonstrated how quickly a troop can be called into position merely through signs. The Cubs were dismissed early, after repeating their Promise and Law, and there followed a most enjoyable time for the Scouts and others present. Three hearty cheers closed the meeting, and later a Pow Wow of officers was hold at the residence of G.S.M. W. Phillips, who provided supper. Many interesting questions were asked of the Commissioner, and much helpful advice was given. The Commissioner assured the officers that they were working along right lines, and altogether the real Scout spirit was much in evidence in the "Hill" District. Special credit is due to the boys for their smart, happy appearance on parade. A further milestone in the history of the Ist Wellington City Rovers was passed on Saturday afternoon last, when their wharo in the Butterfly was officially opened by the Metropolitan Commissioner, Sir Alfred Robin, in the presence of a representative gathering of approximately '250 persons. The elements were kind and made conditions excellent for the outing. Special buses carried parents and supporters to Mr. Burdan's residence, Rona Bay, and the track to the whare site was traversed by many walkers, old and young. At .''...'50 p.m. all had mustered, and afternoon ton. was provided by tho Rovers _ under bus!) conditions, the gay laughter of happy

people, and tho beautiful surroundings adding a touch that will be long remembered by those who participated m the event. At i p.m. all Rovers, Scouters, and Scouts present formed a huge halfcircle, gave tho Dominion Haka of welcome to the Metropolitan Commissioner, after which a possie of honour was formed on both sides towards the entrance to the hut. Rover-leader Meachen thanked those present for attending, and asked for one minute silence to the late Rover Uncle G. Hooper and Scoutmaster B. Dunlop, who had passed the "Great Divide." The Metropolitan Commissioner gave a general outline of "Roveriug," wishing all many happy and beneficial days in their new but, which lie said was a pleasure to be named "Whare-a-Pavaone," which in Maori means "House of Browne, a tribute to Pioneer-Instructor Browne ot the Group, whose- endeavours had made the drcnin of a whare come true. A key mounted on a circular piece of wood, was presented to Mr. G. Burdan, owner of the property, and Sir Alfred Robin thanked those people who had rendered such assistance to the Scout movement in granting permission to build and work on private property. "I now declare 'Whare-a-Paraone' open," said Sir Alfred, and trust that the Rovers will spend many happy hours under its roof." The Statuette "Three Monkeys," symbolising "See no Evil," "Speak no Evil," "Hear no Evil, was handed over by the Metropolitan Commissioner personally as an excellent token of his thoughts for the future ot Rovering. Among those .present were Miss Robin, Commissioners F. W. Vosseler, H. F. Miller, R. Nelson, V. Johansen, b. W. Sandford, H. V. Foster, H. H. Hitehins D.C.C. Middleton, D.S.M.'s H. Donkin, C. Olsen, D.C.C, C.L.S Green, Scouters P. Drummond, R. Cargill, P. J- : Smither, and Mr. W. Dutton (Corps Superintendent St. John Ambulance), Mr. T E. Corkill, Group Padre the Rev. Harry Jonnson, D.S.M. F. L. M'Kenzie and D.R.S.L. C. Clarke, Mesdames Vosseler, Miller, Foster, and Johansen, and many others. The singing of "Taps" concluded one of the happiest of gatherings yet held by the Rovers in Wellington.