SCOUT NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 49, 26 August 1931, Page 16

SCOUT NOTES

. ,„.,-..._. (By "Scouter,") ,/,Tli6ught.;ior. this, week: N.ev.er argue *ith.a,;man who talks aloud—you couldn't convince him in a tliousand years.

'.;Tie: second of a 'series' of" study circles for; Cub masters will be held at the Cambridge Terrace Congregational Hall tomorrow, evening, commencing at 7.30 p.m., arid., it is : (ariti.cinated that- the attendance will be.eyeA. greater than the first courte. ■;;' In lastIweek's notes for the field sketching va-rid'-" mapping "'competitions " one paragFaph/read "not exceeding,.3oo yards on 1,000 j»ards : roaa sketch;- it should be not exoeeding"2oo.yards." ', ,',.'" /

■';-. During '.'the!, present '.term , holidays ;t .Aiinjber";of. "groups are. planning outings siich" as,visits fo!the! Milk' Pepa'rtmerit, Parliament ■ Biiildirigs, Ford "Motors; and fell's- ( -;'mat.c)j;; faptpry.'. Scbutqrs': may, if they so desive,' make arrangements with the"'Metropolitan Secretary lor their own ,grpups;ztp/.-fake advantage of these outings..v_ ,'"..-■'; •■•■■■■'-; ?-■■■ ■•-"; .-■;.-: .' ■

1 '■'. /Points, for Patrol- Leaders, • "Gingering ■"up- the!-tenderfoot test." ' At.! a patrol- ' leaders' -training camp held' the other ■ week-end the. eanip'chief was showing the PiL.'s how rto-construct a -bridge, when he i tlirew-.a -rope to one of the'-fellows—a .■First-class-:Scout, by" the way, -standing - near-,;, and ,'Said:; "You mights put a clove ;hifeh; round, tliat: tree, v will you?" The ■ P.L'.. slowly picked, up the ropp, -and smil-' iog. vaguely, remarked, "Oh, er,. a clove hitch;" -./''That's: rightj. a. clove hitch," recplied. the .camp- chief, as he commenced to'fasten .al-lasning-:Tqund[one of.the Scout ■!staves;.used.- Ip the building 'of the bridge. .A'Hum-eiy-.'ah, .let me ."see ,'iiow;. urn, er,' a , clbve!hitch," And' so .the! fellow hummed and' hajd.- The:eanrp: chief looked up in' i-surprise- "Don't you'know how to tie a cloye.l»itcM' : ''liejdemaded;! The P.L. look-' :!ed!.pained. !."Well-er-not. exactly," he- replied.V.."You I; learned: that four years agp;'.an'd;l'.ve!foTgotteh;all about it." And Vth^re 'I miist; draw :a veil over the little "■iamfehM You'-are - surpris'ea ? Well, you ' might vVen-pe.; T! was.! But' in- talking ;.pye.r.;.the-'I,'mafter.^with the camp chief, "after wards'He told ,-me there were many JS'c<}UtsiwKo -took the'same'view of things; ■ once:the:-te|t has been -passed 'it's time to .forget- ilKaboiit Mt, -And! because the 'efficiericy;'Bf!'our fellows depends so much -upon='the':;leaders-" I '■■ would v like you all 'to;'cotisider.v; the-' /question; -.Once, your :chaps'nave'.l«iarnt.the inots-fqr the tender;foot'test, driany other test for!that matter, -see'i-that-' they dpn|t forget: them. Spring ftlie.kfipts. on-:;them occasionally: at patrol • iiieet£ngs;c.;. In. i-camp,-"' whenever possible, :giye:thera jobs thatwill entail, the use,of knqt-sii -Don'.t:make a;hardship;of it; dish ifc;-iip.jn form of 'games and stunts. There .atei'wa'ny :.fine, knotting games" that ■' pro..Vide. heaps.of.fun, and.at.the same time : :ljeep:':_us in-with our..knots..!.Th'ere's the '.knotting ; relay, in...whicli th 6 patrol can he djviued., |jlto ; tivp.:!secti6ns,\'ov.;y6u can ■ciialltshge- anpther.'. p'atfbK.:• The.. idea, is for , eaoh! ScQut'j.on!. either - side. to; tie a -•bowlineVand"s'h'eep:,shan!i,.br any other knot, /rou'hd'a, ch"alr.leg or-a;"stake twenty yards ,'a>yay; Aiio.thie'r.gooTl.ganie-is tlie-linottipg Wrcle.>'-'The;-.'patrol 'forms a!' -circle facing iiiw.ardp,V.oa<;h :.Scout with ;his.: hands be: tijnd hi? back. ; One-fellow: ruiis found the Outside?of 'the' circle and drops the ro, ; into tliep,hands'of.'one;-of-.the"Scouts and c;alU..o"nt': 'the■ name! of a'knot, ■■ ."Bo^yline,'.> Tie' /j'eilsj andv'the- Scojifc!'has :to . tie the knpt?before the>'outside;?mani::can! run 'iohiftFjsKe' circle, three times—the number "depfehUitig-on the; .:efficiency■ of: the, Scouts. But .I'hope -it r{wori't go beyond: ten. -How many'-.'knots-- other. ; than-., the ; tender--foot rare', there?.. Well, .Komeone. I know can'- make, three hundred different kinds'; so' '{.here's/ plenty!,to be getting on with. And-even :afterthp>e.;haS-e.been exhausted tliertf .iis splieingi,. another and .li^efiiJ-a^ctiviiyj'v.A'wAiting^ ybijU': .So I ask ycni.:j*:fi|r.-!jiStiKn6t?!!!. - . !.'!"..•'. • |.Tl>e«Kilbirnie: Gr;bup ; -; ".now .lumbers twenty ■ Scout's,-.ari'd :afe. entering! teams for tl|e '.competitions ■ in'/ .!n"rst:aid- and signalling.'. The. rh'eetinga.are 'every Wednesday eVenihg in .the dressing shed on the Kilbifnie'i'ark. Scouter Comber is in charge, •^•jth~fc,ijeffery.s ..'as-,his assistant. . '^X'hint'iiJor^th'e.^bok-wprni. !r'Mo_st felld}vsjhaVjS>! bookshelf or t-iyo of: their, own •wh'ezc ,ih;4y keep !tHeir "S'coTiit Library" and oilier ' particular treasures. Just a word atputthat shelf. .'Always place the larger .bodies of your collection at,each end of the shelf.nnd.the smaller ones in the middle. Lies.?, strain is then put on the shelf, ■wMfth would sag' anil perhaps collapse in tnp.'c^n't^e'if'bici-b.oblvs'ar.eiplaced there. .A! pSrty of thirty Scouts from" the NaMpniil "ScbufsXCollege ■ gi-oups-.visited the Milk" peiiaTtroeht- yesterday; through .the courtesy of Sir.' Steel, and watched the procedure of our milk supply—bottle: filling.-labelling, cleaning, etc. They also visited! .the stables and, garage. At. 1 p:mi tliei* >vere met!on the steps of Parliament Buildings by. >lr. Robert M^Keen, MCP-'.-'^io /took. ;the ..party-through the House'/.' pf^V.Rep'res.entSitjyesr^' Legislative GSjincii, Native ', ! Affairs,;. room, Library, arid-!tlve Speaker's Gallery for thirty minutes.! A trip to the Ford 'assembling department completed a happy and en joyable.; day, which will be long remembered by! those participated.' Very sincere thanks ;!are due'.td: Mr. Robert M'Keen, the;; Milk ;.authorities,. arid' ■Messrs.v Fpr'di.'Sales for ■ their., kindness. X -T>rize:'itd; the -.Scout .between ten years 6f age .and/thirteen; and.prize for those over thirteen !is-offered to the Scout writing/the b^est/essay- upon .the visits. The competition ■is open: to . those Scouts •who send 3n!; their/ essays to" the .metropolitan sect'et'ary'- not ;later:.;thari. Saturday, sth September'.!::;w;* '■■■ ;.'■'•«•? :•.-.•■■■«-■' •.-■: ■-.•-. . P'P.lay'^ffie ' Game.";;- ':How does that SpVina'-for."a'^in.btto?-/-.-Most -patrols npw. ha've!:a'iriotto: vbf"'their own, so if yours has not yet "got its own! riiaSim, now is th.e.:time'-tp: :: bring it into lirie. ' It'is no g'ppd. choosing;- a mPttb and- not living up to,'i^.'!-'lf ,!y6iir patrol ;cliboses "Play the Gape," Livhiqh,':' of. course, they; do,; you gjipuld ,iee^tH"ajt!:'n'O-':unss.ortsman'ship is allowed! unnoticed; :Tlien, wliat;about an o^utdporAhobby.?" ;T,bo nianyl.'Scouts have hobbiesi'Jonly,!for .the;winter montKs. There M.c'! the . : varidui , camping.: activities,•: of cpurs'e.rbul/wnat abbut;!the; nature study, tricking, bridge-buildirigj-.' arid \ : pidneer. ■work^-sketching arid photography. _' Although yyou choose a hobby-.mainly for the..amount. of pleasure' you derive from! ijk;?it|fiß muc.h better if- you can iiombine instruction with pleasure. : Sketching and photography! :!are: both examples o£ hob,bj'es -whi(jh,;':besides being a-/source, of pleasure and might also prove a source of income. And: besides being a./useful ? activity...foy -the;. ontdoprs, many of-these" summer>hobbies: will provide us.e--fu'l-material 'for!-your! next .display or.' parents^Venirig." "..v^. ''" :: .. • !'.Coj)ie.s'-.-:of''the important 'sections in "Signalling.^for Seoutß,''-! Which/ fs.,to ,'befollowed'.'out, in the ludgirig-for. the coni-petitrans>J:3re.'-.now" procurable "at Scout heidfluart^rt, 6d per copy. All .teams practising "-:for" signalling events.' will "be! well a.SvisedVtp;:;o)jtai.u-;a!copy early .to -avoid' digaippointm^nt..'../!.'!:,...! .' ' / / 3pminipii;!lie;adqu.a'rtei-s advise that they are unabie/to' .supply/Rover 13111,1011-11016 badges',-cloth'teriderfoot,". Cub,, proficiency st^rs-a.nd! secoiicls";hafc!.-"scrolls-" for some days,''a.B - they ,_have not come to ' baud ftonivEng!and:" Jiet : ~-; ',The. new .Wolf Cub. badges;'.Toymaker, etc.iare held, in 'small qiia,iitities;:onljv and prdei;s should be sent, mr early:; until ■ larger stocks are availaWew/Vv r':-;:::- ; :]' '■■■."" ;- .fDear,Wolf: Cubs:-; I.'have-just -had a letter, from.,a Cub"\vho is rather down--hsaft'ed; because' he ■say?:- "No. matter lioav hartj-'I ■ try'-J don't.;'seem to be', able to ■wtn1 miy : --Firsfc" Star. ;■ i: can't: pass the-left'liand'-ball-thrdwirig test.I.; Perhaps ■this".'Cub' hadn't yet/learned .that "prac"tice'i makes vperfectf" and: if he-is trying ■h»r3-iiOTi% '•and .'keeps' trying hard, in the end -he's bpiindr to be able'to throw and catclv a'-ball every time.- Many Cuba find this! part of- the First -Star test rather difficult, so'perhaps they.will find these few^fbjhts"''4isefulv- If a. Cub'can't throw aft!' Ordinary, soft, rubber ball, the ten yards'./with his left hand, he should practice; with a.small, hard,, heavy ball; he'll find it "rniich ..easier. He should throw atXuii'derha(iid a-nther than shy it, r and be sure!' that- there-is a .l-eally good .catcher .at/the-other . end../ The Cub should al■n'Hy^!k(3ep.!.,liis Jiaiicls close together, and get well -under'tlie ball, instead of stretch-

ing out his arms and spreading all his fingers wide. If he does these things no Cub should be stumped by the ball-throw-ing and catching part of the First Star test. . . ■

Dr. Harding presided at the Petone Sea' Scouts' fourth birthday party, which was held ou'lsth'August, in the Presbyterian Hall, Petone... A guard of honour was formed to receive-the Metropolitan Sea Scouts. Commissioner, Commander Young, who was • accompanied .by Mrs. Yoima. The Scoutmaster, Captain Burton, in extending a welcome to the -Commissioner, friends,, and parents,-gave an interesting report "on the troop's!activities since its inception. The Commissioner expressed great' pleasure/with/the- excellent- progress made;! and ,' congratulated- the- troop; on having, a band, which was a:'great asset. The 'party opened with a' realistic tableau showing the "Irresistible" at'full! speed entering Port Nicholson after'dark. The setting was 'carried out in'; every- detail, the hills with their/, twinkling! lights, Point Jernirigham,: oivifch• • -the ■ beacon, Soiries' Island■' in the distance"/ : and . last but not least/the troop's! birthday cake, in :the-/fbrm 6f--"Pencarrow Lighthouse, with' its' red.': and: white -light" gleaming on a choppy sea. Vocal .and' instrumental items were rendered by the troop, a special! feature! b'eingVahx item- by-.■ the- Cubs, under! Mr.' Harrison,■ entitled:M'Namara's Baudv :^A'n importarit- part of- the programme ■ was ;the presentation of a troop flag, ■"■which-was • handed over ;by Dr. Harding on behalf--,of ■ the Rotary Glub. ."Irresistible Troop" was beautifully embroidered by ■ Mrs:- Mills, the staff being donated-by .Mr. Mills.: .The -ceremony of cutting- the cake/was -performed :by Mrs. YouiigVand the.youngest Ciib. The Scoutmaster and 'Cubmaster received their warian.ts/" uriderr,lpiEe'!!cerem"ony, -conducted"by the.-Commissiorier,; !•■ ■■' "!- "■■'-'■ : There are'-'stvll :a; :-nu'mbef! of -groups whom T have not heard!, "ironi for many ong weeks: A.re-you still meeting weekiy.i Has Tommy received-his tenderfoot badge .yet?-. /Are-: you entering ; for the competitions? .There.are.a/hundi-ed-.-other matters I am longing to, hear about. Drop: a-line..tp.."S.couter:? 'for,';first mail Mon-' day mornings,"." care' .Heaaqffirtefs, ~'so, CGurWnay :c place,;and-lell him all abo.ut =ypur,Jast meeting/"i.iA few .minutes' -wi-it-ing- jn: pencil will' d<r- the'trick : " .' :