SCOUT NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 10, 13 January 1932, Page 3

SCOUT NOTES

Thought for this week: Life is not dated by years. Events arc sometimes the best calendars.

Exceptionally fine;weather. ■was. experienced during the St. Paul's camp. Rain! fell on two nights -diily, but "the insic]o of the tents was perfectly dry. The risk during vet weather is that boys will rim in and out o£ the tents and so damp the bedding. The health o£ the; boys was good. One.boy. only had a day off-colour but twenty-four hours in the camp stretcher saw him quite well again. The only accident was a minor one, a Scout cutting his hand rather badly on. barb wire; the wound, had healed by ..the end of the camp. In a Scout troop the patrol is the family unit, and every attempt must be made to foster the esprit de corps of the patrol. -The boy., is an individualist, and has to learn the art of co-operation. With this end in view, no individual events wove run off at the camp sports. The whole patrol competed for an athletic shield. For example, in the 100 yards race, patrols ran separately and the time of the slowest boy was taken in each case, the patrol with the fastest and. slowest boy -winning the event. In the field events, erg.; long jump, the total distance jumped by the whole patrol was divided by the number of boys in the patrol, and an average was thus secured. This system has the merit of attracting the mediocre athlete. The Athletic Shield was won by the Kiwis. ■ A great number of parents visited the camp.on the second Sunday. Much of the success of the camp was due to the loyal co-operation of the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, and Quartermaster. All worked well in the greatest harmony. — Our report would not be complete without mention of the unbounded generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Howell. ?^ot content with granting the site, Mr. Howell also gave us between three and four gallons of milk a day. Altogether the camp was most successful.

The Ngaio Troop"Held a successful camp on Mr. Archibald's farm from Boxing Day to 2nd January. Eleven boys -went into camp, and except for minor cuts and scratches everything went well. A feature of the camp-was! a hike to Makara on the 31st. When -we visited our brothers of the Terrace Troop, and while at the beach, a service was performed to a fisherman who had the misfortune to get a three-inch hook into his .hand. We .take off our hats to the gentleman concerned for the plucky manner in which he stood up to the rather painful operation. Everyone got back to camp very hungry and too tired to see the old year out. "As it was the first camp for most of the Scouts; the Scouters were quite pleased at the cooking and camp gadgets put on by the boys. The Khandallah Group held a very successful break-up during • December, which was well attended by both parents and fviands. Stunts by the Cubs, Scouts, and1 Rovers was the' order of the evening, which closed with a presentation of prizes and badges, etc., followed by an x excellent supper: put on by our energetic friends, the ladies of the committee. The following ire the prizes gained by the Scouts on.the year's work: Patrol competition, cup, won by the Keas; • book for patrol - leader, of: winning patrol, P.L. Walker;. cup for runners-upj ■ Kiwis; Mr. Mansfield's badge,' Troop-Leader; Green; Scoutmaster's medal, P/2nd Burton. Troop Leader Green was presented with his gold all-round cord, and Patrol Leader Poole with the King's Scout Badge' and green and yellow_ all-round cord. The Lyali Bay Troop "'Committee gave the Scouts a break-up evening prior to the holidays, and twelve lads, of poorer circumstances were entertained. This' showed great thought on the part of the committee in carrying -out, one of the most important' Scout Laws'; "A Scout is a friend to all/ Mr. Collier (chairman), presented the inter-patrol cup to the Kiwis Patrol (Patrol Leader Watson). Mr. Collier is also presenting six miniature cups for this year's competition. Seven Scouts went into camp at Paremata with District Scoutmaster E. Heath and -from reports had a happy time. The. troop will commence its meetings- sson '2nd" February, when a good muster is expected. •Mr.. H. E. Brown presided at the I monthly executive meeting of the Hutt Valley and Bays District, which was attended by the District' Commissioner, Mr. R. .Nelson, the .'district officers, ivud Messrs. L.' Haytqn ' arid F. King. Mr. Brown, who?had'l>oen' deputed tcr visit air Scout, camps held in jfche valley over the Clft^istma^olidays';- submitted"a~ very mterestmg. report'touchitig on many'important1 details. :A very interesting account was also given:. of ■'.&. orisif- fo"the Jamboree. Camp hefiTat Fending; at" which Mr. Brown was^givenla very hearty welcome and his services enlisted in organ-" isimj a compass game. '.'A;special'feature of,- this caitip was -the 're-examination of first-class,V\~ se cond:-class>:V. and,", tenderfoot hcouts, and:;t n 6s ( j- w .£ o^I| (. er g U , i g|,j e -.^ 0 jj asa the_ required' .'were-drafted into their various '"u)ader chosen officers for- special' instruction an( i help, and after a further test all badges were reawarded •at i» cami)' fiire "ceremony;,; "The question of .holding a Hutt Valley and Bays District Scout ' rally was further discussed, and it was agreed to call a special meeting for Monday next' at the Ist Lower Hutt Scout Den; all Scouters- to be invited torattendr The secretary reported that application had been duly made to the Lower Hutt.Borough Council fur, the use of the Hutfc Recreation ■: Grounds f6r the holding of the rally on the second Saturday in March. ;

Hints to patrol leaders. Let me just tell you one or two things' that a patrol cait do: (1) Good turns. This -is; a most important of all Scout practices,.because it trains the patrol in the Scout Law, it helps other people, and-by-creating a good impression in the; neighbour assures to the_ troop a constant'stream of new recruits. ■ Here are a few, good turns. Helping old people . by getting in ' coal or cleaning windows or chopping firewood (it isn't a bad'ddea for-a patrol, td_ collect pieces of wood and go round to these poor old people and make them -a. present of some); by collecting'waste paper In" the park and. putting it in the wire basket (a long nail tied to the end of a Scout pole could be used for stabbing the bits of paper), by tidying iip the Church yard, etc. Another- thing that.patrols can do" is (2) Nature study. I don't just, mean collecting forty specimens of-plants and mounting them neatly on white , ; cards with the name written?' clearly ■'■ underneath; that is very good for a beginning, but it must not end there. ." What I mean by Mature, study ia watching plants grow, finding out whey-they grow in certain plaeea, 'learning how they p'rdduce their seeds. ' Or to turn to' trees, how to distinguish different kinds of wood, and to know the different uses to which the various kinds can be- put,-e.g., oak is good for ship-building because it is dur-i able and resists water, elm is used for axle blocks because it does not' easily split. ':'. Don't you' see. that "a" wonderful lot of interesting work you have here? Or, again, tracking- wild ..creatures and learning their habits is a niost important branch of nature, study." Have you ever tried to rhake."plaster.casts of animal and bird tracks?- It is quite easy to make a fine collection of .these, and. it is' much more interesting than going in for .foreign stamps or cigarette cards. ■ -This is the way to make casts; Get your "billy" or mug and.pat a little water in, then add fine plaster of Paris to make & smooth paste, stir, and keep'knocking on the ground to get rid of air bubbles. When it ia well mixed, pour into the crevices of the track, and wait for it to dry. Plaster of Paris dries very quickly if it is mixed properly. The first time or so you may make a mesa of it, but you will soon get into it. Or, again, what: about the chaps in your patrol, who have a camera? ' I:.sliould like to say heaps more about nature study, but I must leave it now.and;get on to something.else. (3) For other kinds of work 'which1, a patrol can do out of doors see the list of badges in "Scouting. lor Boys.", Don't aim at simply getting the badge in the easiest way, but try to encourage the-members of your patrol to do their work" thoroughly. Have you -.ever tried: iiigli'f. Scouting? The Starinan's and" the Signaller 3 (with Lucas lamp) would be of help here. Nest week I shall let you know something about hikes, etc. ■

A Reminder—The Rovers- hope that a large uumber of Scoiiters and Scouts, friends and supporters will-join them at Divine Service."jiext • Sunday evening at the Cambridge Terrace Congregational Church. The - invitation ia open to all. The service commences.at 7 p.m., 0r.6.40 p.m. at St. John Ambulance rooms, Courtenay place, for the short march to the* church. Padre the Rev. Harry-Johnson will conduct the service, and we sincerely trust as many as possible will attend. The first meeting Saturday evening (16th instant), at 7.30 p.m... .". Scout Headquarters are anxious to quit their stocks of literature and equipment

at an early datfl. The co-operation of "all'ranks-is earnestly;-.dßSired-ii:this:direc-tion please.

Scouts desirou J of "coiTimuiiicaQng with Scouts overseas, China, England, Australia, Fiji, Germany, Holland, may obtain addresses from Metropolitan Headquarters, 95, Courtenay place. This is wonderful education exchanging views of-our overseas brothers, arid "the secretary "welcomes applications; for1; addresses.

Pride- in Scqutihgl^-Tlielwhble; question is really one of prida in Scouting. Nowadays, when hikers and other holiday jpeople are everywhere, and many of them wearing clothing similaivto' bur, dress, it is vitally necessary that full Scouting standards should be maintained by all -ranks, and it ..is'lmportaut that- Scouts sliould be recognised aa sucli".-" -We who are-proud to be Scouts should 'never, therefore, leave any room for doubt that we are what we appear to be. The Scout hat and scarf are distinctive; the shorts, and shirt are not always so at present. We should mako it a point of honour, therefore, when we go outside of our homes and camp boundaries, to wear full Scout' dress, including these two essentials^ for in,doing so we shall be safeguarding .the good name of the Movement. -

Notes sliould-be-forwarded to "Scouter " 95, Coiirtenay' place, first mail Monday morning. ' " ;--.-..