SCOUT NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 34, 9 August 1933, Page 14

SCOUT NOTES

(By "The Scribe.")

Maua writes: —l Lave told you of tho Maori, how lie came to Polynesia from i'ar lands, and of how brave navigators discovered New Zealand, and also of its' first Maori settlement, interwoven with the story of Tara and the settlement of our beautiful harbour. Now I would say something of the Maori when he cam.c to these shores. In his island home ho lived easily, aud could have become lazy it' he desired, but apparently he did not. He va.s not built that way, and here is a rather .wonderful lesson for us. all. In spite of his beautifully easy life—coconuts, bananas, and bread fruit all round to be had without effort—ho preferred to live the harder life of a sea rover, to go out iihd conquer, to settle new lands, oven as Tara did. In New Zealand lie ■ found a life to his liking. He had to buttle with Nature to get his food. Food had to be collected in large quantities and stored for the,winter. Fish, birds, and fern roots were all s6 preserved and stored for winter consumption. In all things, I think it did the Maori good to come to New Zea- ' land. 'His religious views became consolidated.'' His art developed anew. Ilia prowess and nobility as a fighter became more pronounced, .and altogether he be- \ came gveit in the true sense of the word. When the 1933 edition of P.O.K; became available, early in the present year, it was pointed out that the 1931 edition remains', in force until such time as the New Zealand amendments to. the new edition are published. Will all Scouters aud Commissioners please remember this, especially '.with regard to the duties of Scouters and Group -Committees.' It is hoped.th.at the New Zealand amendments will be available in the near future, Scouters, do you run any vicious circles? There is an opportunity for a number to develop in connection with our jobs it we are not. careful. One such is the blowing of loud whistles in order to gain attention. As lads begin to expect a loud whistle they cease being on the alert, and perhaps start being rowdy; so the whistle must be blown louder, and then louder, and' still louder, and then the Scouter buys a bigger whistle or busts! Joking aside, the whistle misused can convert a good troop into a rowdy one. Most of our best troops use only quiet signals and signs, and probably that is why they are our best troops. The "Wellington Central District Scouters' Association will meet on Saturday next at 7.30 p.m. in the H.B. Building, 'AVillia Street. It is hoped that all Scouters and Assistant Scouters will turn up to a pleasant and instructive evening. The Metropolitan Executive will meet at the Scout onice-on Thursday at 7.30 p.m. The monthly'meeting of the Dominion Council,. Executive takes .place at ChcLstthurch on August 18. 'The tenth birthday celebrations of St. Matthew's Group, Masterton, takes place this week. There is a Scouters' tea and conference at the den this evening, a parade of Nos. 1 and 2 Wolf Cub Packs on Friday afternoon, and a combined gathering of all Cubs, Scouts, Rovers, parents, and supporters of the movement that evening. Saturday evening is the Rover evening. On Snnday there will be a corporate Communion of the group at 8, 'o'clock, and at 11 a.m. a combined 'church parade of all sections of the Guide and Scout movements, accompanied by the. Municipal Band. On Thursday of next week there will be a social of Guides, Scouts, Bangers, and Rovers. Any Scouters, Scouts, or old friends of the movement who may happen to-be in or around Masterton on any of the above occasions will receive a hearty welcome at any of the functions, the Rover evening ex'iluderl, The Metropolitan Commissioner hopes to be present at the functions on Friday afternoon and evening. Hullo everybody! It is a long time since we were heard from, but St. Thomas' Group is still alive and kicking. The whole group of Cubs, Scouts, and .Rovers recently met, with parents and supporters, to celebrate the group's 21st birthday. During the evening games and scouting displays were held, and the cake, complete with 21 candles, was cut and, of course,.eaten. The supper was heartily of .by. all, and our thanks are tendered to the committee, by whom it was provided. The. birthday key, made and presented by our. chairman, Mr. Harris, occupies a prominent position in tITe den. The troop is working steadily and during the past two months Ron. Graham and Jack Geale, of the Morepork Patrol, and Archie Johnson, .Fred Brattles, T. Cowan, and Owen Longhurst, of the Kiwi Patrol, have passed their Tenderfoot tests. Good scouting to these lads, who are very keen. Vern. Tolley has been appointed second of the Kiwi Patrol, and lan Harlen holds a. similar position in the Moreporks. The. troop is.looking forward and preparing :for the Christmas camp. The Rovers of.the group, although not meeting regularly, are all occupying warranted or other positions connected with the group, .which shows that they still have the interests of the group and of Scouting at heart. The pack is going strong under CM. Johnson and A.CM. Doyle, with a strength of 21. The following have recently passed their Tenderpad: G. Phillips, R. Payne, G.'Makcm, 11. Jackson, A. Sanders. 1 The twenty-fourth annual meeting of the Ist Kelburn Group will be held in the clubroom on Friday, at 7.45 p.m. The annual report shows that the group now lias a strength of 25 Scouts and 2'J Cubs, with five officers. The trooji roll. dropped to 17 during,the year, but is. again on the increase. An extra patrol is being formed. Xhe Hampton Memorial Cup for all-round patrol efficiency was won by the ''Huias," under P.L. Gandai*, for the period-July 1 to December 17. 1932, and by the "Riiru" Patrol; under P.L. Davidson, for the period' February 10 to June 30, 1933. Tho financial position of the group is good, in spite of heavy expenditure during the year on repairs to the headqurters. The Miramar Group send greetings and beg to state that they are ; still carrying onj ithe good work. Boys of 'the troop are working hard to qualify for their first class. The pack is also doing its bit, and qujte1-' a number of the members will soon be, in possession of their second star. On the whole, the group is in a very satisfactory state. A church parade was held at the Kuox Presbyterian Qhurch, Miramar, Jaut Sunday. Senior Patrol Leader C. Com- j fort was in charge of the Scouts and the I Atffela, assisted by Miss E. M. Churchill, controlled the pack. The ,Key. D. Martin. M.'A,., chaplain'of 'the group, conducted the service. The group is running a picture entertainment at the Capitol Theatre during the whole of August, and parents and residents of the district are requested to purchase their tickets from the boys, and thus help to swell the group funds. Rovers are reminded of the annual Rover and Ranger social, to be held on Saturday evening in the old Commercial Travellers' Club, Victoria Street,. Wellington. A welcome is extended to all interested Scouters: and Commissioners. Those intending to be present are asked to attend in uniform if possible. Ambulance Game.—Take a ' from each patrol, aud seat him on the floor along one wall of the room, giving' each a paper indicating the nature of the injury he is to be treated for. Line up the patrol opposite each boy. At a given signal, the patrols run down, the P.L. receiving from, the patient the paper detailing his injury. The patrol treats the patient. When treatment is complete, the' patient is carried back to starting point on a stretcher iinproviscd by members ■of!the. patrol while the patient is being treated. Points to consider are careful handling of the patient, smartness, and team work. Allow 5 points for each. The Robin Hood Pack (Anglican Boys' Home). reports, that they have formed a Soccer team, for the purpose of challenging other packs to a game on the home fields. The pack is divided into two sides and after- a few test games, the Robin Hood Soccer team wag formed. So.far the team 'have played Sea Cubs, Waiwhetu, Lower Hutt, Raukawa Pack, and the Britannia Pack.

For a number of years there has been a hot pool near the Spa Hotel, Taupo, known as the Petroleum Pool on account of the oily scum which has always covered the surface of the water. After recent earthquake tremors, reports the correspondent of the "New Zealand Herald." it was # discoverccl that a blow-out had occurred at this pool'and that it had become much more active, with occasional shots of approximately forty feet in height.