SCOUT NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 58, 10 March 1937, Page 19

SCOUT NOTES

. (By/'KUcki.") The majority of troops, packs, and crews have begun their. 1937 programme with even more enthusiasm than that displayed in the past years. The long vacation has given Scouts and Scouters alike the opportunity of a rest from Scouting activities, and it is confidently expected that groups will carry on their activities with increased vigour. The usual pow-wow held fortnightly by the Catholic Scouters will this week be held at 74, Manners Street, and not Cuba Street. >pn account of the Metropolitan Rover gathering the function will be mainly for Cubmasters. It is pointed out that although this pow-wow is run by the Catholic Scouters it is open to all, and "Rikki1 assures all Scouters that they will receive a cordial welcome, we would like to see a larger attendance at these meetings. Another thing; Scouters, punctuality is a Scouting virtue. The pow-wow is timed to commence at 8 Scouters are invited to drop into the Metropolitan Office when- in town and discuss any matters with the honorary secretary. Any suggestions for the improvementsjof this column, or any correspondence for insertion therein will be welcome and should be forwarded to the Metropolitan Office. A meeting of Old Wolves of Wellington Central District was held on March 1, and a very enjoyable evening was spent in the St. Mark's Schoolroom. It was arranged that regular District Old Wolves' Meetings should be held at intervals of six weeks, the first to be on Monday, March 22, in St. Marks Schoolroom.. • . Last Thursday evening the Scouters of the Central District gathered for a general meeting. An important change advocated by those present was altering the meeting night from Thursday to Monday, the next meeting to be held on April 5. During the evening games and a camp fire were staged. At the camp fire a debate was held, the topic of which was, "Is Military Drill Desirable in Scout Training." The affirmative was taken by Scouter Mace and the negative by Scouter Fox. Scouter Casey was presented with his warrant as Scoutmaster for the Mount Carmel group. DOMINION CATHOLIC JAMBOREE. On the occasion of the centenary of the Roman Catholic religion in New Zealand, to be celebrated in Auckland early in 1938, itiis intended to hold a Catholic Jamboree. The Scouters in Auckland have the plans well under way for a- highly successful event in Catholic ' Scouting and Scouting generally in New Zealand. The jamboree is intended to be a Dominionwide effort, and support is expected from all Catholic troops from Whangarei to Christchurch. . < Arrangements are well in hand for an Easter camp to be held for Old Wolves of the Wellington South District The camp is to be run along the. lines of "Be Prepared." A hearty invitation is extended to all Scouters to; attend, but-applications must be made, early to the District Camp Scribe. Permission has been granted by the Commissioner to hold the camp at "Ridgeside," Western Hutt Road. The Ist Kelburn Rover crew: held an investiture ceremony in the Kelburn Presbyterian Church last Friday evening. Five Rover squires made their! vows of service, and were sworn into the great brotherhood of Rover Scouts." Rover Uncle Dan, District Commissioner Boyle, conducted the ceremony, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Murray.' Present also at the gathering were Rover Uncle Philip Smither (District Commissioner^ Uncle Priestly, visitors from the Wadestown and First Wellington Rover crews, and the seven previously-invested members of the Ist Kelburn crew. The five to receive congratulations on their knighthood were Rover Scouts Hugh Walls, Les Gandar, Stan Lowe, K. Steel, and Stan Baker. It is hoped they, will derive benefit from their association with the Kelburn crew and that the crew will benefit even more. In Australia Boy Scouts are co-operat-ing with the police in taking precautions for safe air travel by assisting lost aeroplanes or those in difficulties at night to find safe landing grounds. The scheme is being carried out at the request of the National Safety Council and the Police Department. Flares will be available at police stations throughout the country, and Scouts will be required to know all the suitable local landing grounds. Scoutmasters are being asked to get in touch with the local police, who will instruct them in this fine service. When it is learned that an aeroplane is lost or in mfliculties the Scouts will be called' out and will light flares atall suitable landing places to guide the pilot. Could not this scheme be adopted in New Zealand? ROVER SWIMMING SPORTS. The Rovers of Wellington gathered at the Thorndon Baths last Tuesday evening for their yearly aquatic evolutions. The entries were not quite up to expectations. However, the events were keenly contested and a true Scouting spirit pervaded the atmosThe results of the various events were as follows: — 33yds Freestyle. — First heat: Burchall 1, Osboldstonc 2, O'Neill 3. Second heat: Casey 1, Richardson and Hoy (equal) 2. Third heat: Milligan 1 Davidson 2, Jefteries 3. Final: Milligan 1, Burchall 2, Oxley 3. 66yds Breaststroke.— Hoy 1, Read 2, T Plunge.—Baker 1, McGregor 2, Tate '33yds Backstroke— Milligan 1, Oxlcy 2, Tate 3. „ . ...< „ Plate Dive.—Read 1, Campbell 2. 66yds Freestyle.—Burchall 1, McGregor 2, Mace 3. Life-saving. - Ist Wellington 1, Wadestown 2, Ist Wellington 3. . Diving.—Osboldstone 1, Green 2, Richardson 3. -~ The trophy competed for by the various Rover crews was won by Wadestown with 23 pomts. Second place was shared by Ist Wellington and the Raukawa Sea Rovers with 7 points each. THE PATROL SYSTEM. The Chief is always stressing the importance of the fact that Scouting is "Scouting for boys" by boys, and .that the greater part the boys play in it the better. It was the boys, .themselves who started the show originally, and they are quite competent, to run it today if we will only let them. Unfortunately there is occasionally a tendency for Scouters to, neglect their wonderful opportunities for training their ■ Scouts through the patrol system. .The giving of responsibility is th£ keynote of the whole system; experience is one of the best teachers, a much better teacher than any Scouter, and only by doing things for themselves will the patrol leader and his patrol develop their character and ability to the fullest extent. Now it is a lamentable fact that you sometimes find a Scouter who says, "Yes, it sounds all right, but it would not work with my boys-^and 1m not sure' how to go about it anyway. This Scouter's troop learns all its Scouting from him or instructors and the patrol system gets no further than providing convenient teams for games. Often the troop is only a "signalling, ambulance, games" club. Here is how one Wellington troop goes about it. The Scoutmaster holds a fortnightly meeting of the senior patrol (the patrol leaders and seconds), and at that meeting they are.taught any new subjects as required. New games and ideas are tried out ana adopted or rejected for troop use. A court of honour usually concludes each meeting. When troop meeting night comes practically all instructional work is done by the patrol leaders, aided by their seconds. Patrol meetings, apart from troop meetings, are held indoors and out. Each patrol leader.and second has a definite troop responsibility, so that they count—they are really important. WOOD BADGE CAMP. Arrangements have been made for the Cub Wood Badge camp which .is being held by the Manawatu Association at the Awapuni racecourse during Easier. It is especially desirable that all Cub Scouters who have not yet completed their Wood Badge should make every endeavour to be present. Entries should be in the hands. oC the camp secretaryi Palmerston North, by March 12. Scoutors in.the Wellington area who contemplate! going should.

communicate immediately with the metropolitan secretary, who has . full information and a list of the individual gear, necessary.. In the interests of the packs generally, as weir as that of the individual Scouters, any who can should make a point of being amongst those present. Rovers are reminded of the metropolitan gatering tonight. Dr. Hellenthall, the German Consul, is to speak at the Museum Hall on "'"/ The Youth Movement in Germany," with special reference to the youth hostel organisation in Europe. In view of this excellent chance to hear such an able speaker it is expected that all Rovers will make every endeavour to be present. A demonstration of the latest methods of resuscitation will be given by representatives of a local surf club. The Rover Council has arranged for an athletic meeting for all Rovers next weekend. This "gathering of the clans" will probably be held at "Butterfly," where a comprehensive programme is to be put through. Plans for the moot at Easter are progressing favourably and all prospective campers are assured of a happy and profitable time.- Any information -you require on this subject may be obtained from Peter Cummins. CORONATION GOOD TURNS. Boy Scouts from all over'the British Empire will be well represented m London at the Coronation festivities. So far, by rer-Ues from overseas, it is estimated that tjie number will reach 350. The Chlei Sci/Ut has already, been informed that a place along the line of route has • been allocated for a goodly -number. Of oversea. Coronation Scout visitors. , .. The Coronation is an event to which Boy Scouts are eagerly looking forward, because they intend to carry out one of their largest national good turns by selling the official Coronation programmes along the route or the* procession and at festivities taking place all over the British Empire, even to the smallest of villages. This will need much organisation; depots have to be arranged, and Rover Scouts will be acting as storekeepers and dispatch clerks. In some ,places sleeping accommodation for boys coming from places far away from the depots will have to be provided. The. list shows that from oversea ' contingents will be present from Australia, Barbados, British Guiana, Burma, Bermuda, Canada, Ceylon, Cyprus, Gambia, Gibraltar. Gold Coast, Grenada, India, Kenya, Malta, New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Rhodesia.1 Southern. Rhodesia, St. Lucia, and Trinidad.