THE BOY SCOUTS.

Evening Star, Issue 15137, 19 March 1913, Page 7

THE BOY SCOUTS.

[By Leader.] ~s [ Scoutmpstera... .are. invited. ,ta furnish i -■•-" Leader " with re-ports of their Troop' meetings for insertion in this column. Scouts desiring information are also invited.to correspond with "Leader." All communications should be. addressed: "Leader," Boy Scouts, Y.M.0.A., Dunedin, and should be received not later than Saturday of each week. Intending contributors will -please note.] The following has been received: by a Dunedin officer from the Dominion Chief, ex'plaining the .conditions set down regarding) competition for the otter shield:—First, a troop in New. Zealand consists of 24 Scouts, one sergeant, and one bugler—26 all told, but not more. Thus if a' troop hare at pre•ent 47 members, they must be arranged into two troops-jona of 26, and one. of 21. It is also stipulated that once having registered the boys as belonging to a certain troop, an officer caiinot change them Within the time stipulated in the 'Scout.' This is fair, as it will readily be seen that otherwise officers would be able to draw on their whole troop to get a troop of " otters." Patrols that have paid their levies any.time lost year are financial till the Ist of September, 1913, August 31 being the end of the Scout year. . "Go-ahead. St. John's" writes:—l am . pleased to be able to report re the new troop formed in connection with St. John's Anglican Church We have now to date 19 Scouts, which, seeing this is only our first official meeting, is encouraging!. The vicar addressed the boys, and Mr Dance, spoke a few words of advice and encouragement. Mr P. M. Allen was present* and expressed himself as •being delighted at the conduct of the Scouts. [District Commander Dredge was in charge! Scout lan Haggitt (late, of the Eoslyn troop) proved himself an efficient leader in the signalling class, while Boatswain's Mate Taylor, of the Sea Scouts, acted as instructor in knot-tying. Mr Perry was present, and expressed himself as being anxious to be of use. "We are very glad to have him with us." The Eoslyn and Maori Hill troop of Scouts passed *lw final examination before Captain Beaumont in the magnetic compass work on Friday evening. The lads have been very keen in the competition, and Captain Beaumont,, who is also giving prizes, has expressed himself as being well satisfied at the knowledge shown by the Scouts in this exceedingly useful branch of Scout work. To conform with the New Zealand regulations re size of troops for competing purposes, the Mornington Seoul's have been divided into three troops. The first three FajMl'pt the old No. 1 troop will now be called the Ist Mornington, the other three patrols .the second, while the lately-formed No. 2 will in future be known as the third Nos. 1 and 2 being the right section of the battalion, and No. 3 the left. Nos 1 and 2 troops had a very good muster on Friday night, when good work was put in in ambulance and signalling (both semaphore and Morse), while four recruits are bein°- well grounded in. the tenderfoot work. The third troop also put in good work last Tuesday Two lads were sworn in, and another . elected. The penny savings bank is still flourishing. No camp will be held at Easter "but'outings are being arranged for on the Saturday and Monday, provided the weather is good. On Tuesday the Sea Scouts paraded at the Albany Street Gymnasium to drill for the first time underthe new. system. Mr M'Pherson has announced his intention of giving up the command of the troop, a3 the press of business will not allow him to continue his Work for the movement. The troop k>ve a smart officer, and one who in the past has done a lot of exceedingly valuable work Sea Scoutmaster Cole hopes that the troop wili rally round and keep the flag flying. On Saturday week the boat's crew chopped and sent away 11 bags of record for the troop, and one which will make a substantial increase to the cash returns. In the afternoon, in spite of a twy poor muster, on aci count of the wet, the boat went out, and a food cargo was obtained A very pleasant our was spent under sail, then home to .cjean ship and lock up. The weather was .exceedingly bad, but those who had Huffi-»-Jl6?* pluck ic take tho chances of a wetting had a_good time. It is worthy of not© that in spife of a number of wet days not ono case of cold arising from exposure while at drill has come under notice. The explanation is that the best oare possible is taken to £*>t .the maximum amount of comfort for the iDOys, and plenty of exorcise.