SCOUT NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 17369, 3 June 1920, Page 3

SCOUT NOTES

♦■ . [Bj Kiwi.] ! 11l communication* to be addrts*td to "Kitci" 'Star' Office, before 4-80 p.m. • Mondays. Although Friday evening was so wintry, the Mornington (the D.C.'s Own) Troop had the boat muster recorded for this season, only two did not answer the roll call, one of whom was sick and the other out of town. The discipline of the troop has reached a high standard, and wo are going to reach a much higher standard yet. All ranks are keen, and when thev hear the Scoutmaster's " Well done"' they know that they have received praise for good work. The syllabus items for the .evening were tenderfoot tests for the recruits and games for the remainder, and right royally did they enter into them. One lad took up a very interesting game of "Spot," which kept quite a number of the lads busy all the evening. Tl*? recruits were put through a thorough test for their tenderfoot badge, which thev all succeeded m qualifying for. Their names are Scouts L. M'Coll, J. M'Lean, W YVoodcock, B. Thomson, 0. Kenton, and B. Digby-Smith. The troop, happv and tired, were dismissed at 8.45, but the n.c.o.s remained for a pow-wow around the council fire. The patrols were reorganised, and the following promotions made:—Corporal-bugler H. Allen to be leader bugler; Leader Mirams, of the Wolf Patrol No.. 2 Troop, to be leader Fox Patrol No. 1 Troop; Corporal P. Kerr, of the Wolf Patrol, to be corporal Hound Patrol No. 1 Troop; Corporal J. Balharry and Scout F. Barlow, of the Hounds, to be leader and corporal respectively of the Wolf Patrol; Scout T. Capstick to be corporal of the Ravens; r>nd Scout R. Allen to ba corporal of the Fox Patrol. There are two or three vacancies for good lads about 12 which we hope to fill shortly. Corporal T. Capstick has qualified for his second class, and Leader Loean and Scout R. Patton for the laundrvman's badges. We hope to record three more first-class badge winners next week, when we complete our 10th vear. The First Y.M.C.A. Troop paraded as usual last Tuesday evening. There was a fair muster, but not up to expectations. There is in progress at present a competition for neatness on parade, 20 marks being the possible for each night. This competition will probably end within the next few weeks, so that rivalry for first nlace should be keen. For "some weeks past the troop has been restricted to a small room, the boys' department at present undergoing alterations. All are looking forward to the opening of bhe new rooms, which will allow room for new recruits. The official opening will probably take the form of a short concert, followed by supper, to which the parents and friends of the boys will be invited. On Tuesday the Scoutmaster gave a lecturette on 'Loyalty and the Flag.' during which an amusing incident occurred: Scoutmaster: "Who is the patron saint of Ireland?" Scout: "St. Patrick, !sir!" Scoutmaster: "For what was he noted?" Scout: "Ho swam across the channel with his head nnder his arm, sir!" Which was the signal for much laughter. Following this, "instruction was given in first p' : d, and then a new game was played, which proved a rery enjoyable one. Each lad strips himself of shirt, hat, scarf, boots, and stockings, which are all mixed up in a corner. At a given signal each lad rushes to the heap and procures his belongings. He first Scout dressed properly wins. The St. Kilda Methodist Troop held their weekly meeting on Wednesday evening, the 26th, A.S.M. Gndgeman in charge. The muster was a record one For the troop, 37 being on parade. Good work has been carried on lately, and many of the boys are ready to sit for proficiency badges. A troop of Bull-puns has been started, and many boys' brothers of the Scouts, are readily coming forward. On Saturday last, 'owing to the bad weather, a good afternoon's work was sarried out fn the hall instead of in trie ppen. The senior boys were instructed in the Morse signalling, and the remainder, under Sergeants Gallagher and Marshall, worked hard for proficienev badges. Four new Scouts were enrolled during the month, and one bov's name was. crossed off the roll for non-attend-tnce. The Dunedin West Troop had their reekly meeting in the Sunday school hall .if the Roslyn Baptist Church on Friday. ! The troop had a thorough talk on external and internal bleeding, and of some cases where it might be confusing to dis tinguish whether' the blood was "from an artery or vein. Owing to the coldness of the night, the boys spent the rest of the evening in playing a lew Scout games, which, wajmed them up. The L T oop dismissed at 8.30, after an i istnctive and interesting evening. Tho Scoutmaster would he pleased to see any boys interested in Scout work along" any Fri-iav night, when they could see for themselves whether the Scouts are worth whilo or not.