SCOUT NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 18031, 27 July 1922, Page 3

SCOUT NOTES

•Bj KiOT-i All communications to be. addressed to " Kiwi,” 1 Star' Office, before i-SO p.w». Mondays. A Scout going on pafade'without his stave is like a soldier without his rifle—ho is not properly equipped. Yet there are some.(Scouts who think it an awful bor,e to carry a stave; in fact, they cannot be bothered with it at all. What is the consequence ? Tho Scout thus disregardful is" liable to become careless and untidy, besides which he is not loyal to his patrol, bis troop, or, indeed, to the \vholo movement. Further, ho is not living up to his Scout’s motto, “ Be Prepared.” for -he never knows when he may nave 'tl make use of it. A true Scout going, to parade holds himself erect, grasps his stave In the centre, and carries it' at the trail—i.e., parallel with the ground. This is the correct and only way to carry a stave through the streets of a city. * Staves carried otherwise are liable'to cause accidents. Tho uses of the stave are many. Just to enumerate a few : .Self-defence (even in this lawabiding city I have iheard’ fc of several cases amongst suburban troops where Scouts have-had to use their staves, with success, against the molestations of roughs), physical exercises, stretcher work,_ leg. splints, tripods, ladders, rests, bridgebuilding, hut-building, signalling sticks, etc. The patrol leader must carry hh stave with his patrol flag attached. Thus is his badge of rank, and when called up by bis scoutmaster he should not appear without it. The troop leader (should there be one) must have the troop colors attached to his stave. All patrol flags arc triangular in shape (about 9in wide at' the base), and are made of a stiff glace calico." The Mosglel .Scout Troop met as usual on Saturday night, and got to work immediately. It being a cold night, the troop indulged in physical exercises for the commencement. Leader Brown put tho troop through a course of signalling, and it had a visit from -Mr Dallas, who will be one of the Citizens’ Committee. He took an active part in the night’s work, and also in the games. The new bugler, M'Dougall, is to be congratulated; be has work-eel hard with Mr Tainch, and soon it is hoped to hear tlhe iS’oout’is Call sounding double volume. The parade of the First Morningten Troops on Friday last was an excellent one, a member of the Tiger Patrol being the only one absent (and he on half-marks leave). Tho uniform and discipline competition now finds the Tigers and Kiwisequal for first plao:, each holding 228 points. The' office of troop leader has now been abolished in tho troop. Troop Leader Logan becomes' tho senior leader, and has charge of the Lion Patrol. He will cany out the duties of a- troop leader as well ,yis those of patrol leader. The Kiwi Patrol had an intercsting hour under the ambulance instructor. .So interested were they'that they thought only fifteen minutes' had been allowed them. In future the whole ■ troop will have a certain length of timq each parade night to receive instruction in this particularly useful and interesting item of Semite raft. The remainder of the troop were engaged upon various items of Scout craft from tenderfoot to first class work and pioneering. The signalling examiner was present by appointment, and two members were pnt through a stiff test for the signa-ller’fi badge. Patrol Second H. King was fortunate enough to secure a good pass; tho other is not quite up to standard, but a week or two of diligent practice should see him .winner of the badge. Patrol cards showing each member’s advancement in the Crbop have now been placed in the hall, the card of the patrol holding the highest number of badges being placed on top. These cards have aroused quite a lot of enthusiasm among the leaders. Scouts arc now being urged to pass their tenderfoot, second class, and other badges, so that their patrol may be in the top position. Scout Lepine, of the Stag Patrol, succeeded in passing his tenderfoot test, thus gaming an extra point for his patrol. The following badges have been qualified for during the past week : —Lion Patrol,,Leader T. Logan (Buglers), 1 point; Tiger Patrol, Patrol Second H. King (Cyclist and .Signallers), 2 points; Stag Patrol. Patrol Second P. Neville (Thriftyman’s), Scout Lepine (Tenderfoot), 2 points;, Kiwi Patrol, Leader E. Whikel and Second J. Young (Thrifty-' man's), 2 points. Thf recruits spent part of the evening with the ambulance instructor. The troop was pleased td welcome a new recruit. The special ambulance elass held its first meeting last Thursday, and will continue for another four weeks. This-class is held from 6.30 till 7.30, and is open to all ranks. Last week’s work comprised the bandaging of certain fractures. The Court of Honor held a meeting after parade, but in future the court will consist of the officers and leaders only. On Saturday evening after tho Wolf Cubs had been dismissed at 7.30, an hour’s practice was put in by those Scouts taking part in a play. , Tho library is being enlarged by the addition of , twelve new books. ■ The Thriftyman’a Club is doing splendid business, the banking this week being the highest on record. The Wolf Cubs had a good muster oh Saturday evening from 6.30 till 7.30. Instruction was given on the triangular bandage, and listened to with intelligent interest. Signalling work occupied the last half-hour. The parades of tho Ocean Bcaoh Troon for the past two weeks have been excellent. ’ Good work has been accomplished, including physical exorcises, hakas, signalling, lecturette on camp sanitation, games, and " a community sing.” Two new members have been initiated, the scoutmaster conducting' tho swearing-in ceremony. The Rev. Scott Allan has accepted . the chaplaincy of file troop. Tho following changes in the n.c.o.s -have been announced:—Scout O’Kane to be tlhe patrol leader of the Bulldogs; Leader Watt to bo attached to the Lone Patrol. The patrol competitions resulted as follow : —Stags 1, Kiwis 2, Bulldogs 3. The First Ocean Beach. Pack of Wolf Cubs meet at 6.30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Scoutmaster Dormer being packmaster. Good work is being done, and the little chaps are being initiated into tiro mysteries of cub laws, knots, salutes, grand howl, games, and drill. The lads ■are keen, and have entered into the work with enthusiasm. •The First Roslyn Juniors had no absentees -again last week. Scoutmaster Garden spent the first few minutes explaining the Scout Law, the recitation of which is regularly included in tiro weekly programme. Semaphore drill covering the first circle of the alphabet also received attention. The major portion of the time at the junior parades is set apart for indoor games, into which the boys enter with a zest and keen enjoyment worthy of an Olympic athlete.. On this occasion two now games were introduced. Dismissal was called at 8 p.m., when a- number of the seniors under Instructor Hay assembled for an hour’s first aid instruction. In future ail seniors without special permission from the scoutmaster must not attend junior parades. It is only fair that tho younger members should have full benefit of the hour allotted for their special training. The senior parade, under Scoutmasters Garden and Smith, commenced at 7 p.m. on Friday. Messrs Hay, Chadwick, and Baton were also in. attendance. Once again there was insufficient time to' complete -the full evening’s programme ; nevertheless, goed use was made of the available instructors, dismiss being sounded at 9.15 p.m. Instructor Hay taught general first aid to one patrol, while the remaining/ squads alternated instruction under Foreman Piper at the Roslyn Fire Station, Mr Piper states that lately when fires have occurred locally members of the troop have reported to the brigade for orders. So far they have not been required,-but the pom-' tion may arise at any moment when a Scout may find himself called upon to assume the role of “auxiliary fireman,” thereby acting up to his motto “(Be Prepared,*’ and also rendering service te the whole community. The model bridge which gained a place in the Y.M.C.A. exhibition last month has been reconstructed by the Tui Patrol at the dub , room, and is on view to ail who may oare to see this example of pioneering handiwork. Semaphore signalling was ' also , JEta: *

work in connection with this'troop will be mainly of a routine nature, bqt proteste from tho ranks are not expected, everything being- arranged to eliminate monotony as much as possible. Additional games and a varied syllabus .willfollow as a reward for honest work, the, officers having promised n good time m the open air this summer. The patrol competition continues in keen style, with the Tuis (Leader H. Glen.) well in the lead. To give tho other patrols a sporting chance the scoutmaster adopted a now method of marking, but the Tuis at once accepted the challenge, and refused to be beaten. This patrol undoubtedly owes much of its success through “sticking together ” in work and play—a. good tip for the others. Results in connection with the troop bank were very creditable, too, no less (than seven Tuis having tho largest balances in. the troop. -However, the Hawks and Bell Birds are confident they will easily turn the tables when outdoor work recommences—but not if the senior patrol during the winter adds points at tho present rate of scoring. ■ Tho ■ troop committee will meet at an early date to formulate plans in connection with the Dominion Rally, at which the troop intends to have a full representation.