SCOUT NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 18144, 7 December 1922, Page 8

SCOUT NOTES

[By Kiwi.]

ill communications to be addressed ta " Kiwi," * Star ’ Office, before i-SO p.m. Mondays. Tho Rnvensboumo Troop of Boy Scouts Is being entirely reconstructed. The mombora tiro propanintf to pass their ten-dorfoot badge before Christmas. The second class and outdoor portions of the first class will be instructed during the annual camp. On Friday last a very interesting evening was spent learning the various knots. In addition to those required to pass the tenderfoot test, the following were taught:— Rolling hitch, timber hitch, double bowline, and the eye splice. Cards on tenderfoot work were issued, and an examination will moat likely take place next Friday. On Saturday last a small c®tertainment, arranged by the Scouts and the Troop Committee, was held, which—although the troop will meet regularly till Christmas—served as a break-up for the year. Items were given by both Scouts and friend's interested, and several games wen© played. The evening was heartily enjoyed oy all. Three more “Peace Flag” competitions were held last week, but all troops did not enter. The following Is the position of the troops to diatom —Ist Eoslyn 17, Ist Mornlngton No. 1 12, Ocean Beach 10, St. Clair N. 24, North Dunedin 4, St. Clair No. 1 ,4, Mornlngton • No. 2 1. Mr J. E. Bone, the examiner for the Ambulance Cup competition, reports: Teams paraded In good order. Discipline, drill, dress first class; steadiness during Inspection excellent. Ambulance work good quality, showing careful and efficient training. I would suggest that ins tractors should be careful when training the boys to give them, where possible, tho reason why (for instance) certain bandages are used, patient carried In certain position, etc. The results are as follow i Eoslyn A squad 55 points, Mornlngton 62, Ocean Beach 52, Eoslyn B 49. It has given me great pleasure to act as judge In this competition and to see tho intelligent manner in which 'tire work was done, their quietness during the competition, the quick manner in which questions were answered, and tho smart way they went to work, without any hesitation, on their respeotivo casualties.

_Mr W. H. Stephens, who Judged tjio signalling test, reports: Owing to the uncertainty of too weather the ‘Whelan Memorial Cup" and “Peace Flag" slgnJi!ling competition was held oni Saturday last in the Kensington Hall. The semaphore signalling ail round was good, and as far as correct sending and receiving was concerned the teams were almost equal j but the Roslym message was neatly written on paper prepared beforehand, In semaphore Momington, St. Clair, and Ocean Beach were equal, but lost marks, as stated before, for badly written and untidy messages. The Morse, with the exception of the Eoslyn, was exceedingly disappointing. This troop was the only on© in this section of the competition that delivered really intelligible mcssa:ges. In marks taken for .general discipline Momington, lost. 1 This troop did riot seem to take the job fierionsly. It was the businesslike and serious wav tho Eoslyn tackled the whole procedure that won them the competition. Marks were lost throughout for incomplete uniforms, as absence of haversacks, shoulder knots, and carters. The totals were aa follow;—1st Eoslyn 173, Morningion 141, St. Clair 117, and Ocean Beach 101. ■

Mr H. Stephens, Judge of tho pioneering test, reports:—The annual competitive examination of the Dunedin Boy Scouts took place in the Drill Hall, 'Kensington, on Saturday aitemoon last. ■ The pioneering Work done by these Scouts was of a very high order on this occasion, and elicited the warm approval of the examiner. Knotting, lashing, and knowledge of bridge construction were the subjects selected by the examiner, and the examination was of both written and oral character. The result was so satisfactory that it Is perhaps invidious to particularise, but special mention might he mad© in the cases of Shanks and Glen, of the Eoslyn Troop, and Allan, of the Momington Troop. The examiner highly commended the manner In which the various n.c.o.s in charge handled their Scouts, giving their orders, and generally carrying out their duties. The result of the examination was: Eoslyn Troop 1, Momington Troop 2, Ocean Beach Troop $. In many of the events it was extremely difficult, to adjudge which team led, the boys showing a keenness in their work which cannot fail to have been very gratifying to tire respective officers. It speaks volumes for Mr John Hay, ambulance instructor the Eoslyn Troop, that his team should win tho Anglican Cup for tho third successive year. Only those who have attempted to teach a “ dry ” subject to boys are in a position to appreciate and understand the patience and perseverance necessary to accomplish such a task. Mr Hay’s example had apparently enthused others, or the competition would not hve been so keenly contested as it was this year. Some time ago the winners took stops to consolidate tneir holding of the cup, and by the time th© competition took place it was considered that their chances of being beaten were very remote. So much for keenness and the spirit of competition ! It is worthy of note that E. Cuthbort, W. Hay, and D. Sinclair have been members of the team since 1919, the first-mentioned (Scout proving a meet capable leader on every occasion. A. Shanks, H. Glen, and A. Kay were also in the 1920 team. Last year the cup was not contested. W. Torrance and J. Jamieson were included this year. The Eoslyn Wolf Cubs had a good time under A.S.M. Smith on Thursday night. Two new boys wero enrolled. Eoslyn has always been a healthy Scout area, but tfho present influx of recruits has overtaxed the club room accommodation somewhat, and unless new (juarters are forthcoming an overflow meeting will soon have to be held in the street. Tho Wolf Chibs are vbry keen, and with careful tuition should develop into a smart pack. Tho St. Clair Scouts met on Friday last at the Presbyterian Hall. As the signalling competitions were to bo "held on the following day, the team devoted th© whole evening to practice. Tho rest of the troop spent the evening in map studying, which proved very interesting. It was decided to hold the closing social next Friday.