BOYS’ BRIGADE NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 21503, 30 August 1933, Page 12

BOYS’ BRIGADE NOTES

[By Chum.]

It is competition night, the big night in 8.8. week. The big crowd of spectators is appreciatively quiet as they watch one of the big events of the night. All eyes are riveted on the groups of boys who are striving to uphold the honour of their respective companies. Oblivious to the eager watchers each boy has his mind centred solely on the task in hand, with flags that are never still for an instant. Messages are flashed from station to station with incredible rapidity. A mind allowed to wander for the fraction of a second would mean the loss of the trophy for that particular team, but there is no fear of that, each boy has been too highly trained to let that happen. The nest competition, too, gives evidence of careful and intensive training. A boy lies on the floor supposedly badly injured, and one by one the first aid teams come in and attend to the patient. One boy in each team does all the talking. From the others there is not a word, but each man knows his job well: his mind has been well trained by the 8.8.. which is another example of the third side of the four-square ideal —the mental side. OTAGO BATTALION COUNCIL. Preliminary orders to captains of companies for Saturday, September 9: — Time-table.—l.4s, fall in (Union street, opposite Logan Park entrance) ; 2, march into main ground; 2.15, inspection by Colonel A. E. Stewart; 2.30, march past; 2.45, physical drill display, 10th Dunedin Company; 3, gymnastic display, 9th Dunedin Company; 3.15, inspecting officer’s remarks; 3.30, tabloid sports; 4.30, dismiss. In order to carry though the afternoon’s programme successfully a prompt start is very necessary. All boys must be. ready to fall in at 1.45. After fall in companies will be sized and proved as quickly as possible. The battalion will then march into main ground, headed by Old Boys’ Band, forming up in close column of companies at south end of enclosure, ready for inspection. After inspection the march past will take place. The procedure here will be:—(a) Officer commanding battalion will give the orders to advance in close column, and on reaching the saluting base will give the order “ Eyes right,” followed by “ Eyes front.” A halt will be made at north end of ground, (b) The battalion _ will then return to its original position, marching past the saluting base in column of route. The commands will be “ Form fours,” “ Right.” No. 1 Company will then right wheel, and other companies will follow on. As each company reaches the saluting- base the company commander will give the order “ Eyes left,” followed by “ Eyes front.” The parade will then march into the grand stand, and displays as outlined above will be given. As soon as these are finished companies will form up in close column facing the saluting base, and the inspecting officer will then give his remarks. Then will follow the tabloid sports. The procedure for these will bc outlined senaratdv, the battalion being dismissed at 4,30 p.m. BATTALION NOTES. Signalling Examination.-—The following were successful in passing the semaphore test at the examination held last Thursday night:—K. Jones and E. Lundqui'st fist Dunedin), K. Munro (7th Dunedin), C. Seear, J. S. Parker, and 11. Thompson (Bth Dunedin). Broadcast Talk.—lt is fitting that Mr Grocott, our New Zealand president, should give the talk to be broadcast from 4YA on September 4, for not only was he the first captain of the pioneer company in New Zealand, but he has done more than anyone else to build up the movement. We shall listen with interest to his story of the history of the Boys’ Brigade in New Zealand. Jubilee Celebrations. —From all sides we hear of preparations for our celebrations on Saturday and Sunday, September 9 and 10. This promises well for our event at Logan Park, while a record parade is assured to Hanover Ba.pt’st Church on the Sunday evening. Members from the battalion will also Big P’-otber Bill at his session on September 10. Camp Charges.—Preparations arc already in train for the annual camp at North Taieri. A preliminary committee is busily engaged in working out costs, and it is hoped to have the charges out by next week. COMPANY REPORTS. Third Dunedin (Roslyn) .—After the usual opening exercises, followed by halt an hour company drill, the parade last week took the form of a club night. With two ping-pong tables engaged for tv ping-pong tournament, together with a draughts table, scalliwag table, and quoits set, all were kept busy. Some keen tussles were in evidence during tbc evening. 4th Dunedin.—On Friday last the company had a change from its usual parade in that it had a chums evening. During the evening the company was honoured by a visit from Mr Simpson, chaplain, and Mr R.. Duncan, an old captain of the company. Supper and worship ended a good evening. 7th Dunedin.—A feature of last Friday night’s parade was the attendance of six members of the 2nd Invercargill Company, fresh from a week’s camping at K.aka Point. Their presence added much'to the night’s enjoyment. Sth Dunedin has received a challenge from Ist Dunedin to a game of Soccer on Saturday week. The company’s candidates in the signallers’ examination satisfied the examiner. The numerical strength of the company is keeping up, and two more recruits will be joining the ranks at nest parade, having completed the preliminary tests. The Sunshine Baptist Lile Bov learn has a membership of twenty-eight, and the parados arc well attended. The parade last week was marked by a visit from Mr Carter. Director of Life Roys for New Zealand, and Mr Grocott, New Zealand president, who was captain of the Ist Dunedin (Ist N.Z.) Company until bis transfer to Pleasant Point about three years ago. THE OLD BOYS’ BAND. The next public appearance is at the jubilee celebrations at Logan Park on Saturday. September 9. The strength numerically is keeping up, and the learners’ class continues to supply the likely recruits. The practices on account of school holidays have been better .and it is hoped to reap the benefit of the extra effort. THE LIFE BOYS. The Life Boys, the junior branch of the Boys’ Brigade, have, during the past eighteen months, shown very considerable activity, and have become quite a valuable acquisition to the Brigade movement in the Otago district, inasmuch as, in addition to provision of first class recruits for the Brigade, they give the younger boys an insight into the great work of the Boys’ Brigade, and hold the interest of the young until they are old enough to be admitted to the Brigade. It is the intention each week to report in these

columns the doings of the various teams in Dunedin and suburbs, and it is up to leaders to submit an interesting report each week. Inspections show that the boys in each team are very keen, and attendances are very well maintained. The lender in charge of the Cth Dnndin (Concord) Life Boys reports that the weekly parades are well maintained, and the team is looking in good trim just now. It invites any residents of the district to pay a visit any Monday evening to sec it in action.