SCOUT NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 22524, 17 December 1936, Page 18

SCOUT NOTES

DISTRICT NOTES. Acting on medical advice, it has been necessary to curtail all Cub and Scout activities, and the following groups cancelled their break-up parties:— North Dunedin, Mornington, North-east Valley, Christian Brothers, Wesley. There will be no further Scout notes until the beginning of February. The swimming carnival will be held on Wednesday, March 24. All intending competitors should start practising now. It is hoped to have a section for officers, and there may be some novelty races. The following Scouts have passed their camper’s badge:—R. Kelly, M. O’Connell, W. Dyson, and I. Cameron, all Christian Brothers. 2nd Dunedin (Mornington) Troop held an open-air meeting on the Mornington School playground to comply with the Health Department ruling. Unfortunately the break-up ceremony has to be postponed until the new year. Totara, who has been with us for a few months, spoke to us frankly on the faults he had found during his stay. S.M. Dennison thanked Totara for spending so much time with the troop, and remarked that he had given the troop new ideas. After giving the Scooters three cheers the troop broke off for the year. A hike was arranged for Monday. . 4th North Dunedin Troop,—A fair muster of Scouts paraded for the final meeting of the year. Tenderfoot training started off the evening, followed by pioneering work. Several amusing variations of hand Soccer were then played. A mock fire alarm, with fire drill, was held. Roll call, followed by inspection, concluded the parade. A C.O.H. was held to discuss the camp. sth Dunedin (St. Clair) Group held its annual break-up on Friday last. A number of parents and also the committee wero present. During the evening ex-Cub Master Macmassey was made the recipient of a presentation by the chairman, Mr G. W. Ferens, who thanked him for the work he had done. G.S. Moore, who is in charge of the group, also spoke. Supper closed the proceedings. A number of the Cubs are camping at Otakia in charge o, C. Andrews. 10th Dunedin (Green Island) Final Night.—l 6 Scouts, 12 Cubs, and 5 officers met for the break-up ceremony. There were also present Commissioner Wing, D.C.M. Payton, Metro. Sec. Ashman, G.S.M. M'Callum, and a small attendance of parents and the committee. The programme consisted of games, first aid display, rope relay, boxing, and blindfold boxing. The G.S.M. welcomed the commissioner, and congratulated him on his appointment. Commissioner Wing, in reply, wished the troop every success, and presented P.L. Spence with his King Scout badge and green and yellow cord, and'Second Sainsbury with his first class and green and gold cord. Scouter Murie, on behalf of the group and committee, presented Scouter Trower with a dinner set, conveying best wishes in connection with his 'recent marriage. Scouter Trower suitably replied. C.M. Corbett referred to the pending marriage of G.S.M. Murie, and wished him every success and happiness. Scouter Murie, thanked all for their loyal support. 13th Dunedin (North-cast Valley) Troop.—Friday’s parade was small, and, owing to prevailing conditions, the programme was necessarily curtailed. The evening was mostly spent in games. After “ carry on ” the leaders who wero present discussed camp and the patrol competition just finished, _ congratulating the Rums on their win by three points from the Tuis, with the Shining Cuckoos not far behind. The group’s annual Christmas Party, which was to have been held on Saturday evening, was cancelled. Everyone is looking forward to the summer camp at Pembroke, and we anticipate quite a few new campfire items, and hope our wishes are realised. Activities during the week were the usual patrol meetings and a leaders’ meeting to draw up camp programmes. 17th Dunedin (Knox) had a large attendance of Scouts and Cubs on Thursday, when we held the final parade for the year. The evening took the form of a games night, after which supper was served by the committee. Commissioner Wing congratulated the group on its attendance, and presented a five years’ service star to C.M. Hill and a 'second star to Sixer Herron. D.S.M. Culbert presented second class badges to Scouts Suthei-land, Knox, Dawson, A. Beattie, Grjndley, Aitken, and Knowlesj four-year service to P. L. Coker, two-year service to A. Jarvis, and one-year service to R. Aitken. An investiture ceremony was held, when J. Leckie, D. Roberts, A. Sime, W. Vinicombe, F. Peterson, and T. Cuthhert were welcomed to Scout brotherhood. Ann Murray Memorial/ Prizes wero presented by Mr E. Murray to the Scout Troop.: E. Payton 1, A. Tye, J. Herron, J. Knowles (equal) 2; Cub Pack, C. Murray 1, 0. Wilson 2. The committee presented P. L. Sloan with a sheath knife for being the first first class Scout in the troop, the presentation being made by Mrs Wilson. The Stag Patrol. received the banner, having gained the highest points for the year. Kensington Fourth Birthday.—At this function there were 16 Cubs, 20 Scouts, and three officers present, and a good attendance of parents anil the committee. H.Q. was represented by Commissioner Winer, D.S.M. Culbert, and Metro. See. Ashman and G.S.M. M'Callum and A.S.M. R. Lomas were also present. The Cubs and Scouts provided a good evening of games, plays, hakas, and stunts. The commissioner presented two Cubs with their second star, and hoped they would carry on and get some badges. He then presented C.M. V. White, A.C.M. J. Lister, and C.M. A. Williams with their certificates f,or the theory (part 1) of a Cub wood badge. During supper Mr Dykes (chairman) welcomed all to their fourth birthday, and the commissioner congratulated the group on its good numbers and hoped they would still further increase in 1937. Tlie D. and Metro. Sec. also spoke, thanking the officers and committee for the fine work they were doing.

CUB PACKS. Ist Dunedin (Roslyn) Pack.—The Panther and Leopard Packs held a combined break-up party at the Maori Hill Hall. The evening took tho form of a pirate crew, and when Commissioner Wing arrived he was hard put to it to recognise who were officers and who were Cubs. When the anchor had been hauled in the fun commenced, and many and varied ship-board games were enjoyed. Ravensnest (chief pirate) then showed a map lie had been given by an old seafarer whom he had helped, and after it had been studied by the two lieutenants (pack Sixers), the whole gang set out to search for hidden treasure. The clue was found by Sixer Keith Jago, of tho Leopards, who was instructed to find “ Holy Rob,” who duly distributed tho diamonds, emeralds, and pieces of eight (peanuts) to the pirate crew. Commissioner Wing then spoke to the company, and said he was sorry he had to decline the invitation to supper with them, but he had another break-up to attend. Ho concluded by wishing theta all very happy holidays, and to this the Cubs responded with a one, two, three, wolf. Walking the plank and quoits filled in a few more minutes, and then the Cubs were led into supper at Silverbeard’s sword-point. After supper Sixer Gordon Benfell was presented with tho D.C.M.’s prize for the best Cub for the year. They were then dismissed until the first week in February. 4th North Dunedin packed in the jungle 24 strong under Akela. After the grand howl and inspection a block relay was played. Sixers were then split up for play acting, the White-,Six doing ‘ Joseph and His Brothers,’ the Reds ‘ A Pirate Ship on a Raid,’ and the Grays an impromptu concert, which included ‘ Popeye the Sailor ’ and ‘ The Fairy,’ Akela doing an impersonation dance. The pack then scampered to its lairs for some work. ‘ Taps ’ and the promise closed the meeting. Opoho Pack.—The committee of this pack wish to place on record its sincere thanks to S.M. ■ Lomas and T.L. Cooper, of tho North-east Valley Scouts, for their assistance in getting the Opoho Pack started, and also to Mr Cooper for the use of his property during the first year. As these are the last notes for 1936, “ Grey Wolf ” wishes to thank all those officers and scribes who have made the column possible by sending in . notes, especially Metropolitan Secretary Ashman and A.C.M. Mains for extra assistance given, and also those committees who so kindly sent invitations to their various functions throughout the year. He wishes you all the compliments of the season and good hunting. KENSINGTON CUD CAMP. Four members of the pack, accompanied by Bagheera, set off for camp. A good turn by two people in the Scout world provided the means of transport, and in a short time we were at the site, high in the hills above Whare Flat. There we were met by Akela and Raksha, our ranger cook, whose transport problems had- also been solved by a Soout good turn.. After supper and taps the Cubs were soon soundly sleeping on the beds of hay. And now for. the first whole camp day. A run over the hills, a wash, and then breakfast. The Cubs then howled their morning greeting to Akela. A minute later a New Zealand flag that has travelled to two jamborees caught the breeze to fly out over the Cubs as they made their supplications to the great Akela of _ us all. Games, meals, and an expedition with Chief Grit-in-the-eye, plaster casts, and tea. The camp fire was on the hills above tho house, and was followed by bed, with silence in five minutes. Sunday was wet in patches, but we managed to have “ Cubs own ” out _ on some huge logs, with cone hunting, boating, and signalling across the paddocks. Tea followed an hour spent at

carbon impressions of leaves, and then came the sad task of clearing up and the drive home. We are all eagerly looking forward to the next camp.