SCOUT NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 22719, 5 August 1937, Page 16

SCOUT NOTES

[By “ White Fang.”] SCOUT MOVEMENT. Scouting having been in existence for the past 29 years is accepted by many people without thought and without inquiry. It has a recognised part of the life of the coniinnnity, and there are few towns throughout the length and breadth of the British Empire where one does not find sonic branch of the movement. Wherein does its appeal lie? We must go right back to the days of the youth of the founder of the movement to find out. The idea of Scouting for boys was in Bobert Baden-Powell’s mind long before he made the scheme public. In his early davs he and his four brothers had a small sailing yacht, manned by themselves. in which they had many exciting adventures, and in which they learnt by actual experience how to be useful and self-reliant. The future Chief Scout learnt how to cook; he came to understand all about rowing and the management of boats; ho learnt how to swim, how to tie knots, how to build shelters, and (what is even more important) how to have a. thoroughly good time in healthy, natural surroundings. He went on tramping expeditions, explored parts of his own country, sleeping out of doors, studying animals, birds, plants, sketching, finding his way by the stars, going over factories, learning how things were made, and generally picking up all the information about all sorts of things that he possibly .could. Such was the beginning of Scouting as it affected the chief’s own boyhood, and these early experiences which he found so attractive ■ gave him the inspiration for the foundation of the movement which now has a membership of two and a-half million boys spread over 50 nations.

GILWELL’S BRONZE BUFFALO. The statue of the buffalo, emhlorii of the American Boy Scouts’ order of distinguished service to boyhood, stands on its rustic pedestal at the entrance to Gilwell Park, the Scout training centre in Epping Forest. Every Scout who enters its leafy gateway reads the simple inscription:— “To the unknown Scout, whose faithfulness in the performance of the daily good turn brought Scouting to the "United States of America.”

It was a simple 1 enough thing to do —to see a stranger lost in one of those thick fogs that blanket London sb frequently, and to offer to help him. But. this boy was a real Scout, for not only did he have the will and the desire to do a good turn, but he had the ability and the keenness of the true pathfinder. He could find his way in a fog, and to call the fog of London thick is to describe it very mildly. Literally you cannot see your hand before your face. The street lights become just pinpoints of light when they do not disappear altogether. It might just as well be midnight on the darkest night in the country. That is a point that is sometimes overlooked in telling this story, for Mr Boyce, the Chicago (publisher whom this boy helped, is a traveller of some experience,, and he knows the Strand. It was not the good turn spirit only which this Scout had, nor the ability of the true pathfinder in finding his way about in any weather and under any circumstance —he had something more than that, more even than the keeness of the Scout spirit that moved him to refuse a tip that was offered. Mr Boyce said that what impressed him was the earnestness with which this boy said, “ I am a Scout ” He lived his part as he found it, so as to impress even a casual visitor, such as Mr Boyce proved, and to justify that impression by later meeting Mr Boyce and taking him to the headquarters of the Scout Association to learn “ everything there was to learn ” of the Scouting programme. POLAND. The movement in Poland has been granted official recognition by the Polish Government by being proclaimed as a body of public utility. As the number of such bodies is only six, it can be seen that this Government appreciates the work the movement is doing. HOBBIES EXHIBITION. Everything is now well on the way for this big annual event. Over 1,000 entries have been received from the various troops and packs. This week the labels are going back to the groups, so when you receive these be careful they are put on the right article. By this time all your exhibits, with the exception of the cooking section, should be standing on the shelf ready. Just spend a little time looking over them to see that they arc the best you can do and that there are no finishing touches that could he improved upon. The exhibits should be delivered to the Pioneer Hall on the Thursday evening, while the rooking section may bo brought on Friday morinng. CONFERENCE. We are exporting a largo contingent of Scooters and Cubbers to visit Dunedin during the week-end of the Hobbies Exhibition, as they are very keen at Invercargill. Saturday has been left free so that they can" all be present at the exhibition*. The conference will .take.place‘at headquarters on the Sunday afternoon, when it is hoped all officers will be prepared with plenty of good suggestions for the benefit of the movement. REPORTS. Rovers.—A good muster met for tea on Saturday evening. Later the crew set_ out in three patrols to solve mysterious clues regarding poisonous flowers. The patrol, under Rover Jones,, after a lour of part of South Dunedin and the wharves came home first with the required plant. A practice for the Hobbies Show was held. Doctor Cottrell wa.s welcomed to the

deli and gave an instructive talk on national health schemes of other lands. Ho also spoke on Hovering in New South Wales, and mentioned several aims for making Rovering the movement that it should be in New Zealand. Two new members were welcomed to the den. Plans were discussed for some outdoor activities in tho near future. lloslyn.—On Monday the Panthers had a very jolly evening with the Wesley pack spent in games and knowledge tests. The Wesley pack gave an excellent display of jungle dances, which opened the eyes of the Panthers. New games were the order of tho evening for the 15 who met at the Thursday parade. Star work and jungle games were carried out as well as work on tho pack exhibit. The Leopards had 23 in the jungle on Tuesday. Cubmaster Ashby took charge of games while Akela. was busy with tho wigwam. Sixers Everest, Wales, and M'Dermid and Second Scott were presented with their guide badges, while Second Anderson gained his artist badge. Group Scoutmaster wa« present and gave a talk on tho guide and observer badges. Those taking part in the hobbies eni crtalimicot had a run through the Maori work.

Mornington.—Mr Churchill, of England, was a welcome visitor during the evening, and gave a yarn on his experiences of Scouting in England. The Tuis proved the best in a pioneering competition. Signalling was brushed up, while some went out for Scouts’ pace. Six dangerous spies endeavoured to enter the hall while the Scouts guarded all routes, but two managed to escape tho watching eyes. During :l camplire Arawa read tho greatest shipping disaster of all time—namely, tho loss of the Titanic. North Dunedin.—The Boars and Eagles brought down a bridge in record time. E. Sprague and R. Scott were successful in passing tenderfoot work. Tho Stag patrol proved victorious in the hand Soccer. Anderson’s Bay.—The two boats were brought in and the watches arranged for the rowing. Songs and plays wore run through in readiness for the concert. The Tomahawk boys were welcomed. Charge certificates were presented to Sen Scouts Anderson and Penrose, while P. Young gained his rescuers’ badge. North-east Valley.—Tho main event was the interpatrol obstacle race. Tho obstacles took various guises, tho first being a coded message instructing pat- 1

rols to ask the Scouter for further instractions, "which. sent the patrols out to find tho troop leader at a certain corner. Hero -information was gamed that a member of the patrol was rendered unconscious and had to be transported for a mile. However, on the way news was received that he had recovered and that Skipper had to be found, being within 300yds of the Gardens gates. On being cornered, Skipper stated that a glove was lying on the football grounds at certain compass directions from the gates. The last instructions were to find the distance from the Gardens to the hall at Scout pace. Tuis gained first place by being first at each obstacle and putting in good' work. Kurus, who were second, gained points in transport and location of the glove. Shining Cuckoos, although third, made good work of the estimations. St. Andrew’s.—The 14 Cubs present squatted round to hear a yarn from Akela on Cub law. Allan Phillips and Morrie Dunne were successful in gaining their first stars. The new den was used for the first time, and proved a great asset. St. (J)aiv,—Friday saw everyone accounted for when patrol leaders took charge for the corner work, Tula were

declared winners of the patrol conu petition. Scouts Ainge, Wren, Ombl&r,and Myles passed signalling, while H,Newall passed tenderfoot test. Frog* proved their superiority in hand Soccer. Work is progressing well for th* hobbies exhibition. Knox. —A yarn on the making of field pipes and other pottery by • Mrj Dawson was much appreciated. Tbd contents of the clothes of a murdered 1 man gave food for some very original tales of smugglers. G-. Sloan and F, Lee were promoted to seconds and received best wishes. F. Renwick gained his second class badge. General second class work was carried out in patrol corners. The Tramping Patrol was out on Saturday, when some interesting new country was covered. Opoho.—The pack is carrying on good work. After Akela had told two stories, some new games were tried out. A busy night’s work ended with the ‘ Cub Promise.’ The troop was visited by Commissioners Wing and Ashman for the metropolitan inspection.