GISBORNE GROWTH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21632, 8 February 1945, Page 4

GISBORNE GROWTH

SEA SCOUT TROOP PRIZED NEW BOAT The growth of the Gisborne Takitimu sea scout troop as a branch of the boy scout movement has developed over the past few years to such an extent that at the present time, with over 100 cubs, sea sco.uts and senior scouts comprising the full complement, no less than seven boats are used in the course of training. These include three large rowing and sailing boats, two dinghys and two smaller craft. The latest and most prized addition to the small fleet is a modern clinkerbuilt fast boat with a length of 17ft. ancl a beam of sft. She is taken from the pattern of a new type of lifeboat carried by ships of the New Zealand mine-sweeper fleet and has a transom stern with provision for sailing, being sloop-rigged and carrying sails and mast as part of her equipment. She is designed to carry 12 sailors with lull equipment, but can be managed with ease by six sea scouts for rowing purposes. For sailing the craft could be controlled if necessary by only one experienced occupant. The total cost of the boat, sails and accessory equipment is £lO5, nearly two-thirds of which has already been raised by functions and other efforts on the part of the sea scouts themselves. The parents’ committee hopes to obtain another boat of this kind at some future time, and the boys are putting in a lot of hard work in order to raise the money. They have already arranged for a jumble sale on Friday week, and intend holding another bottle drive in the May school holidays. Their last drive of this nature yielded £SO.

The new boat is appropriately named Takilimu, alter the fastest of the Maori migration canoes of ancient times. This name was decided upon because the lines on which the boat is built allow of great speed being attained both by sail and oar, a factor proved at the first Dominion Sea Scout camp and regatta held at Picton at the end of last year. The boat, although not handled by a Gisborne crew, was most successful in many of the events. There is only one other boat of its kind used toy sea scouts and that is at Auckland, but troops throughout the Dominion will soon be acquiring them for the reason that scout headquarters approved of the type being used for sea scout training. The Gisborne troop will have ample time in which to train and become fully acquainted with the handling of the boat before the next regatta, and they expect to be successful in at least a few of the many events.