CHRISTCHURCH SCOUTS ARRIVE IN GREY AFTER LONG HIKE

Grey River Argus, 21 May 1947, Page 6

CHRISTCHURCH SCOUTS ARRIVE IN GREY AFTER LONG HIKE

A new note in the scouting movement on the West Coast was struck this week when a troop of Christchurch and Lyttelton Scouts, comprising six Sea Scouts and three Boy Scouts, under the leadership of District Scoutmaster J. Straw (Christchurch), arrived in Greymouth, after hiking from Christchurch, via the Lewis Pass.

The party is at present camped in the Rover Scout den at Karoro. and will leave on return to Christchurch on Friday.

On the trip the boys, whose average age is 14 years, each carried packs weighing 351b5., containing all necessary camping gear and food. En route they cooked all their own meals, including bread, and did not at any time resort to the use of tinned foods. They left Christchurch Mav x_. and after travelling by bus to ‘‘The Poplars,” about 70 miles east _of Reefton, hiked over the main divide, arriving at Reef ton on Friday. I'iom Reefton the party journeyed to Greymouth by rail-car and wall travel to Otira by rail. After hiking over the Otira Gorge, they will catch the Greymouth-Christchurch tram for Christchurch. To-night and to-morrow the partywill meet members of local Scout troops and discuss scouting on the West Coast as compared with city scouting. None of the boys J iave previously visited the West Coast. The trip was arranged as an expenment with longer trips to other centres in view.