GIRL GUIDE NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 28 August 1926, Page 18

GIRL GUIDE NOTES.

(By “Guider”)

Each week the first Hawera company of Guides makes steady progress, and the majority of girls have now started second-class test work. Last Saturday captain gave us an interesting first aid talk; she dealt with choking, fainting, grit or other foreign body in the eye, and sprained ankle. The Brown Owl took the Brownies out to her home, “The Oaks,” where a happy afternoon was spent. What, fun it was bundling the pack into two large cars! And what excited elves, sprites, fairies, pixies, and kelpies were soon scattered about the grounds! Before long an exciting competition was started among the “Sixes” as to which should build the best hut out of branches of trees and leaves, and who shall say that real fairies we're not dartino- about among' the trees sharing - in the fun and the pranks of the little human Brownies? Later a hungry pack gathered round Brown Owl and Tawny when milk, cake and bread and butter were eagerly consumed. We hear” that the Brown Owl has written a song for the pack. The song was kindly type-written by Miss Grace Trotter, and each Brownie has a copy to learn by heart. Who wouldn’t be a Brownie? So manv companies take up old,English folk dancing that it has become a regular part of Guiding. It. is proposed to hold a country dance class in New Plymouth for Girl Citizen and Girl Guide officers. This class will bo instructed by Miss Hilda Taylor (Wellington) and will meet from August 30 to September .10. A folk song and dance night will be held on September 1, and will be open to the public. The class will be attended by Guiders from various parts of the ‘province, and it is hoped that Hawera -will be represented. New Guide companies in New- Plymouth have been started at Westown, under Miss Home and Miss Grace, and a Brownie pack .at the Girls’ High School, under Miss Hurle. Hawera Brownies now number 39. “Guidor” would like to make it clear that girls do not pay an entrance fee of any kind on joining cither the Guides or the Brownies. An absurd rumour is abroad to the effect that the girls have to pay a guinea entrance fee. Guides and Brownies have to provide their own uniform, although in case of need this is financed by the local association. The annual subscription payable by ladies and gentlemen who join the local association is ss. “TAPS.” “Guider ” has been asked to supply the words of “Taps.” This is one of the camp songs sung by Guides before “lights out.” The words are as follows: Day is done, gone the sun, From the sea, from the hills, from the sky; All is well, safely rest, God is nigh. Fading light dims the sight, And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright, From afar drawing nigh falls the night. A number of Guides and Guiders took advantage of the invitation given by the Boy Scouts’ Committee to attend a social evening in the Scout Hall. The occasion was the presentation of badges to Scouts of St. Mary’s and the Central Troop who attended the jamboree held at tjie Dunedin Exhibition. Mr F. W. Horner, District Commissioner, made the presentation, and the badges were pinned on each scout’s tunic by Mrs Burrell, president of the ladies’ committee. Two of our Guides contributed to the programme. Patrol Leader Irene Swan' gave a pianoforte solo and Guide Myra Jackson a recitation. Both girls should easily win their entertainers’ badge later on. On Tuesday afternoon we had a bracing- walk'in the direction of the ZigZag. The wind from the sea being very keen, we decided to camp on the roadside in the lee of a high bank surmounted by a boxthorn hedge. A fire was soon blazing merrily and a couple of billies put on to boil. How good that tea was! And what appetites, sharpened by the crisp air, attacked a substantial supply of sandwiches and cakes. The piece de resistence of the feast was undoubtedly a delicious sponge cake filled with cream which was produced by the Brown Owl. It was a birthday sponge made entirely by some very small nieces. Wo thought it jolly of Brown Owl to share such a lovely cake with us. We wished her many happy returns, and this hearty wish did not savour at all of cupboard love, for the Brown Owl is as popular among the Guides as she is with her Brownies. We played some games on the hill above our sheltered camp fire spot, and then, having carefully extinguished our fire and gathered up every vestige of paper (as all good picnickers do), we set off briskly for home. It was a happy afternoon and we eagerly look forward to another tramp next w T eek.