GIRL GUIDES

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 17 March 1928, Page 18

GIRL GUIDES

NOTES BYJ‘GUIDER.” To-inorrow being the third Sunday in •the month, the usual church parade will •be held. Hawera Rangers, Guides and Brownies will attend divine service in the morning at their own churches. A Ranger company is in course of formation at New Plymouth, with Mrs F. S. Johns as captain. A function was held at. New Plymouth early in the week to bid farewell to three Guiders, who are leaving the town. The departing Guiders were the popular captain of To Mara Company, 'Miss Ruth Harding, who is taking up dental work in Wellington, Miss Phyllis Fitzgerald, who is to attend Victoria College, and Mrs Carswell. These Guiders will be greatly missed in New Plymouth. RANGER PICNIC. The Hawera Rangers, accompanied by the Acting-Provincial Commissioner ('Mrs Houston) and their officers, Misses Britland (Captain), Bell and Turner (lieutenants), paid a visit, to the Opunake Rangers last Monday night., when a novel and enjoyable picnic was arranged by .their hostesses. A huge and grostesque camp-fire was soon going in the river-bed where the evening was spent, and the hostesses prepared a savoury concoction of mushrooms and tomatoes, which, with piping hot tea, formed a delicious addition to the supper. While the meal w*as being prepared, the company gramophone played country dances and .the Opunake girls taught their visitors the ever jolly 4 ‘ Gathering Pcaseods, ” Unfortunately the moon and the stars proved unreliable, but the glow from the great fire, Which was kept going by huge logs, aDd the glimmer of electric torches provided all the illumination required. Songs around the camp-fire, an appropriate story of Robin Hood and his Maid Marian by Miss Mary Quin (Hawera patrol leader), and a haka by four of the Hawera Rangers (Misses 8011, Quin, Clements and Harding), made the time pass swiftly until all too soon came 9 o’clock and the honking of the service car horn. Miss Britland then thanked the captain of the Opunake Rangers, Mrs Corkill, and her company for the wonderful evening, her remarks being endorsed by Mrs Houston. Three hearty cheers were exchanged and the singing of "Taps” brought the happy visit to a close.

The thanks of the Rangers are given to Miss D. A. Corrigan, Chief Brown Owl, for her great kindness in helping to convey the party out to Opunake. [t is popularly supposed, 'by the Rangers that Miss Corrigan’s car must be elas-tic-sided. Be this as it may, it certainly bore up magnificently under the strain of far more than its legitimate load. HAWERA SHOP DAY. On Saturday afternoon the executive of the local association, with Mrs Velvin as convenor, held a most successful shop day in aid of the funds of the association. Response from the general public was most gratifying, and thanks are due to the many kind friends who so liberally supplied the shop with delicious home-made cakes, scones, jams and fresh vegetables. The executive also have to acknowledge, among other donations, the sum of £1 from a visitor to the town, Captain Rose. They also thank Mrs PeaTce, one of their members, for the handsome cake which she donated to the thop. The weight of the cake was 61b 15oz, and the winner was Captain Rose. A sum of over £l7 was raised by Saturday’s effort. The shop was ably managed by Mrs Pacey (president), Mesdamse Volvin and Ashton and assistants. 2ND HAWERA COMPANY.

The members of the 2nd Hawera Company, accompanied by their captain, Miss Ballantine, hiked out -to Waihi Beach on -last Saturday afternoon. Some of the girls bathed and paddled and all voted -the -afternoon a great success. VISIT TO MISS LYSAGHT’S HOME, MOKOIA. Last week “Guiiler” omitted to mention that the 3rd Hawera Company, with their captain, Miss Stewart, accompanied the Ist and 4th Companies. •All -the Guides wish to thank their kind friend, Miss Lys-aght, for the happy day they spent. CONCERNING CATERPILLARS. An event which is now an annual one in Hyde Park, London, is an organised hunt by Scouts and Guides for the wily caterpillar. Imagine such a massed attack on this destructive, although inno-cent-looking, grub! You know that caterpillar is the name given to the larvae of lcpidopterous insects and has a distinct -head, -bearing strong mandibles, eyes and short -antennae. It has also a thorax, consisting of three segments, each segment furnished with a pair of jointed legs. So is it any -wonder, when you read the description of this creature, that lie is able to do so much damage. The ordinary non-ag-gressive person, looking the caterpillar in the eye, which so often and -so -touchingly happens in all gardens at this time of the year, is tempted to say to himself, “Ah! a gentle creature. He has a mild eye. A benevolent eye. Lift him gently off the tomato plant or the bean vine. Place him in the garden of my neighbour; I cannot bear to hurt so inoffensive a little -creature. A girl Guide must be kind -to animals, yea, even crawly things.” Well, if, in your enthusiasm, Mr Caterpillar is thus disposed of, do you know what happens? He slithers away, and, alas, this seemingly innocent creature embarks on a career of destruction, the like of which is bewildering to imagine. I have seen a whole -bunch of ripening tomatoes riddled with black holes and 10, there is the cause of it all, a. lovely, loaf-green fellow raising his head langourously in the sunshine and regarding me with his bland eyes! To return to the attack on the caterpillars in Hyde Park by the noble -bands of Sc,outs and Guides. The warriors extend in good order, so many -being -told off for each -tree, and then the battle begins in -earnest. The attackers swarm up into the trees, two of their number remaining below to hold the nets with which they are armed. A perfect rain of caterpillars descend into the nets, for the attack is a surprise one. Pew of the enemy escape the vigilance of the keen-eve Scouts and Guides. Is this not a splendid service to the trees, which by their shade and beauty give so much pleasure to the hum-an race? Guides, you may be just as useful in your parks and gardens. Brownies, too, could help. And a good place to start is in your own garden.

G ENK RA I, KN<JWLEDGE QUESTIONS. How is the White Ensign made up and by whom may it be flown? How is the Blue Ensign made up and by whom limy it be flown? What are the names of some of the common plants which can be prepared for food ? Which Patron Saint assisted at one period of his life in agriculture? What is the “fly” of a flag? In what manner does an unhatchcd chick work its way out of the shell?