SCOUT JAMBOREE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 January 1929, Page 5

SCOUT JAMBOREE.

TRIP TO MOUNTAIN HOUSE.

FIRST EXPERIENCE OF SNOW.

The generosity of private car owners enabled 156 soouters and scouts to visit the Stratford mountain house yesterday. To the great majority it was the initial trip and was much, enjoyed in consequence.

At 6.45 a.m., a small detachment of 24 left the camp at King Edward- park, breakfasting at. 8 o’clock at a point half way to the mountain house. This party was in charge of camp adjutant Minnell and included the visiting scouts from Fiji, under scoutmaster Shankar Pratap. The main body, comprising 132 scouters and scouts, under scoutmaster Pope, delayed their start from camp until 9 a.m., and were then driven to the foot of the mountain, where the boys trekked to the mountain house. After lunch on the plateau the whole party was divided into three groups, two of which, under the guidance of Messrs Pope (a member of the Alpine Club) and Gibson undertook a tramp to the Maunganui Gorge, while the third group, with scoutmaster Pope in charge remained at the mountain house and were addressed; on scout matters by Deputy Commissioner W- F- Sandford, afterwards- being entertained at afternon tea.

The day’s outing will doubtless be membered by the boys from Fiji, who saw at close range, and handled, snow for the first time in their lives. They tasted, glissaded and wallowed with unfeigned delight in the novelty. On their return to camp, their main topics of comment were the wonderful experience of snow and the fact that had ascended to a height of 6000 feet. There Wes' no dearth of listeners, each of the dusky visitors having made hosts of comrades among the New Zealand scouts and camp visitors. By 6.30 p.m., the whole party had safely readied the camp, brimming over with appreciation of the unique outing and the kindly consideration of those Stratford residents who had made it possible. ROUND THE CAMP’ FIRE.

In the presence of about. 300 visitors, the evening was devoted to a delightful camp fire concert programme contributed by the boys and scouters, during the course of which certificates were presented to successful competitors at the previous day’s sports meeting. Special certificates were also presented to Deputy Commissioner Sandford, as the occupier of “the most untidy tent in camp,” and to Commissioner Christie (Wanganui), the most improved scout. In returning . thanks for the honour conferred on him, Major Sandford said the winning of the “booby’ prize made him the proud possessor of every award possible under scout conditions. THE FIJIAN VISITORS. On Saturday afternoon the contingent from Suva, consisting of six Indian scouts and two white sea scouts, in charge of scoutmaster . Pratap and accompanied by Commissioner . Christie leave by train for Wanganui, leaving the river city on Monday for a short stay iii Wellington, before pioceedoing to Auckland, on their return journey home. The sights of Rlotoi ua will be viewed en ro.ute'.