Scout Notes

Hutt News, Volume 13, Issue 21, 1 November 1939, Page 5

Scout Notes

The Rover Crew and many troops went camping and tramping during Labour week-end. We have to hand reports from the Rovers, Ist Lower Hutt and 3rd Lower Hutt troops. Rover Crew. A party of six Rovers left for the Orongorongos at 9.15 a.m. on Saturday. The five-mile track was passed and the Rover hut reached in drizzling rain, which made conditions bad on the G. 8., and in the bush very muddy and generally bad. In the afternoon, as it cleared up, work was continued on the hut. On Saturday night four of us pa»u a visit to the 'Varsity Club party at Tawai Hut. On Sunday we left for Mt. Matthews at' approximately 9.15. We followed up the ridge behind the hut and arrived on the main ridge at about 11.45. We followed down the ridge for some way and had lunch on a point overlooking the South Matthews saddle and the Big Mukamuka Valley. In the afternoon we crossed the saddle and proceeded up Matthews, mist halting us some way' from the top. iWe proceeded back to the main ridge and, cutting straight down to the Orongorongo Valley, reached the river about half mile up past the hut. On Monday morning we worked on the hut, the framework of which is rapidly growing, and we left for home at 12.40. We arrived back at about 3.30. Ist Lower Hutt Troop. On Saturday morning 26 Scouts, in charge of three Scouters of the Ist Lower Hutt Troop, left for a three days' camp at Mr. Huse's farm. Practically the whole troop were on bikes. On Saturday morning all the tents were pitched, and the afternoon was spent in games and in getting everything shipshape. On Saturday night a novelty game in the form of a night flag raid took place, and it was a real sucess. On Sunday morning, after inspection and rou- , tine work, a Scouts' Own was held. ' During the afternoon a tracking game, which included signalling, first aid and practically every branch of Scout training was run,

and proved a huge success. There were also a few visitors during ine afternoon. On Sunday night a rousing camp fire was held, after which it ,was reported that a rather large amount of tinned pineapple had been consumed by the troop. On the Monday morning more wide games and tracking were run. The Group Scoutmaster arrived in the morning for a short visit, -fit 3 o'clock that afternoon the troop broke camp, bringing to a close one of the most successful camps they had held for years. 3rd, Lower Hutt Troop. Sixteen Scouts of the 3rd Lower Hutt Troop, under their assistant Scoutmaster, left for Stokes Valley on Saturday afternoon. Through the kindness of some of the parents the camp gear and some of the boys were taken by car to the camping ground. The rest of the party left on bikes. The afternoon was spent in pitching tents and in getting the camp in order. The boys went to bed early, but. unfortunately, to the A.S.M.'s sorrow, they also woke up early the next morning. Inspection and routine work was carried out on Sunday morning, and in the afternoon games were run and a general free time observed. A number of parents and friends visited the camp on Sunday auernoon, and were entertained to afternoon tea. A camp Are was held that night, but finished early, as the boys were tired. On Monday

morning some more games were held and some stalwarts ventured a dip in the stream. In the anernoon a mock battle in the shape of a sod fight took place, and it was truly fast and furious. At approximately 4.30 we broke camp and left for home after a most enjoyable week-end.

Despite a strenuous week-end, Scouts turned on an excellent display at the Youth Rally on Labour Day. Rovers put on a demonstration game of handball, "Mini..

and the boys of his troop erected signalling towers, a flagstaff and a bridge, while the rest of the boys raised hike tents, and 3rd Lower Hutt put on an ambulance-cycling display which went over very well. Time was short ancl several events were run into one another. "Mintie," after raising his display in front of the grandstand, was asked to move it to the other side of the ground in order to make room for another display. Without any fuss or bother, "Mintie" and his boys transferred all their gear and had it re-erected within Ave minutes. We though that this unrehearsed effort was the best of the display, as it showed how Scouting can carry on in the face of unexpected difficulties. "RU" and "TAWAI."