Scouting

Hutt News, Volume 18, Issue 1, 7 June 1944, Page 5

Scouting

By "TUAKAM."

Hello, Everybody, There will be a Campfire at the St. Aloysius Scout Hall in Britannia Street, Petone at 7.LJO p.m. next Saturday. Also, next Saturday the job of gorse clearing at Norniandale will be continued if weather-permits. Any reports or notices for the County Bulletin must reach me no later than next Saturday night. At the invitation of the Nelson County Scout Council, six Hutt Valley Scouters aiul Cubmasters visited the Sunshine City last weekend. Manuka, Ngamai and Rewa stayed with Nelson Cubmasters, but t)on Wood, Kahn and myself camped on the Nelson Scout Training Ground a short way up the Maitai Valley. We arrived in Nelson at the crack of dawn on Friday morning and after breakfast set out for our respective abodes. After lunch we all went sightseeing, visiting the Cathedral first then taxi-ing round the city and its suburbs, arriving finally at the Cawthorne Institute where Mr Davies

gave us a most instructive and entertaining lecture. Friday evening we showed Scout films to Group Committee members, Scouters and a fair attendance of the public. ' On Saturday morning the Iron Duke Sea Scouts rowed us to Hanlashore Island and we engaged in a little prospecting for geological specimens, a long walk and a laze on the sands. That afternoon the Nelson Cubmasters were introduced to a rigorous and instructive Pack Meeting at the Camp site and the few Scoutmasters available joined our three "must-get-there's'' on a spot oi mountaineering to the centre of New Zealand. We saw—and smelt—numerous goats and marvelled at the straightness of the pines and firs growing on the hillside —sure proof of Nelson's freedom from our Cook Island zephyrs. J On Saturday evening we #held aj very lively Camplire with more Mills lor the Cubs and Scouts. The Harlem Goat, Maori Battalion and other old favourites shattered the normal calm of the evening and sent the birds scattering from the eaves and even had a had effect on the furniture in the hall, anticipating the Fall of Rome (enquire further, personally!) Early Sunday morning we met the Scouters and. Cubmasters and engaged in thorough discussions on Cubs, Scouts and Rovers, though sundry placards on the wall proclaiming the relativ<> merits of beer and eggs were rather distracting. The afternoon was spent by our Cubmasters with the local Sixers and Seconds and now the Rangatira Den ain't just exactly w-liat it was, but what of it? They had a great time together. Patrol Leaders and Seconds rallied in force at Stv'Joseph's Den to meet us

and after a while questions came so fast that pur time was well extended. Sunday evening brought us all to the house of the County Commissioner, Dr. Stoney Johnston, and his hospitality was greatly appreciated. Monday was The Great Day, and while the Cub Packs were enjoying a round of outdoor activities at the Central School, the Nelson Scouts were working out, in Patrols formed 011 the spot to mix up the Troops, a series of Scouting problems. Making comparisons would, of course, be unfair, but we had a most enjoyable day and know that the Scouts learnt quite a lot which will help them. They were very keen and were anxious to learn. Six very tired but very happy people crawled up the gangway of the Arahura, but still alive enough for a spot of singing before going below. There was moonlight on the water, snow on the distant mountains behind us, dark islands ahead and peace at sea. It was a strenuous week-end, but we feel it was well worth while, to meet and make new Scout friends and help and encourage them.