VISITING BOY SCOUTS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 4 January 1924, Page 7

VISITING BOY SCOUTS.

NEW PLYMOUTH ON TREK

AN INTERESTING TIME.

In order to give his boys experience of road travel and camping, Scoutmaster Hopkins, of New Plymouth, organised a route march to Hawera via Opunake and back via Mountain Road. The company of twelve left New Plymouth at 9 a.m. on Monday last. They reached Oakura at 1.30 p.m. and Patua at 3.45 p.m., camping there for the night. New Year's Day saw the camp astir at 4 o'clock and on the road after breakfast, reaching Okato at 7.45 a.m. /and Rahotu at 4.50 p.m. ! There they spent the second night, and, starting in good time on the third day, 10 a.m. saw them in Opunake, where they remained until 1 p.m. on the following day. Leaving there in the afternoon they pitched the next j camp at Kaupokonui. and continuing I on the day following they arrived at Hawera this morning at 10.50 a.m., where they are camped m the school grounds. They will spend the weekend here, and ihe Mayor has promised to see that as many privileges as possible are granted them. To-night they will be the guests of Mr. Conroy at the Opera House pictures, giving a short programme during the interval. They intend to call on the local boys at the camp o» Saturday. ■ It may be mentioned that their gear consists of tent, oil sto,v. . food, and other outfit is carried in a hand-cart drawn by the boys. They are youngsters of from ten to fourteen years old, and are marching very well, says the master, and generally are in good spirits. The roads are reported to be in good marching condition. .The expedition reflects sci^a* credit on the scoutmaster, and is a tribute to the boys' grit and determination. It will be of interest to know that one of the boys has been selected to join the unit which is being despatched from New Zealand to the Empire Exhibition.