LARGE GATHERING

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 58, Issue 4121, 4 April 1949, Page 5

LARGE GATHERING

DISTRICT SCOUT RALLY FUNCTION HELD IN PAEROA FOSTERING INTEREST IN WORK As had been expected there was a large gathering of the Scouts of the Te Aroha district at the district rally held on the Paeroa District High School grounds on Saturday last. For the Scouts it was a great day and the assembled visitors were provided with an interesting spectacle. Boy Scouts, Rover Scouts and Cubs were there from the various parts of the Te Aroha area. From Waitoa group, Rover Scouts and Cubs; Te Aroha group, Scouts and Cubs; Manawaru group, Scouts; Lone Scouts and Cubs were also present from Tirohia, Paeroa and Netherton.

The ceremony of the flag break was performed by Patrol Leader Steven Gilbert, who led the salute. In charge of the operations was District Commissioner W. A. Scott (Te Aroha), and associated with him were rally warden, group Scout Master G. Williamson and the district secretary, group Scout Master P. C. McNeill. Others taking part in the ceremony and assisting in the competitions were Scout Masters J. Luxton, Waitoa; W. Gilbert, Manawaru; R. Shanley, Te Aroha; and assistant Scout Master H. Branch. Also present were Mrs Gordon Williamson, Commissioner Girl Guides, Miss B. Rendell (Brown Owl), and Miss M. Matuschka (Tawny Owl), both of the Manawaru group. Te Aroha Band Present The Scouts were piped on to the rally ground by the Te Aroha Pipe Band. After the singing of the ( national anthem County Commissioner S. G. Southern inspected the assembled Scouts. A welcome was then extended to all. by District Commissioner Scott. It was most gratifying, he said, for so many areas to have representatives present. He was particularly pleased to see so many lone Scouts, who had come by themselves, but he assured them that the time would soon come when they would have groups around them. Special thanks were due the j Te Aroha Pipe Band, said the commissioner and a debt of gratitude was | owing them for their generosity. The main work of organising the rally had been done by the Tirihoa group and to it and the Scout committee he wished to express his thanks. To the committee of the Paeroa District High School and to all those who had helped he wished to say “thank you.” Chief credit for the success of the rally must go to Group Scout Master Williamson. Welcome By Mayor The Mayor of Paeroa, Mr Edwin ! Edwards, then welcomed all visitors j to Paeroa. There was, said the Mayor, no Scout group in Paeroa, and the purpose of holding the rally in | Paeroa was to create enthusiast and by the display to awaken Scout interest. “ I will make myself available in every way to assist this worthy movement,” said Mr Edwards. To the Scouts the Mayor said that ihe wanted them to remember that they could not have their training and their enjoyment without the assistance of the adults. They should realise that they owe a debt of gratitude to those adults who were devoting so much of their time for the good, not of themselves, but for that of the

young people. The Mayor then introduced County 1 Commissioner S. G. Southern and told of the great work he had done for British boys—the bringing of them to this country—how he had organised ■ the development of land and settled i each boy on a farm of his own. Some of those boys were present at the rally. Mr Southern had done a great work and his life was an example which others should follow. In replying to the welcome extended to him Commissioner Southern told the story of some sailors who had been invited to spend a holiday at Te ! Poi. They knew nothing of farm animals and one day two of the sailors 1 were wandering over the farm when ■ they came upon two cows in the 5 shade of a tree. The cows were stand--1 ing back to back, each swishing its 5 tail and so brushing away the flies i from the other. “ Did you ever see r the like of that? ” said one sailor, o “ That must be cow-operation ” said n the other. What we want, said the s commissioner, is “ cow-operation.” We want help for our movement, - which is one that makes for a real il brotherhood. He congratulated the 5, Scouts on their smart appearance, d Value of Scouting •r “ Wa can all look forward 10, 20 or 50 years, but we cannot know what

the future holds,” went on the com- ] missioner. “We cannot stop growing . up. We have all got to grow old, but the point is what are we going to ' grow into ? That is why we have , our Scout organisation. That is the reason for the symbol of the knot which is to remind Scouts of the duty to do every day the day’s good deed. “ The Scout movement is to teach you to grow up into good citizens — to help your country and our Empire,” continued Commissioner Southern, who hoped that when he next came to Paeroa the number of Scouts would have greatly increased and that the movement would have been keenly supported by the people of Paeroa. The results of the competitions were as follows:— Aggregate: Manawaru, 33 points, 1; Tirohia, 28, 2; Waitoa, 17, 3; Te Aroha, 11, 4. Message relay: M 1, T 2, W 3; chariot race, W 1, TA 2, T 3; ring lifting, M 1, T 2, W 3; knot relay, T 1, W 2, M 3; inspection points, TA 1, M 2, T 3; wall scaling, T 1, M 2, W 3; fire lighting and billy boiling, W 1, M 2, T 3; signalling, M 1, TA 2, ■ ( T 3; ambulance, T 1, M 2, W 3; I obstacle race, M 1, TA 2, T 3. Abbreviations: Manawaru (M), • Tirohia (T), Te Aroha (TA), Waitoa ; (W).