THE SCOUT MOVEMENT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14982, 30 April 1909, Page 8

THE SCOUT MOVEMENT.

CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS. Major Cossgrove has received from Mr Pearse, assistant-secretary to the manager of the Boy Scouts, Bedford House, 33, Henrietta Street, Loudon, a letter thanking him for the great assistance he lias given to the movement in. New Zealand, and stating that Mr Pearse intends to visit Now Zealand, in a few months. > . Now that winter has set in, less outdoor work will be j>ossible for Boy Scouts, but it is expected that scoutmasters throughout the dominion will avail themselves of the long evenings to 'teach their scouts knotting, splicing, signalling (semaphore, Morse and lamp), life-saving drill and ambulance work, as well as jiu-jitsu, boxing, single-sticks, shooting and the many useful oxercises recommended. Lieutenant Andrews, of the Canterbury Engineers, has consented to help any scoutmaster who wishes to take up signalling for his patrols. Those who wish to take up life-saving will be supplied with literature on the subject by Commander Ingall. Chief Scoutmaster Purchon, of . Napier, has formed-a drum and fife band in his battalion, and Mr Lovell has ‘offered his services as conductor. A member of the Telegraph Department’s staff has commenced giving instruction in signalling. Patrols have been formed in Carterton, Palmerston North, Timaru, Waimate and Gore, and much enthusiasm is shown - everywhere. Chief Scoutmaster Majlisch, of Kaiapoi, has added Morris-tubo shooting to his course of instruction, and lie has devised a good tracking iron. Major Cossgrove, after consultation with the chief scoutmasters, has decided to have a church parade of the town and country troops at the Anglican Cathedral at an early date. The Girl Peace Scouts are enrolling steadily. Miss Keith, M.A., lias been appointed scoutmistress to the Rangiora, troop, and Miss Balch scoutmistress to the Fitzgerald Avenue Methodist Church troop. Scoutmistress Miss C. E. Cossgrove recently took out a troop of girls from the Kaiapoi, Woodond and Rangiora patrols for a day on the Woodend beach. Life-saving and ambulance exercises wore taught, as well as what to do and what not to do in cases of fainting. The scoutmistress sent a patrol of six girls, with one who was a stranger to them, to a spot at some considerable distance from the others, ostensibly to secrete themselves, but really to test their ability to apply the instruction she had given them. After proceeding for some distance the strange girl complained of feeling sick - ,

and shortly afterwards fell down in a dead faint. For a moment the others were beside themselves with fright. One ran back, calling loudly for the' scoutmistress ; another ran for water, while those arouud her proceeded to unfasten the fainting girl’s clothing. One girl, thinking that the water was too long in coming, dropped upon . her knees and blew in the • face of the patient. This was too much for the “ make-believe,” who burst out laughing just as the scoutmi6tress and the others arrived.