BOY SCOUTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16493, 7 March 1914, Page 17

BOY SCOUTS.

(By VEDETTE.)

Some tivno ago Colonel Cossgrovo wrote to the Hon F. H. D. Bell, Minister of Immigration, asking for somo concessions to be allowed Boy Scouts sent from Britain by the Headquarters Association to bo trained as expert agricultural instructors on Mr P. R. Snrgood’s Wanakn Estate. In view of the fact that Colonel Cossgrove’s scheme for supplying farmers of tho dominion with farm boys was taken up by the Press some time before the Government took steps to supply the want, it. appears as if Mr Bell has shown him scant consideration. .The Minister not only took the idea from Colonel Cossgrovo, but now refuses to recognise his efforts on behalf of tho Scout movement in this dominion. Although the Colonel referred the Government to some of the Australian States whose Governments nro> giving tho movement every assistance, I find that not one concession asked for has been' granted to the New Zealand Scouts since tho Mat’d Government went out of office. This appears a romarkablo thing when it is realised how much the Dominion Council ts doing for tho movement, and how much nearly every other country is doing to assist the, movement within its borders. Mr Massey had previously stated that he would carefully consider the request when it came before him. Tho following is a copy of the letter received by, Colonel Cossgrovo,: — “ Lieutenant-Colonel Cossgrovo, Y.D., Dominion Chief Scout, Tuahiwi —Sir.— T have the honour, hv direction of the Hon Minister of Immigration, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of January 24, and, in reply, to inform you that your communication, as requested, has been duly forwarded to the Right Hon the Prime Minister. The Government lias completed its arrangements with the High Commissioner in London to supply bov farm labour for the .dominion, and for the present, at any rate, it cannot see its way to grant any assistance to the Boy Scout scheme. The Government is pleased to see tho interest that you are taking in the matter of colonisation, and also the deep interest that Mr P. R. Sargood is taking on the same subject'. The arrangements entered into between Mr Sargood and Mr Sedgwick are, however, of a private nature. —J. Email Smith, Under-Secretary.”

Colonel Bfownrigg. C. 8.. Commissioner for Oversea Dominions, writes to stato that the result of the King’s Standard Competition will be published in tho February issue of the ‘’Headquarters Gazette.” Me further states that the Boy Scout Association is delighted with tho progress the Scout movement is making in New Zealand, and that the Headquarters Council has no wish to interfere in any way with the control of tho movement, as the dominion has always taken the lead in Scouting among the oversea dominions.

District-Scoutmaster Rainsford. of Wahroonga, Sydney, writing to Colonel Cossgrovo, states:— ’* When down in Victoria attending the Australasian Rally with my contingent, representing New South Wales, I came across a copy of your constitution, etc., in tho local headquarters office, and found it of great interest. Could you ii’ianago to let mo have a cony, and also any other printed matter that might be helpful? I should like very much also to see a copy of your old paper, tho ‘ Dominion Scout ’?”

The following extract from the annual report of Mr W. J. Hughstoii, headmaster of the Grange Hill Openair School, Sandringham, Victoria, will he rend with pleasure by all Scoutmasters in tho dominion and will, I.

hope, induce more of our schoolmasters here to adopt Scouting ns a regular feature of their school work: —“ During the past year (1913) regular- practice, according to the season, has been kept up by every boy in cricket and lootball, and in addition we have done a good deal of valuable work in Scouting. A largo number of the boys have passed their tests in ‘ tenderfoot ’ and .second-class Scouts. In this feature of the school work T have been immensely helped by the advice and active assistance of Mr Derbyshire Roberts, tho organising Scout Commissioner.” Then, referring to the immense importance and vnlno of the Scouting idea, lie continues: —“Tt- is, indeed, as someone has said, a whole scheme of education in itself, mid I intend, as tho years go on. to introduce it more and. more into the life of the school.”

The boys who went over to Melbourne under District Commander Benjamin had such a good time and found so many opportunities to get rid of their pocket-money that most of them were ‘ ! stony-broke ” before they embarked upon their return journey, and but for tho fatherly interest* taken in them by Mr Benjamin would have returned penniless. They had intended making him a presentation, but for the above reason they were tillable to carry out their very laudable intention. They, however, handed him tho following letter before leaving tho ship:—'“ S.s. Ulimaroa, February 3, 191 kTo Mr Benjamin, Officer m Charge of Scouts. —Dear Sir.—-We. tho undersigned members of the New Zealand team of Boy Scouts visiting the Australasian rally, held at Melbourne on January 17, 1914, take this opportunity of expressing our sincere thanks to you. for your untiring efforts on our behalf to make this trip tho success which it lias been. Wo cannot express in. words our feelings of appreciation towards you, and trust that you long, in ay be spared to carry on y-oiir goal work in this grand move-ment.-—Again thanking you ,we remain, yours gratefully.” Here follow the signatures of Ernest Tapp, Scoutmaster Green Island, and the sixteen Scouts.

District Commander Cossgrovo, cf Palmerston North’, has sent in a very full and elaborate report of the' Napier rally. From the report 1 gather that 141 officers and Scouts were in camp, including five ladies, who acted as an ambulance section, and looked after the boys. Among ninny items on the programme was a demonstration, after tho style of the Birmingham rally, on the Queen’s Parade, the erection of a wigwam and an Indian war-dance: A feature of the camp life was the holding of a Court of Honour each evening, at which offenders against camp rules and so on were tried by a judge, jury and counsel chosen from among the boys themselves, the officers and remainder if tile Scouts being an Interested and amused audience. Commander Cosgrove says that the arguments displayed by some of the lads in questioning and cross-questioning were very remarkable, and showed a wonderful grasp of their subject. The sentences were usually carried out at tho conclusion of tho court, and were submitted to in true Scout spirit.

The Rev E. K. Nicholas, of Dannevirke, also writes a glowing account of the camp, and says he believes that tho lessons learned there will be put to good use later on. Mr Cossgrovo was voted to command the camp, and appears to have won golden opinions from all for the manner in which lie conducted it.

Before leaving the camp -Mr Cossgrovo ii'ns motored out to Itissington to inspect the Scouts there ami see some of their work. He found two splendid suspension bridges built by tins very smart patrol. One was a traffic bridge, built to order, and the other a really artistic and useful foot bridge, across n stream to the troop's clubroom and workshop. In the workshop the boys make 'deck-chairs and other useful articles, which find ready sale, and tints supply them with funds to carry on the work. The clubroom and shop were built by the eight boys and their Scoutmaster, Mr Cooksey, and the blinds forth© windows were made by the. young ladies of the district, who also worked tho Scout fleur-de-lis on each blind. Commander Cossgrovc rightly says, "'Scoutmaster Cooksey is a gentleman of rare ability and is deserving of great praise for wlmt he has done and is'doing for those, boys.”

The Lyttelton Scouts are turning out well to their weekly parades, lortyseven mustering out of a roll number of fifty last week. A second "Otter ' patrol troop is being formed by ChiefOtter Guy, and tho hoys are determined to qualify in time if possible. .Mr Guy has his work cut out.

Scoutmaster Sainton, of Tomukn, lias invited the Chief Commissioner to visit his troop at Master. If he can attend it is expected that Scouts from Timaru and Geraldine will be there, and tho Scoutmasters will meet at a dinner. Mr Salmon has done, a great work there among his boys, and though he has had an .uphill battle lie has scored all along the line.

Dunedin lias requested permission from,the Dominion Council to bold a Smith Island Rally there about Christmas time, and to hold a conference of Scoutmasters at the same time. Scout matters are looking up in Otago, and in Dunedin in particular. The city committee has now a line set of young, enthusiastic Scoutmasters, all of whom arc doing their best to work according to regulation, and make, vneir troops second to none, in flic dominion. The provincial secretary has forwarded from the. District. Committee a number of resolutions and recommendations, which will he discussed at Ihe next meeting of the Council.

{ ! i As District Commander Crawford has not replied to the Chief Oomniis- j sionor with regard to a successor to the 1 Rev 1. Swminim, the Chief lias in- j strurred Provincial Secretary "Walker | to convene a.'meeting of the Invercargill District Committee and to ask j them to appoint a suitable gentleman ■ for Commissioner for Southland.