BOY SCOUTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18066, 5 April 1919, Page 4

BOY SCOUTS.

(Contributed.) I am pleased to report tliat scouting in Christchurch is growing by leaps and bounds, and that several good men are offering their services for new troops. Tho Chief Commissioner and Mrs Cossgrovo attended a social evening of Die Avonsido Troop in the Y.M.O.A. rooms to assist in the presentation of badges to tho Scouts and to present to Mr D, M. Brown, lato Scoutmaster of the troop, a silver teapot suitably inscribed and a handsomely-bound notebook from the troop as a mark of their appreciation of his services. Mr D. Richardson was also presented by the troop with a silver stop-watch. In making those presentations the colonel commended the work of the recipients nnd asked the parents who were present to help Mr Richardson to make a success of his fine troop- During the evening the boys gave exhibitions of physical drilling, jujitsu and ambulance. The same evening Colonel and Mrs Cossgrovo attended the concert of St James’s Troop Riccarton, and at its close addressed the audience shortly. Colonel Cossgrovo asked for the sympathetic help of the public for the troop and spoke appreciatively of the good work of Messrs Froggatt and Betts —the Scoutmasters. On Friday, March 28, the new troop at Radley was visited. Tho public meeting was held in the Druids’ Hall, IVoolston, and the newly commissioned Scoutmasters, Messrs Blazy nnd Gormnek, with a full troop, were enrolled and the audience addressed by the colonel. There are now two troops in Woolston, St John’s and this new one whoso troop name is not yet decided upon. It is hoped that a brotherly and healthy rivalry will result. I hear that a Scoutmaster haa now been found for the Spreydon Troop, nnd that troop meetings will be resumed at onceMr Armitage, an ex-Linwood Scout nnd returned soldier, has offered to take over the Linwood Troop- This will he a good thing for the troop as tho late Scoutmaster has been too ill to look after it

Mr 0. M. Newton, Scoutmaster of Edge ware Road troop, is to be congratulated upon the enthusiasm ho has aroused among tho parents and boys of his troop. During tho few weeks he lias had the boys he has had them properly uniformed, every hoy having his colours, garters and staff. Ho has secured the Rugby Street Church schoolroom for parades, and has been entrusted with the formation of a contingent of hoys from tho Rugby Street Church. Though both troops will be formed under the auspices of the Methodist Church, they will be quite undenominational, nnd any boy not already a Scout will be ndmitted. Mr Clarkson, of Christ’s College, will become a Scoutmaster in due course. Mr Newton has already arranged to hold an Easter Camp, and a concert to proyido funds for that and other no. cessitios was held in St Matthew s schoolroom on Tuesday last. There was a good attendance of young people and parents, and tho programme was well received. Unfortunately, space forbids a fuller notice of this concert; suffice it to say that over £8 net was the result. GIRL PEACE SCOUTS. The following letter from Mr G. "WRussell, Minister of Health, will explain itself: Cossgrove,—Sir—I have tho honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter bringing under my notice certain matters connected with tho Girl Peace Scout Association, and stating that while you presume there is little hope of getting financial assistance from the Department, you would be glad if the scheme could have my official approval. In reply, I have to thank you for tho copy of your association’s text book dealing with peace scouting for girls, and to state that the scheme has my heartiest approval. As, however, anticipated by you, I regret that it is not possible to make any monetary grant to this association. At the same time, I desire to draw your attention to section 25 of the Public Health Act, 1918, in which provision is made to enable local authorities to contribute moneys to the assistance of public health organisations, and it seems to me that as your association deals, among other things, with homo nursing and invalid cooking, it might he possible for you to obtain contributions from some of the local governing bodies. Meantime, permit me to wish .Vour association every success in its endeavour to benefit humanity.” I have to congratulate the Scoutmlstressos of St Matthew’s and St James’ G.P.S. troop upon tho neatness of the uniforms of their girls. They are of regulation length and pattern, and the general effect is certainly very pleasing. Mrs Cossgrove. who designed the uniform, was grentlv pleased with those she saw nt Mr Newton’s concert on Tuesday night.