BOY SCOUTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18217, 3 October 1919, Page 4

BOY SCOUTS.

(Contributed.) Will the Boy Scout who got the loan I of a bugle from one of tlie Opawa Scouts on the way over the hill to meet Admiral Jellicoe be "good enough to leave the bugle at the Dominion Boy Scouts' headquarters office, 133, Hereford Street, next to the'Bank of New Zealand,, as soon as possible? Scouts who see this request and know. the boy who has the bugle kindly tell him as he may not see trie paper, and not know to whom he should return it. Lone Scout Qlarence Pain, of Tirohnnga, is employed at an out station there, but has many opportunities of exercising those qualities which mark the Scout in whatever sphere or in whatever part of the world he resides. He does not wish to sever his connection with the organisation though there is no troop near enough for him to attend. He is, therefore, registered a* headquarters, and will bo attached for examination to the Blenheim troop. There seems to be some misapprehension among Scoutmasters who have a number of senior boys in their troops, regarding the formation of Rover pot-o'- It must he defmit»lv understood that no boy may bo admitted to a Rover patrol until ho has passed his fifteenth birthday. It must also he noted that Rover patrols are Boy Scouts, and must be registered as Boy Scouts in the usual way. If these boys are already registered in the patrols of their company they do not require to be registered again as Rovers. Some companies, ior example, have eight or nine patrol leaders who are over fifteen yeara of age. These boys may be formed into a Rover patrol and do the additional •work of Rovers without the payment of an extra registration fee, but if there bo admitted to the Rovers any boys who aro not already members of ' the association they mUsb pay the registration fees and be> registered r.s a Rover patrol of the troop or company to which they belong. Finally, all Boy Scouts must bo registered before they can wear the uniform, or be iu any. way attached to the association. To permit tho boys to remain in the association for months until they pass the second or first class tests of tho Boy Scouts is to render both the boys and their Scoutmaster liable to prosecution.

The result of the Totem pole competition will be made known next week. Scoutmasters sending in applications for the pole are requested to give the names of the boys, their ages, ;»nd the number of badges each boy has received from headquarters.

Two troops presented themselves for competition for tjie Chief Commissioner's guinea prize for the first troop that had supplied themselves with improvised staves. The result in, both cases was very disappointing. One Scoutmaster had twenty-four boys present on inspection, but a large proportion of them were juniors, who are not permitted to carry staves. The staves of this troop wore irregular in weight and length. The other competitor had only ten boys present out of nineteen on their roll. Their staves were regular in weight and length. Owing to tho want of definite instructions as to conditions of tho competition tho Chief Commissioner has decided to divide tho prize between the two competing troops in recognition of their atteinpl to show that a tioop has no excuse for parading without its staves.

Tho Auckland "Star," in reporting Admiral Jellicoe's reception in that tity, says that fifty King's vSeoutß were drawn up as a guard of honour, and at the conclusion of the welcome " Lord Jellicoe stepped down and went through tho ranks of tho Boy Scouts, several hundred strong, under Commissioner It. S. Abel, Lieutenant J. D. Campbell (Deputy-Commissioner), Lieutenant * A. J. Yeart (adjutant), Major Builinson (Provincial Secretary) ana Commanders Oxley and Grigsby. ■ The Admiral showed as much interest in tho little fellows as if he were inspecting Boy Scouts for the first time, alia in spite of a drizzling rain which hao." begun to fall, he went through the ceremony with as much courtesy as it ho had been at Court. At the close he said a few words of advice which even irresponsible youth could not fail to value. He spoke in very simple language of the duty of obeying Scout law, and urged the lads to live up to fiie spirit of New Zealand—-jthe spirit which had enabled the men of the Dominion to set an example to the world. It was the spirit of New Zealand which had enabled the people to build up tho Dominion to what it was, and ho hoped the boys before him would carry on the traditions. They must always remember the Scout motto: "Be prepared." They never knew when they might be called on to defend their country. Who, six years ago, when the .New Zealand was last in Auckland, would have dared to prophesy that - the Empire would be at war in 1914 P The hoys were invited on board the New Zealand, and were soon scampering prci her interesting and intricate recesses. The ship's people were much amused at the adaptation of the Maori haka with which the Scouts greeted the Admiral. The lads gave it with great vim. Somewhat unexpectedly the weather changed from dull to slight rain, but not enough to mar the Admiral's first welcome to Auckland."

On Saturday, September 20, Colonei and Mrs Cossgrove visited the new Sea Scout troop at Lyttelton. Thore were three boats' crews on parade., under the master of the company, Mr Booth. The colonel addressed the boys at some length on the Scout Law, and upon their duties as Sea Scouts, and thereafter swore them in. The troop will be known as the Ship's Company— Trafalgar at Lyttelton. As showing the interest taken in the new troop by the residents, Mr Booth reports that two of the shipping companies have promised compasses, rope 9, signalling flags, etc., while Mr Ferrimnn, of Ashburton, who was on a visit to the port, hearing from Mr Bcioth of the formation of the troop, donated £SO towards the troop's funds. Mr Booth at once Bpen part of this sum in securing the lease of a suitable hall, next to the Sailors' Institute, as a clubroom, etc, for the Ship's Company. Mr Booth is most optimistic regarding the ultimate success of the troop, and as only those boys who intend to play the game will be admitted to membership, there is every probability of his optimism being realised. .