SEA SCOUTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18237, 27 October 1919, Page 10

SEA SCOUTS.

HALL OPENED AT LYTTELTON. The opening ceremony was perfonfled during liio week-end' ot the new half in Norwich tyuay, Ly Lei ion, recently secured and renovated for the new corps of- bea Scouts during tuo past month by Mr b. Booth, superintendent of the Lyttelton beamen's institute, who is acting as booutmaster. Baiore asaing Mrs Lester to declare tho hall open, Mr VV. X. Lester (Mayor), in the course of a short speech to tho boys outside tho hail, said that ho waß p.eascd to see that a bea Scouts' corps had been formed at Lyttelton, because Lyitoiton being a seaport, it was appropriate that the boys should receive a training such as that which they would obtain through their joiniug tho bea boouts, and which undoubtedly they would And of much value later in lifo. He hoped that the boys would be attentive to their commander. Mr Lester then asked Mrs Lester to open the door of the haff. Inside tho building, Co.onel Cossgrove addressed the boys in reference to tho Boy Scout activities, which had become univeisal. The hail which had been opened tor team that afternoon was the largest of its kind ill r\ew Zealaud, and ho hoped that the Lyttelton troop of Sea Scouts would become tho largest in tho Dominion. Lyttelton once had tho largest troop in New Zealand of Boy Scouts, but owing to tho loss of their energetic booutmaster, the troop soon broke up. However, the newly-formed troop of Sea Scouts Wero at present well organised. They had made an exoo.iont start and with the advantages they hud in possessing such a fine hall, they should receive much useful training. In Mr Booth they had a most energetic organiser and worker. Captain J. A. H. Marciel and the Rov Mr Todd also spoko. During tho afternoon tho troop was insnected by Colonel Cossgrove and tho Rev Mr Frost. Colonel Cossgrove presented seven of the boys who had passed tho signalling and compass test with tho Scouts’ badge for that work.