BOY SCOUTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18331, 13 February 1920, Page 7

BOY SCOUTS.

(Contributed.) Numerous letters have been received during the past week seeking information as to what should be done in preparation for the Prince's visit. The Chief Commissioner wrote to the Prime Minister requesting him to make arrangements, when the programme of his Royal Highness's tour was being drafted, for him to see the Scouts in the towns and districts through which he passed. Mr Massey has replied that this will be borne in mind. The Chief Commissioner; requests Commissioners and District Commanders to get into touch at once with the reception committees in their districts and to secure a place for their Scouts in the programme. If it is found that time will not permit for H.R.H. to see special demonstrations of Scout work, the boys will take part in the welcome arranged by the committee of the district, either in a procession or in lining the route. If the latter, occasion should be taken to give the Rally as he passes through. If the boys have to fall in and march in rear of the Senior Cadets and marchpast, Scoutmasters should practise marching in column of patrols and yelling the patrol calls. When forming up to march past the Scouts should be in column of patrols, all juniors in the rear. On reaching the first flag at the saluting base each patrol should break into the double and yell their patrol

calls &s they pass the Prince, and wavo their hats or carry them on the top of their poles, if this in practice is found to be practicable. When the patrols reach the second flag at the saluting base thev should break into quick time and the column be wheeled by their Scoutmaster, either to the right or left,

as the casa may be, into the centre of the parade ground, and form up quickly in the manner described in the Dominion Rally leaflet, and prepare for the haka as the Prince moves up. If there is not time to do more, cheers should be given, and the troops march off after tho Prince has retired. Should there be time for a display, the troops should, after the Rally, be doubled outwards from the flanks and form a circle round the Prince, with their staves, if necessary, and the troops giving the displays in ambulance, rescue from fire or water, bridge-building, etc., being also within the circle, should commence work at once and give a short, snappy display. Salute the Prince and double into the circle, where they will remain at the alert during his speech. Hats will then be put on staves and cheers given as instructed. Should the Prince

be able to make a special inspection of tho Boy Scouts, the instructions laid down in the Dominion Rally leaflet should be followed, the circle formed as described above, and the programme decided upon carried out. Exhibitions of the handicraft which the boys have been taught and samples of tltf» work done should be placed in readiness for inspection. , The Chief Commissioner will be pleased if Scout officers will exercise their powers of initiative and do their best to introduce anything which they believe will add to the heartiness of the welcome or make a greater success of the display. GIRL PEACE SCOUTS. Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool inspected the Girl Peace Scouts of the Christchurch district on February 7, at Latimer Square. A guard of honour was drawn up in two lines facing west, under the direction of DeputyDistrict Commanders G. W. Bishop and W. R. Tooth. The Girl Peace Scouts were drawn up in a hollow square, with a line of Fairy Sccuts in white in the centre.- Quite a number of Boy Scouts, under their Scoutmasters, assembled and formed a wide ring round the girls, the guard thus preventing the public from interfering with the arrangements. A colour party, including the King's flag and the Sydenham Bugle Band, added greatly to the picturesqueness of the scene. Her Excellency was received by Colonel Cossgrove, V.D., and Miss Muriel V. Cossgrove, who represented her mother, who was absent through illness. Miss Margaret L. Cossgrove (Fairy Scout), daughter of Captain J. C. W. Cossgrove, presented her Excellency, on behalf of the Dominion Council, with a pretty bouquet tied with khaki ribbon. On passing through the guard the ladies of the Dominion Council were presented to her Excellency. The members present were Lady Heaton Rhodes, Mrs H. T. J. Thacker

(Mayoress), Mrs H. Holland, Mrs R. Moore, Mrs A. W. Andrew, Mrs Erwin and Miss L. Tabart. Her Excellency then proceeded to inspeot the Girl Peace Scouts, and as she approached she was received with the General Salute by the Sydenham Band, the bugles being led by Miss Hilda Fendall, of the Rangiora troop, who blew the .salute faultlessly from the right flank of her troop. There was a good muster considering that many were absent through sickness or prior engagements. The following Scoutmistresses were presented to her Excellency as she approached the flank of their troops:—Miss Fendall, of Rangiora troop; Mis.; TVicst, of St Matthews; Miss Ritchie and Miss Parsons, of St Michael's trooa; Miss Carter, of Riccarton troop; Miss Willis, of Opawa troop; Mrs Odering and her assistant, of Sydenham troop and Fairies; Miss Carnie. of SpreydoV troop. After the inspection her Excellency presented the Townend Home Nursing Challenge Shield io Misß Fendall on behalf of her troop, and in an interesting speech congratulated her upon her troop's success. Her Excellency took the opportunity of commending the splendid scheme or training to the girls. She hoped that they would make ihe most of it, as it could not fail to make them better women. She then presented Miss Carnie with the long service medal, and expressed her pleasure at hearing of the good work she had done. Colonel Cossgro/e then thanked her Excellency for tha honour she had done the troops by her presence snd inspection. He said that she would doubtless be pleased to hear that the Girl Peace Scout scheme of training, inaugurated in New Zealand in 1908, was the first of its kind in the world, and that it had since been copied under different names in Britain and many other parts of the world. He believed that no girl organisation had done more useful work during the war and during the late epidemic than the Girl Peace Scouts of New Zealand. He trusted that when her Excellency returned to tho Homeland and saw our sisters, the "Girl Guides," rhe would be able to tell them of the good work being done here. Miss Muriel V. Cossgrove then presented her Excellency, on behalf of the troops of the Dominion, with tho association's badge in gold, and pinned it on her breast amid applause. The badge consisted of the " fleur-de-lys" within a wreath of fern leaves, and set with emeralds, her Excellency's birth stones. On the left lorn were the letters "G.P.S." embossed, and on the right fern " N.Z." On the back of the emblem was engraved: "Presented to the Countess of Liverpool, 1920." Her Excellency, returned graceful thanks and said she would always treasure the beautiful badge. Before leaving her Excellency inspected the Boy Scouts, who formed the protecting ring;, and the Scoutmasters Avere introduced to her. She left amid ringing cheers." Mrs Beath, of the Roslyn troop, Mrs Glendining, of the Roslyn Fairies, and Mrs Frieberg, of North-East Valley troop, Dunedin, sent apologies for absence and wished her Excellency long life and much happiness.