BOY SCOUTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18414, 21 May 1920, Page 6

BOY SCOUTS.

(Contributed.) THE PRINCE’S VISIT. Tho chief item of interest this week was the visit of H.R.H. tho Prince of Wales, to Christchurch. Owing to the fact that those responsible for the otficial programme oouid not arrange tor tho liny fcieoutH and the Girl Peace Scouts to' bo inspected as special units, tiio troops in most places had to tall in with the arrangements nnuio by the local celebration committees, and consequently were not seen at their best. 'Hie Mayor,' l>r Thacker, M-P., kindly promised that he would endeavour to lot tho Prince seo the city and suburban troops on Friday morning, May 14, at Sydenham Park. On the off-chance of ttio Prince passing through the park on his way to the. Cashmere Sanatorium, the troops assembled at 9 a.m., and though the morning was cold and wci, 50(i Hey fccouti, and lth) Girl Peace Scouts, with forty-two officers, answered the roll call Rangiora mustered strongly, and the Lyttelton Ships Company—the Trafalgar—in their blue naval uniform was conspicuous on tho right of tho line. W hen it was found that; the Prince would not visit the Sanatorium that morning, the troops were marched to the Christchurch Club, where the Prince was .staying, and formed up in a hollow square, with the Girl Peace Scouts in the centre auu tho “Hull Pups’’ on the left. As tho Prince had left the club a few minutes previously.-Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey, Lord Mountbatteu and party took tho salute, and the Admiral .subsequently inspected the Girl Peace Stouts and the Buy Scouts, shook hands with all the officers and congratulated the De-puty-Commissioner, Captain D. C. W. Cossgrove, who was in command of the parade, upon the splendid turn-out, and said ho would tell the Prince of the circumstances, and ho felt sure that tho Prince would regret ho had missed so fine a display The Chief- Commissioner arranged with Admiral Halsey for tho troops to line the street from the club to the platform on Latimer Square, where the civic reception was to beheld -in the afternoon. The troops were then dismissed till 1 p.m., when they formed up in two lines, as arrungcu. -i Cadet guard of honour was unexpected ly drawn up between tho lines, which in a measure spoiled tho effect, but alter the Prince had inspected the guard, Admiral Halsey presented the Ohio! Commissioner to his ltbyal Highness, who expressed his regret at missing the moming inspection, and then walked down tne lines to tho entrance, wliero the Girl Peace, Scouts were assembled. Here Mrs Cossgrove, who was present as representing tho Girl Peaco Scouts’ Council, was presented to his Royal Hignness- The Scouts then formed up in column of fours and matched to Hagley Park, to form a barrier with their staves around three sides of the largo parade ground . Here the boys stood keeping the immense crowds in position for upwards of two hours. Tho Commissioner gratefully acknowledges the great consideration of the Christchurch public shows the Scouts on accosions such as these. There was no hustling of the little lads, who stood as firm as posts with their staves, keeping back that mighty crowd of citizens eager to get near the Prince. Through the kindness of Dr Thacker and the good offices of Admiral iia Ley the Prince was given the opportunity to review tho troops of both associations on Sunday atternoon. Though the parade was only called by a late advertisement on Saturday evening, there was a good turn-out. The parade was formed up in the form of a semi-circle with tho Girl Peace Scouts on the right and the “ B’all Pups” on the left. Nine standard bearers, with the King’s standard at guard on the right, were drawn up in front, of the semi-circle, the Sydenham bugle band behind them, and farther back the leaders of the Dominion Rally under Scoutmaster Fruggatt. As the

Prince approached he was received with the Royal salute, flags were lowered and staves presented. The linka was given in splendid time by the Roy Scouts and the powhiri by the “Bull Pups.’’ The Chief Commissioner introduced Captain U. C. W. Cpssgrove, Deputy-Commissioner, Mr D. M. Brown, District Commander of No. 1 District, Mr Woods, Senior Scoutmaster of No. 2 District, and Mr Marlowe, District Secretary. The Prince then inspected the standard bearers. Ho was particularly interested in the standard, which his royal father had presented to New Zealand. The band and haka leaders next were inspected and complimented upon their good work, the Prince shaking hands warmly with Air Froggatt, On approaching, the right of the semi-circle his Iloyal Highness smilingly approached Airs Cossgrove saying, that he was pleased to see lier again, and then walked along the parade shaking hands with the Bcoutmistresses and Scoutmasters. He spoke to many of the boys, asked them their age, how long they had been in their troop and complimented them upon earning so many badges. Before leaving he congratulated Captain Cossgrove upon having such a smart lot of boys and turning to the Chief Commissioner he said “ I shall bo nblo to tell the Chief Scout that I have seen your fine troops.” He seemed greatly pleased with the display given, and in conversation with the Mayor subsequently, bo stated Hint he considered the display was the star item of his programme.

Tno Friday and the Sunday parades were no part of the official programme, but were made possible by the combined determination of the provincial and district headquarters to bring their troops before the notice of his Royal Highness if it were at all possible. His Worship the Mayor lias notified Captain Cossgrove, the Deputy-Com-missioner, that ho will invito 300 of the Boy Scouts and Girl Peace Scouts to attend the children’s ball on Saturday evening.