SCOUT NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 121, 23 April 1936, Page 3

SCOUT NOTES

(By “Tenderfoot.”)

As promised, this week’s notes are chiefly accounts of camp doings during Eastertide. “Biscuit,” lor St. Paul’s, hais sent in a good report. The weather was ideal and though as the report .shows the presence of top much dew in the morning and other minor complaints, everything else seemed all in favour of the ca.mpers. Bth P.N. St. Paul’s Troop.—The camp was held on the Tiritea Stream, near the Scouts’ Pool, and we were most fortunate in having summer weather. However, the dew in tiie mornings proved annoying and there was not too must daylight at the end of the day. There were 11 boys in camp, nearly all of whom had never camped before. On Thursday night all packs were brought along and tlithi three Scouts and “Biscuit” loaded up the trek cart (borrowed from West End Troop) with some of the tents and gear and trekked out the Track Road corner and then down by a cart track to the camp site by the bush. We left town a.t about 7 o’clock and arrived at the camp site at a quarter to 9 in the moonlight. Coming down the rough cart track with a heavy load and only four to handle the cart caused some strain and anxiety, but all arrived safely and we soon had a tent erected and beds made. At 10.45 o’clock “Biscuit” had a plunge in- the stream, after which we four retired to, rest and to sleep. Six o’clock found ns awake and a start was made to set up camp. Breakfast we bail brought with us, and after we had eaten “Biscuit” returned to town on Ins bicycle (taken out on the trek cart) and arrived in time to load up the lorry with the rest of the gear. With the rest of the Scouts aboard we soon arrived at the top of the track where the trek cart was awaiting us. Three trips with the cart were necessarv to get everything down the hill, and by evening four tents and a kitchen shelter were erected. beds made and sausages cooked for the evening meal. All were in bed by 7.30, and after a ghost storv al‘ tried to sleep. Camp rouse was at 0.30. and Beaver Patrol wore on cook dutv and soon had the lveakfast readv—and well cooked, too. The other patrol resisted in erecting the flagpole and dining-tab'e. Inspection of tents, persons. pots and kitchen then took place. After dinner (stew, etc., apples and rice) a rest hour, and then swimming and games, and the canteen was not overlooked. On Sundnv till after dinner we were biisv'witb fl-vr break, inspection and cooking of dinner, with the other patrol looking alter camp tidiness, drawing water, getting the milk. etc. After the rest hour. Rev. A. N. Seotter and Mrs visited the camp and a “Scouts’ Own” service was conducted under the tall trees, the Scouts sitting on a convenient log which wo covered with a spare tent fly. Swimming was again indulged in, the water ■boi" < T almost at summer temperature o . (A camp fire was held on the Saturday night and a combined camp five was held with the Takaro Girl Guides, who wore spending the day near the camp. Camp fires were a great success and proved popular. Sport was also had with chariot races, the Girl Guiles getting practice as riders.) Monday came and camp had to be broken up, much to the sorrow of all. All the gear was up to the road by 2 o’clock ready for the carrier, and the rest of the afternoon till 4.30 was free for swimming,- tracking and games in the bush. The trek cart wars a great help and much fun was got out of puling itk We wish to thank the West End Committee for the urse of it; a'so all who lent us gear and in any way helped to make the camp possible and a success. All the boys arrived home healthy, if a. bit tired, and are looking forward to a fortnight’s camp at Christmas.

Christmas seems a long way off to some, but no doubt" the impressions made in this camp will live much longer. Boys who have once enjoyed camp life look forward to similar experiences, be they ever so far away. It is noticed that nothing is said about the frantic chase of the g’oeer who followed the departing campers who had forgotten their bread. Wasn’t he a sportsman to commandeer a car and transport the bread out to the camp at Tiritea, this despite the fact that he was annoyed because the boys ere they left had strewn the path with banana skins; too had for Boy Scouts, was it not? Cheers for the grocer ! Ist P.N. (Central) Group.—Scouts; There was a good attendance at . last Monday’s parade despite bad weather. A “going up” ceremony was held recently, when Senior Sixer Rex Palleson was transferred to the Scouts, a.nd we wish him good Scouting. Two new recruits were present at parade on Monday and we hope they will like Scouting. We received a visit iroin the District Commissioner, who was acompanied by Scouter R. B shill, of Blenheim. The Commissioner gave a yarn to the troop on Gilwell reminiscences. We sincerely hope that our team will have a victory at the tug-of-war. Cubs: The group extends its hearty congratulations to Akela Lady Cubmaster Barlow on passing part II of the cub wood-badge, and we feel sure that the pack will benefit greatly from her further knowledge of Cubbing. Thanks for the notes, Central. 1 would be glad of names of new recruits:

Now that the holidays are over we must settle down right away to good work. Each week tram now on we shall look for reports which, speak of work in the troops, also accounts of weekly activities inclusive of test results, with names of those passing. If I remember rightly, at last year’s big rally the displays of handcraft were very disappointing, and many troops dropped valuable points in this direction. Such tells of neglect in fostering this side of a Scout’s training, a very important one. Now for Te Awe Awe’s report, which came just in time for inclusion. S.M. Grindrod writes: Alas! Te Awe Awe, through unforeseen circumstances,, were unable to get to crimp. We were all terribly disappointed and can only hope to make amends at the first opportunity. Last week we visited West End and had practice for the coining tug-o’-war. Our team is as follows: F. Marshall, W. Allsopp, K. Better, N. Stubbs, H. Gush. We hope to win. Very sorry, Te Awe Awe, that the camp effort failed ; it was glorious weather and you missed a good deal. Better luck next time.

What about that tug-o’-war effort? All Saints’ troop are preparing. Very little is being said about it. Perhaps All Saints’ will tell us all about it next week.

Congratulations to Lady Cubnmsters Holmes and Bennett, who at Matamata during Eastertide passed the first stage for the Gil well wood badge.

Te Awe Awe pack.—At last Thursday’s pack meeting we were pleased to receive a visit from our old friend “Baloo” (Aldin ltoss) who is home on leave. “Bnloo’s” talk about the Navy was most interesting, while “Kim” and “Akela” told the pack a little about the camp they recently, attended at Matamata. We were pleased to present Sixer S'. Drake with his artist’s badge. On Tuesday we held a special meeting, having tea at the den. On behalf of the pack, Sixer J. Langley presented “Baloo” with a photograph

album from the boys, expressing the pack’s appreciation of “Baloo’s” nailing and cheerful help. We hope that lie will continue to enjoy his training, as .he is at present. i Lord Baden-Powell’s “one big mistake” was described bv Ladv BadenPowell, tbe Chief Guide, when she spoke to the Durban ltotary Club. “When first my husband started the movement, wlr’ch everyone though quite mad and bound to fail, it was started for bovs of Great Britain,” she said. “.He spoke to the la.te King Edward about it, and the latter, in his far-sighted way. asked him why it was copyright only for British boys. -My husband then made the one bis mistake that I have known him to make. He said that the movement was so purely British that nobodv else would take it up. It was no sooner established than all the other countries came along and took up the movement and developed it. ”