Scout Notes

Northern Advocate, 7 December 1935, Page 4 (Supplement)

Scout Notes

by TUAKANA

THE SPIRIT OF CAMP

With the coming of the Christmas holidays, hundreds of Scouts will be under canvas. What boy is there who can read “Robinson Crusoe” or “Swiss Family Robinson” without wishing that life could be something like that at times —starting from the beginning, building your own hut, and finding out all sorts of dodges for making the best things and for overcoming the difficulties of primitive life. Then there is the strange joy of really living in the open; eating, sleepingj working, playing, worshipping j amidst majestic trees and rich green surroundings. And all this with comradeship. From the first “rejveille” there are things that can be j done only together—Scouting work, ; getting tents ready for inspection, to j say nothing of football and cricket matches, and bathing parties, hikes and treasure hunts. And last, but not j least, is that gathering together at the close of the day to thank God for 'everything that brings us nearer together in the spirit and purpose of jthe Prince of all true comradeship and loyalty. , We are brought together by ja 5 something that is deeper than all 1 our differences and by a Someone 'whose longing to make friends of us ; is strangely felt in all our hearts. | When we have shared this friendliiness, which becomes at last so easy land no natural in work and worship jand play, we find that after the last | camp song has been sung and the last I of the tents is struck and we are carried* apart to our separate homes, something remains in our hearts and warms them through many a Wintry lonely day in years to come. SCOUT LAW COMPETITION The annual competition for the Scout Law Shield will take place on Thursday evening next, December 12. The Troops will sit as under: Hora Hora.—At Hora Hora School; Mr S. 4. McKenzie, supervisor. Whangarei and Trinity.—At Whau Valley, School; Mr A. M. Steadman, supervisor. Maunu.—At Maunu School; Mr C. S. Going, supervisor. WHANGAkEI SCOUTS OWN A Scouts Own service will be held in the Regent Theatre, on Sunday, December 15, at 2.30 p.m. The speaker is to be Mr G, N. Morris, S.M, As on former occasions, the Girl Guides will join in the parade and service. Scouts and Cubs will meet at the Triangle at 1.45 p.m. The Municipal Band will be in attendance and, inside the Theatre, will accompany the singing. Special hymn sheets will be distributed. A retiring collection in aid of the Crippled Children’s Fund will be taken up. TENDERFOOT BADGE Today we complete the knots which a Recruit is required to know to past his Tenderfoot Badge test.

SHEEPSHANK.— The Sheepshank is the most practical and satisfactoryway of shortening a rope without cutting it. Gather up the amount of rope to be shortened as in the first illustration. Then with parts A and B make a Half Hitch round each of the bends as in the finished drawing.

HALF HITCH (Right) .—This is made by passing rope end round standing part and behind itself. If free end is turned back and forms a loop, the hitch can be easily loosened. A ROUND TURN AND TWO HALF HITCHES (Left) are used for tying a rope to a spar. HORA HORA TROOP Last week’s parade was attended by 21 Scouts, under S.M. G. W. Sharman. The inter-patrol monthly competition was won by the Kingfishers. Congratulations to P.L. Ivan Soich. THE SCOUTING SPIRIT Troops of Scouts without uniforms, one troop parading on a cold night and many of the boys with bare feet. This was spoken of last week by Colonel P. C. Fenwick, honorary Dominion Chief Commissioner, at the Dominion Council of the Boy Scout Association, which met at the Young Men’s Christian Association. The

council was discussing financial troubles. Colonel Fenwick said he had seen those conditions on the West Coast (South Island). It spoke volumes for the pluck of those boys, he thought, who were determined to be Scouts. “I 1 was sad, but proud, when I came away/’ he said. Another observation he made was that the type of boy the movement most wanted was the one who broke windows and knocked policemSen’s hats off. That was the kind the Movement would train to be good citizens.