NEW ZEALAND SCOUTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 17 January 1939, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND SCOUTS

PRAISED IN -SYDNEY CONTINGENT RETURNS BY AWATEA [United Press Association! AUCKLAND, 16th January. With an excellent record of good behaviour, sportsmanship and performance to their credit, 244 boy scouts i*cturned to New Zealand by the Awatea after attending the recent jamboree in Sydney. Other members of the contingent, which numbered about 540. will return this week by way of Wellington. Cabled reports of the fine bearing of the New Zealand boys were confirmed by the leader of the contingent, Commissioner Cooksey, Hawkes Bay, who i*eturned with the Awatea party. Mr Cooksey said he had received many compliments about the New Zealand boys, including a number of letters from responsible authorities. “It made me a very proud leader,” he said. Typical of the letters received was one from Mr M. D. Linklater, Sydney, who was in charge of the displays at the jamboree. Saying that he had attended two world jamborees, Mr Linklater said he had never seen anything to equal the display of old Maori customs given by the Dominion boys on 4th January. “From the date of their arrival the boys created a most favourable impression,” wrote the town clerk of Gordon. “Their smart appearance, general conduct and deportment in public on all occasions and their programme of activities and displays have evoked very favourable comment from resi- ; dents, and they feel the boys have j shown themselves as worthy represen- j tatives of New Zealand.” ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE Mr Cooksey said the jamboree * had been most successful and the boys had thoroughly enjoyed themselves. During the whole trip there had not been a single breach of conduct. A report that 40 New Zealand scouts had broken through the pickets at the jamboree was discounted by Mr Cooksey, who said he had made a personal investigation of the matter and had found the statement was without foundation. He also said that the measles outbreak on ' arrival at Sydney was not as serious as had been stated. Only one boy had contracted the complaint, which was in 1 a mild form. Within four days this boy and two companions had been let out of quarantine, other member's of the party having been given their fi’eedom after 48 hours. A special tribute was due to Scoutmaster Scott, Auckland, who, at the risk of missing the jamboree, had volunteered to look after the three boys during the period of isolation. Casualties during the stay were confined to a few cases of influenza. The behaviour of the boys was again exemplary on the return trip by the Awatea. In appreciation of the assistance and j hospitality received from the master, Captain Davey, the boys met him at a gathering on board and presented hiim with a photograph of the contingent. Officers and stewards of the Awatea were given souvenir cards. The scouts disbanded on arrival at the wharf, and about 100 returned to their homes by the afternoon express to Wellington.

300 STILL IN SYDNEY

HEAT WAVE VERY TRYING SYDNEY, 16th January. Three hundred New Zealand Scouts are remaining in Sydney, and of these only 40 are in camp at Bradfield, the remainder being billeted in Sydney homes. The contingent leader reports that the New Zealanders found the heat wave very trying, but stood it remarkably well. Five boys were overcome and placed in the camp hospital for two or three days’ rest. The general health of the whole contingent is very good. The boys have been taken to baths and beaches. Other New Zealand visitors spoken to were not unduly affected and now the conditions are more moderate, they are glad to have been present when the heat record was broken. Steady rain was falling in the coastal areas this morning.