CHIEF SCOUT'S VISIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15004, 28 May 1912, Page 8

CHIEF SCOUT'S VISIT.

REVIEW OF CADETS AND SCOUTS.

WET WEATHER ARRANGEMENTS.

DRILL HALL MAY BE USED.

JjEEtTTENANT-GENEBAI- Sir' Robert S. S. Baden-Powell, K.C.8., K.C.V.0., who is best known as the hero of Mafeking and the founder of the boy scouts' organisation, will arrive in Auckland by tho B.&. Wimmera, from Sydney, this morning. This afternoon he will accompany His Excellency the Governor in a review of the cadets and boy scouts of Auckland, and in the evening he will lecture in the Town Hall. The arrangements made by the Defence authorities in Auckland and those who control tho boy scouts, were upset yesterday by the delay of the s.s. Wimmera, on which Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Baden-Powell is a passenger, and for today the weather is anything but promising. However, arrangements have been made by Colonel G. C. B. Wolfe, officer commanding the district, to meet the situation if the weather does not clear. Signal at Town Hall. This morning a Union Jack will be flown from the head of the flagstaff above the Town Hall. If it is found that the weather continues too wet for the holding of the review in the Domain Cricket Ground, the flag will be hauled down at 11.30 a.m. or 12 noon, as a signal that the parade will not be held at the Domain. Instead, the review will be held at the ■Drill Hall, Rutland-street, the boy scouts occupying the Drill Shed proper, and the senior and junior cadets mustering in the gun shed, where they will be reviewed; by i His; Excellency the Governor and by the ♦Chief Scout. ' The original orders which were issued will hold good, apart from the change in the parade ground—it such a change is necessary. If the flag is still flying above the Town Hall after noon the review will be held on the Domain Cricket Ground. The Parade. Tho senior cadets will assemble at 1.30 p.m., to be formed into two battalions. Twenty-eight companies of senior cadets ; are affected by the review. The junior ! cadets, five battalions, commanded by ! •Major Robb, will assemble at 2.15 p.m., at which time the Dominion Boy Scouts, under District Commander H. Stebbing, will also be in position. The battalions will be reviewed by Lord Islington and the Chief Scout at three p.m. The parade will be commanded by Colonel Wolfe. After the inspection and a march past a saluting; point, the boy scouts will give a display, ; which promises to be vory interesting, and this will be followed by an advance in review order, a royal salute, and addresses by the reviewing officers. Arrival of Wai&ato Scouts. Fifty boy scouts from tho Waikato— about 30 from Gambridge and the remainder from Hamilton and Frankton arrived in town yesterday in charge of Chief Scoutmaster W. E. Connolly and Scoutmasters R. L. Connolly and A. Drake. Excellent, accommodation was provided for the boys through the kindness of the officers of the Auckland Y.M.C.A. The comfortable and spacious- gymnasium of the Y.M.C.A. was allotted to them for sleeping quarters, and a large supply of straw was obtained"for bedding. The Defence Department was not able to supply blankets for the whole of the detachment, but the remainder necessary were lent by Messrs. Smith and Caughey. Donations of provisions were made by Messrs. Bycroft and Co., J. M. Mennie, Ltd., H. M. Smeeton, Ltd., and R. Arthur, and other donations by Messrs. C. J. Parr (Mayor of Auckland), Wesley Spragg, and W. T. Coleman. The Y.M.C.A. procured a special cook to attend to the victualling of the detachment. The reading rooms, games rooms, and other attractions of the boys' department of the Y.M.C.A. were thrown open to the boys. When a Herald reporter looked into the gymnasium he saw over 50 healthy, happy-looking boysmany of them of fine physique— a scout "rally" and war-cry as if they were thoroughly enjoying the experience. The boys had been well looked after in their journey, both by their officers and by the railway authorities, the district traffic manager having gone to much trouble to assist the scouts. Girl Peace Scouts. The girls' peace scouts of Auckland will be inspected by Their Excellencies the Governor and Lady Islington and by Lieu-tenant-General Sir Robert Baden-Powell on the tennis courts in the Government House grounds at two p.m. to-day. Parents and frioriHs of the girls may attend if they desire. A Civic Reception. A civic reception will be tendered to Lieutenant-General Baden-Powell by the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. C. J. Parr) in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall this morning at 11.30 o'clock. At the request of the Mayor, Mr. W. B. Leyland (president of the National Defence League) will be present and will deliver a short address. All citizens taking an interest in. the proceedings are entitled to be present at the reception. Tins evening the Chief Scout will leave for Wellington by the Main Trunk express, after he has delivered his lecture in the Town Hall. In response to a request from Lieutenant-Colonel Cossgrove, V.D., chief commander of the boy scouts organisation in New Zealand, the Hon. A. M. Myers (Minister for Railways) has instructed that the departure of the express bo delayed until 9.40 p.m., in view of the special circumstances.