BOY SCOUTS' DISPLAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16950, 9 September 1918, Page 4

BOY SCOUTS' DISPLAY.

"RALLY" OF THE TROOPS.

DEMONSTRATION OF WORK.

As* interesting display of boy scout craft was held on the Domain Cricket Ground oil Saturday afternoon. Over 500 scouts, comprising the members of 14 troops in the Nos. 1 and 2 districts, participated in the parade, which was held before Colonel D. Cosgrove, Dominion Chief Scout, as inspecting officer, under the direction of Mr. J. D. Campbell, DeputyScout Commissioner for Auckland Central.

The boys assembled with their colours in : Grafton Road, near the entrance to the Grafton Bridge, and shortly before three o'clock they marched to the Domain, being played to the ground by the Pensonby Drum and Fife Band. On arrival on the Domain the troops occupied positions indicated by their markers, who had taken up their stations in advance. There was a large attendance of parents and the general public, and the bright spring day left nothing lacking for the complete success of the parade. The first event on the programme was a skilfully-executed Bcout "rally," which included a march-past. The 500 boyp, all gaily dressed in their many-coloured uniforms, and carrying their staves with soldierly bearing, marched by with countenances brightened by the spirit of keen enthusiasm and youthful pride. They, lure greeted with many expressions of appreciation'from the spectators, a special hand-clap being accorded to the St. Mary's Wolf Cubs, the most recently formed troop, which comprises chubby Little lads of ages ranging from seven to ten. The salute was taken bv Colonel Cosgrove. The Ponsonby Band'had now been reinforced by the Papatoetoe Scouts' Kohinoor Band, and the afternoon's proceedings were enlivened by an excellent programme of musical selections. The march-past was followed by the great circular rally, which was a fine spectacular display. Each patrol, as it made converging movement to the centre of the field represented a spoke of the half of an immense wheel. As the boys ran forward they uttered their distinctive patrol cries, representing the cries of particular animals or birds. The boys having assembled in the form of the 'half-wheel, gave a further demonstration of vigorous lung power in the form of the scout haka. The boys were then inspected and addressed by Colonel Cosgrove. Next followed a series of graceful "maze" movements, the boys marching and counter-marching in a number of circles, one immediately outside . the other. The movements" made a voir pictuiesque spectacle, The remainder of the afternoon was occupied by a varied list of events, all of which gave evidence of the useful nature of general scn. ; t work. The programme included demonstrations of bridging an imaginary stream. excellent ~ trestle, rope and lock work being carried out by the Jervois. Cromwell (Mount Eden), 1 and St. Mary's troops. A model camp was laid and erected by the Jervois, St. Barnabas'?, St. Mary's, and St. Andrew's troops. The Dartmouth. St. Barnabas's, and other troops gave an exhibition of fire drill, burning tea-tree huts being extinguished with commendable despatch. Other events were the fitting of a telegraph system by the St. Aldan's troop, field ambulance work by the Kohinoor and St. Alban's troops, physical drill by the St. Marv's Wolf Cubs, semaphore signalling by the Eden troop, cutlass drill by the Devdnport troop, cyclist patrol display by the Dartmouth troop, boxing by St". Mary's troop. Swedish drill by the Alban's troop, and the stopping of supposed runaway horses by the St. Barnabas's troop. Specimens of work done by the scouts, including a! large model aeroplane, were exhibited on! the ground. Colonel Cosgrove expressed himself highly pleased with the work of [ the boys, which, he said, was highly I creditable alike to themselves and their officers, particularly mentioning Mr. J. D. Campbell. The bugle-calls, which were excellently given by Eric Drake, of the St. Andrew's troop, created considerable interest. Ho j is only 11 years of age, and is stated to be the youngest certificated bugler in the Southern Hemisphere. •• In the evening Colonel Cosgrove and the staff officers, and the officers and noncommissioned officers of the various troops dined together at the Tiffin restaurant. '