BOY SCOUTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7419, 22 April 1911, Page 11

BOY SCOUTS

[By Scout3U.st hr] News of the dolnss ! of patrols in tho IVol* .llngton province arc invited by "Booufr master/' oar© of tho ••N.Z. Times.” If the movement la to ad* vance, too muon publicity cannot bo given - to the work being accomplished by its means. All communications must bear the name and address of the sender. WELLINGTON EXECUTIVE. Citizen Members— I 3Jr Newman. J. Q. W. Aitlien, W. H. S. i Moorhouae, 0. J. Crawford. E. W. Kath* ©rfurd; K. M. Carter, bon. secretary: ja. Balcombo Brown, treasurer. H. N. McLeod, commander; Lieutenant O. L. Logan, inspector; and Scoutmasters E. Lawson. C. P. Coionoua, and Dr FnU Kemp. Battalion Commanders—- ' Western: Ciiiet Scoutmaster E. Lawson. Southern: Chief Sooutmaater H. Woodward. • Central: Chief Scoutmaster 0. P. Ooloneus. ( Suburbs: Chief Scoutmaster ChappelL Inspectors: E. Lawson and 0. P, Loloueui THOENDON TKOOP. Early an Good Friday moraine the S.M., accompanied by tho Assistant* fi.il. and sir non-coms., took their departure on a trek through Haywards and Pahautamui. As tho hand approached Kaiwarra the rain commemcpd, necessitating taking tho train for Haywards, fi'ho rain, having ceased on their alighting, tho squad pushed on up the I ahauJtanmi hili, stopping for breakfast about half-way up. Again tho rain poured down, causing considerable delay. However, fiwags wero again shouldered, and •by noon tho summit of tho ohmb was qjeaohed and lunch partaken, of. At about 3 o’clock in the afternoon a EPiug shearing dhed was obtained • for shelter during tho night. The evening meal consisted of mushrooms and hard hiscuit and waa greatly enjoyed after the tedious tramp uphill. _ On tho following , morning the rain Still continued, but a sally was made along tho banks of a near-by stream for eels, and in less than fifteen minutes the fishers wore rewarded with three has eels, which were soon in the hands or tho cook. A visit was also paid to the extammy, whore the caretaker’ explained the processes .through which tho milk passes. , N . . At about 2.30 in. the afternoon a start was mad© for Foroniata, which waa reached at about half-past 612 c. On ‘tho way a section of tho rChandallah. troop ■waa met/ and the 1 travellers wore enter--taiaied to afternoon tea. Saturday night waa sjysmt in a motor ©hed on the snores of Bormia harbour. Sunday tumod out a fimo day, and the excellent fishing, swimming, and canoeing which wero at hand caused the "band to remain until the aftemooiu Auother start was made at about 2.30 p.m., and Tawa Flat was reached considerably after dark. Inquiries were made ais- to tho means of entering a cer- i tala unoccupied house near the railway i elation, and after some delay lodgment was obtained for the night. By this time provisions began to give out, and at tho evening meal almost all tho stock of biscuits was devoured, leaving only a quantity of flour far tho subsistence of tho party. On Monday morning breakfast consisted of damper and cofleic*, but was none tho less appreciated for its plainness. Aa arrangements had been made to

mijfti a auction cf the troop at Johnsonviile all haste was made in that direction, and on their arrival the wanderers wore chc-ored with a hearty meal ready prepared by those from the city. Damper was made by some of the lads after lunch and tested by the S.M. From JohusoTivillo tho band marched into Wellington, where they arrived at about 5.30 x>-m. Tho trip, though not very exciting, lias certainly ’been very iKpj.eficlal to those* Avho took part in it, and it is hoped by the scoutmasters {hat mo.ro of the same (nature will take place. Tim usual meeting was held on Wod-.ue-day men Lug at the club-room. Firstaid competitions wore hold and many boys distinguished them.selvcß in this department- for tli.eir smartness and urntn-oss. The troop meets this afternoon* at 1-30, at (ha Spring, iu full uniform. The nan-coms/ meeting will bo held on Monthly evening at 7 o'clock, at No. 8-1, Tinakori road. ROSENEATH TROOP. On Thursday, April 13th, the "Wolf Patrol" of the Rosen oath troop, under Leader W. A. Smith, wont into camp near the foot of the Goilans Valley road, Muritai. They arrived at Muritai at about G p.m., and it is with credit that the boys are able to sn.v that at 9 p.m. they were sitting round a cheery camp fire Gatins' their supper, after having had to cut manuka poles, pitch, the tents, gather wood and go to Kona Bay for provisions. The boys went in fod their morning "dip" at about G o’clock on Friday. At about 7.30 the boys set out for a tramp over the ridges, but before they reached fclio top of the first ridge it began to rain. However, this did not stop eamo of the boys, for after sending the younger ones back, the rest pushed on over tiie two- ridges, then down the valley until they struck Goilans Valley road, thence back to camp. By (ho timo they reached camp the rain had ceased, so a largo camp fire was lit and the clothes were soon dried. Owing to the wet weather the boys did not go far from the camp, although one day they managed to go round tho beach to Fitzroy bay and back without getting wot. On Tuesday afternoon the boys returned to Wellington. On Tuesday next at 7,15 p.m. the Wolf Patrol wiQi meet as usual in the clubroom. KELBTJPNE TROOP. No general camp was hold at Paster, bub most of tho. "non-coms.," under the chief scouhn'astor, .spent the holidays in an empty cottage at. tho Lower Hutt. under the eastern hills. One of the first works was the installation of an electric alarm to give warning should any enemy approach, and a working telegraph from room to room was part up. The scouts also had their first lesson in single-stick play and quickly picked up this art of self-defence. On Sunday a visit was paid to the new dam at Wainui, eight miles distant, and all tho scouts walked across the overflow, a feat that will be impossible as soon as

the dam is filled. Several red deer wero seen in the vicinity of the dam. Before returning to town the non-coms, re-arranged the patrols and tho following are now the officers : —Sergeant-major, F« I* Rutherford; patrol leaders, C. Lewis, M. Gray, E. Mellon, .1. Jonkiim, h. Philips; corporals, F. Dornwoll, P. Baldwin, K. Andrew, P, Grant, ami E Arcus. Kclburno have now two troops, ono of big -and one of small boys. To-day the troop will meet at tho Grant road steps at 2.C0 p.m.

TREK ROUND TERAWJITTI COAST. A most profitable timo was spent by the group of fourteen scouts and officers who started off on this trip at Easter. Tho rain which threatened to mar the outing fell steadily at first, keeping back more than half the number who intended coming—there wero to have been nearly forty. A mile or two round the beach swags were unpacked and made up iu banderole fashion, A halt was called at Razorback pa, which was examined. TVrawhiti was reached in tho evening, and the party sat down to tea iu quarters in the woolshcd, prepared by a group sent in advance under If. Grcville. Deling by night engaged the attention, also on tho following day; yarns and an entertainment by a local piper caused time to pass pleasantly. The next day was spent in fishing, rafting, shooting practice. A march was made on to Otira/ngU'Bay—where a kainga site exists —thence up n, stream to the old mine battery and drives, thenco over a saddle to Ghent Bay and round the rocks past a stranded blackfish to To Ilca-i-Maru, where tho scouts were put up in bunks in the shepherds'quarters. On Monday a strenuous morning was spent in negotiating the co-net to Makara, sealing rocks and hillsides occasionally, where tho beach was not passable, making a wire, bridge, etc. Some of tho party wont right round every inch of coast. Makara pa was examined, and the party readied Karori at about G. 30 p.m., finishing strongly and thoroughly pleased with tho outing.

Thorndon troop representatives trained, up the Hutt line, crossed over tho ranges to Pahatitanui and marched into town, sleeping in good quarters and being met at Johnsonville by others of the troop. /Petono troop are building a hut at Atalnui. Newtown troop camped in a building at Wainui for the holidays and had an instructive time. There wore over twenty out. Soane of lulbirnio troop went to Upper Hutt and used a building for theiil quarters. Palmerston North bad about iwentythroo scouts at Miramar during Easter. They were joined by some from Inrtituto and had a fin© time. Khandallah -were housed at Paremata. In fact, if the weather had been fine scouts would have performed the feat of

traversing Wellington district frorn Foatherstxwi to TerawOiiti, most admirable training for our coming manhood. Scoutmasters will meet on Monday at 8 p.m. Church parades of tho battalions are to bo hold on Sunday, the 30th.