THE BOY SCOUTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16538, 11 November 1915, Page 3

THE BOY SCOUTS.

I By BCOUTHASTBB. '• Scoutmaster" will be pleased to reoelve reports of parades and other items of interest for insertion in this oolumn. They should be left at >h« offloe of the Otugo Daily Time 3 not later than Boon on Mondays, and should be addressed to " Scoutmaster." Colonel Oossgrove, "V.D., H.S.W., dominion Chief Commissioner, is expected to arrive in this city in the course of the next week or so. As a number of important brigade parades will be held this month, the district commander has written asking- if it will bq possible for "him to be present at them. In view of this possibility taking place, it will be well for officers to see that their troops are well represented at the church parade to be held on Sunday, and at the field day on the 20th inst. The following report, culled from an English paper, shows what true Scouts will do: —"Apropos of the visit of General Baden-Powell, to Dumfries this week, a correspondent sends us the following note 01 an incident which recently came under hie notice. A fete was to be held in aid of a charitable object, and in order to save time the refreshment tent was stocked and prepared the previous evening. _ A call for volunteers to guard it was immediately answered by two young Boy Scouts, who came on parade at the appointed time, and were left in charge. Ere long a lovely evening developed into a night of murky blackness, and about midnight a violent thunderstorm began, and raged for several hours. It was accompanied by torrents of rain, which poured down all night through, but, nothing daunted, the little fellows did their sentry duty undismayed. The lord of the manor, who was a retired colonel, rose early and slipped down unseen to the picnio ground, - only to find the Scouts soaked to the skin, but regardless of the elements, still faithfully 'pacing the quarterdeck.' He was so delighted with their behaviour that he presented each of them with a silver watch, suitably inscribed, together with an autograph letter narrating the circumstances under which it was given." There were excellent musters at the parades of the Dunedin West-Central Battalion last week, and some good work was done. The subject on the syllabus was "Map Drawing,'' but unforeseen circumstances prevented the Scouts from studying this branch of scoutcraft. The North Dunedin division had, physical exercises and some other work under the control of the sergeant-major, while the officers were ab sent on business. The Hill division had discussions on the Scout law, and this proved very profitable. In the past this law has not been given the prominence that is duo to it, and the officers of this_ corps are determined to pay more attention to the study and carrying out of the laws of the Boy Scout movement. Already this has proved very beneficial to all of the Scouts, and this encouragement has lead the officers to adopt this programme permanently. On Saturday the battalion mustered 70 strong and journeyed to Tomahawk, where some attack arid defence practice 'was carried out. At the close of the manoeuvres a game of cricket was played among some of the members. _ This week the North Dunedin division will meet in the Albany Street School Gymnasium instead of the Normal School HalL The district commander visited _ jthe St. Clair Congregational Troops-on Friday, and helped with second-class badge tests. The muster was not so good as last time, but a big improvement had been made in the general appearance of the lads. The discipline was good. An effort is to be made this week to reform the .Anderson Bay Troop, and boys in that district >.re urged to enrol. The Green Island Troop is looking for a new scoutmaster, Mr Tapp having been accepted for active service. It is hoped that some gentleman will come forward to fill this temporary vacancy. On Thursday the Balclutha Boy Scouts assembled under Scoutmaster Rasmuesen and Assistant Scoutmaster Blaikie. During the evening good work was done, tho_ boys being occupied in ambulance work, signalling, and knotting. During the latter part of the evening, games and boxing were indulged in. Eleven second-class badges were given out, and more are expected shortly. A number of Scouts went up for their first-class teet on Saturday.

Tho Mornington Scouts made good progress on Saturday evening. The subject for the "tenderfoot" Scouts was ambulance and signalling, while that for tho second-class Scouts was the usual ambulance classes— for the first-class badge under Mr Earland, and for Morse signalling under Scoutmaster Gore. There was a parade during the afternoon, and four Scouts acted n-s hares and the rest as hounds, who had to track the former. A good trail was laid, and one noticoablc feature about it was that broom flowers were frequently utilised. Next Saturday our Scouts will play a game of cricket with the Dunedin West-Central Scouts on the Morningbon Cricket Grounds.