SCOUTS’ DISPLAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19696, 25 January 1926, Page 6

SCOUTS’ DISPLAY

SCOUTCRAFT AND CONCERT. STIRRING ADDRESS BY MR P. R. SARGOOD. After a thoroughly happy aud beneficial fortnight in camp, the 1200 Scouts who have been under canvas at Tahuna Park, dispersed yesterday morning. Some 850 scouts belonging to Dominion troops left for the north by a special train at 8.25 a.m.. and accompanying them were the South African scouts, who will embark at Auckland for Melbourne and Adelaide, from which latter port they sail for their homeland. The Australian party has been split into two sections, one of which is visiting Rotorua, whilst the other is making a trip to Mount Cook, and returning on Tuesday to join the. Moeraki on Wednesday. The visitors expressed themselves delighted with their stay in Dunedin, and stressed particularly the hospitality they liad received front everyone with whom they had come in contact. On Saturday afternoon, after marching to the Exhibition sports ground from the Queen’s Gardens, the scouts held the grand finale of their jamboree. Many displays of scoutcraft were given which , held the interest of the large crowd of spectators, and a programme of sports was run off. A feature of the programme was tlie running of R. Mansell in the 440 and 880 yards championships, and his times for these events —Imin 3 3-ssec and 2min 31sec —stamp him as a runner of no mean ability. The following are the results: — 100 Yards (under 15). —J. Carter (Bulla) 1, L. Selby (Ormondville) 2. Time, 13see. 100 Yards (under 18). —R. Ingram (Bulls) 1, P. Graham (Havelock N.) 2, Time, 12sec. 440 Yards, NJZ. Scout Championship.— R. Mansell (Bulls) 1, P. Graham (Havelock N.) 2. Time, Imin 3 3-ssec. 880 Yards Championship.—R. Mansell (Bulls) 1, W. Eyres (Victoria) 2. Time, 2min 31sec. Inter-district Tug-of-War. Havelock N. 1, Auckland 2, Timaru 3. Patrol Relay Race. —Bulls 1, Harvelock N. 2, Victoria and Herne Bay (dead heat) 3. First-aid Bandaging.—South Africa 1, Roslyn 2, Iron Duke and Bulls (dead heat) 3. Wall-climbing.—Bulls 1, Wakefield (Nelson) 2, Eltham 3. Best Marching Patrol.—Benoni (South Africa) 1, Bulls 2, Manaia 3. JAMBOREE ENTERTAINMENT. In the evening a very excellent concert was given in the Festival Hall by Iho scouts, when a splendid programme of musical and variety items was offered. Among so many good items it would be invidious to single out any one for particular mention, Lit a troop song by the Capetown troop seemed to capture the audience’s fancy more khan any other. Another popular turn was the instrumental selections by the I-e-ys Institute string band, a fest-dass little combination which performed yeoman service throughout the evening. The second half of the programme was taken up by the presentation of the certificates of merit won by the various troops during th© jamboree tournaments. A camp-fire scene was also given. Th, following items were contributed: Haka. Bull’s Troop; recitation, Scout Goodland;' troop song, Orepuki Scouts; violin solo. Scout Pomeroy; “The Dwarfs, Methven Troop; Haka, Marton Troop; human pyramids, Marton Troop; musical staves, Bull’s Troop; troop song, 7th Capetown Troop; instrumental selections, Days Institute Troop; bagpipe solo Scout Allan; troop mng, Palmerston North J r<^p; violin duet, Scouts Buchanan and Wheeler. ADDRESS BY MR SARGOOD. “SPLENDID RESULTS OBTAINED.” Dwring the course of the afternoon the assembled boys listened attentively to a most practical and stirrmg address by Mr P R. Sargood, who is a member of the General Council of New Zealand Hoy Scouts, the speech; which was transmitted through four amplifiers, being beard quite distinctly in the further corner of thegrandSt Mr iSangood, who in mounting the platform, was greeted with the scouts yell, spoke as follows : —“I feel it a groat honour to have been asked to speak on this, the closing function of the groat BoyScout Jamboree, and to be allowed to testify on behalf of the General Council of New Zealand to the splendid results ott tained. It behoves us first to take stock of what has been accomplished. “It has brought together some 1100 boy scouts from all ports of New Zealand, with thus client;?"x « a.” Tif bl nS* .r, a marked manner too groat principle of service, for, from downwards has service been J*> the movement IBs Excellency, toe Gov-ernor-General, h« been Wpful^jn his capacity as New Zealand s Chief , > bv his practical enthusiasm since first toe jamboree was moated and has horned L by making a special trip to inspect and commend the work. “The Prune Minister and his colleagues, the Hons. M‘Lcod and Dowme and members of the Cabinet, have, by their sympathy and generous financial assistance, made things much easier and on j) ’™)' I '' larger scale than would have otherwise be«i the case, and have thus set the seal of Government approval on the whole of the movement. , . “To General Andrew and the general executive thanks are due for their assistance and propaganda work and especially, to Major Furby for gmng his valuable _ ance in camp. The splendid work of Conn missioner Meek, Sconteus Moore and Dorman, and thowo associated with thorn, has resulted in splendid camp organisation, of which they may feel justly proud. In err duties have been lightened by the support and encouragement of many fnends of the Boy Scout Association, members of the focal froop crvmniittoes, and Mr T 5. H. I-tortg - /!, who, with his Finance Committee, sought and’obtained valuable financial aid “Our thanks are also due to his Worship the Mayor, and city councillors, whoso practical aid and interest have helped to make the boys’ stay comfortable and interesting. To the executive of toe New Zealand and South Seas Exhibitim thanks are also due, in that they have made visits to the Exhibition a feature of the great gathering. Visits to the various industrial and mercantile businesses were arranged for, and these offered educational possibilities of a very valuable nature. “The actual camp work and internal organisation. in charge of that able, enthusiastic, and lovable Commissioner J. D. Campbell (who came from Raratonga ‘to do his bit’), and Quartermaster Captain Slipper, with their attendant scooters, has been carried out in true scout fashion. With a remarkable degree of efficiency and care for the boys’ health, Dr Marshall MacDonald very kindly acted as camp medical officer, and conducted regular medical inspections. “All activities have pivoted round the motto ‘Be Prepared,’ and the public lias had an opportunity of seeing that its boys have been well eared tor, well trained in ’ practicalities and scout law, kept sound in their morals and their love for King and country, and above all, taught to render service willingly. “Wo in New Zealand have not before had an opportunity of having demonstrated to us just what the I Soy beomt activity is in the maes. Wo know our troop work in its excel lemce, hut for HOO boys to display their prowess, as those have done, Ims boon an inspiration to all those who have the movement .at heart, and has. 1 fool sure, established a public conviction that to support the movement is more than worth while —it is a duty. ■■'lho late war has left: the world’s adult generation more or less on the rocks in many ways, through its own crass stupidity: it is, therefore, its bounden duty to call a warning from those rocks, mid to noiiit them the ways in which failure lias lieon brought about in the past, so that they may grow self-reliant, tolerant and strong in the best, re-ent ials of the human race, and imbued with the (rue scout spirit of brotherhood. “Tn analysing the personnel of the comm.iss-; oners, scoutors., and scout, assistants, one is impressed with the splendid spirit of self-effacement shown by (hem- They are giving up much, of what other young men think most; important—namely, self enjoyment, hut I fool sure they are the gainers. Taking a hand in the making of a future generation of strong, self-reliant men. L surelv something gained and to ho proud of. ‘He profits most who serves best-’ “Two personalities among the scourers deserve mom tbaa passing ajcimowlodgmcni;

( i£ their unselfish and faithful adherence to the movement. I refer to Scouter Miss Vvilaon who has brought her troop from Bulls, W amir arm —(Applause)—and Scouter tiantlford, in ohaige of a troop from New i'lymoath, who, having passed .his three score anti ten years, is, 1 honestly believe, the youngest liaarted 1 and happiest sooutor and scout in the camp.—(Loud applause). It is service from such as these that fills ue with admiration, and encourages us in the belief that thro is still in human, nature a wonderful capacity for extending the helping hand. “The jamboree hae boon held for the following purposes, and 1 beg leave to emphasise my belief that it has accomplished them in a marked degree. To visualise the outdoor uses of the scout movement, to give all the scouts an opportunity of participating, both individually and in the mass, in its training activities, to test each boy as to his worth as a true scout, to give him a chance of putting into practice much of what ho has learned from his troop work, and to test his general efficiency under scout law and scout teaching. Most important of ail, it has helped to demonstrate to the general public what the scout movement stands,for, and to impress upon, them the value of giving t wholehearted support and encouragement,, remembering that the boy of to-day is the man of to-morrow, and if the 'future generation is to be a better one than the present, it can only be by fortifying the risiing generation in all essentials that lad to betterment.

“The general conduct and beariing of the scouts show that they have been well grounded in the scout law, and have endeavoured to act up to its precepts. It is significant to note that there have been 1200 boys in camp, and it has not been necessary to brinig one siingle boy to tire orderly room for misbehaviour. ( “I congratulate Commissioner Campbell and all those associated with him on the vary excellent manner in which the whole jamboree has been conducted. I also congratulate the boys upon this great opportunity that has been afforded them, and I hope and believe that they will go back to their homes better boys in every way, determined to benefit by their teaching and to conduct their lives under the scout law and according to scout promise, which I now' wtant the scouts to respect so that it will ring in the ears of the public.” The scouts then repeated en masse their simple and yet inspiring and uplifting creed—a performance which _ surely stirred the heart of every parent in the gathering:—“On my honour I promise that I wilil do mv best to do mv duty to God and the King, and to help other people at all times, to obey the scout law.” GOYmNOR-GHNERAL'S MESSAGE. The following message was received by District Commissioner Meek from his Excellency the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, who is also. Chief Scout for the Dominion: —■ „ To scooters and scouts at Tahuna Park camp:—Good scouting to one and all. The camp has boon a success because everyone pulled together and showed the proper Bcont spirit. We have all learnt a lot, and go away better scouts than we were when we came. Let us give our best, do our best, and be our best until the next jamboree brings ns together again. (Signed) Chas. Fergusson, Dominion Chief Scout. CHIEF COMMISSIONER’S EULOGY. General T. Andrew', Dominion Chief Commissioner, after having spent three days at the camp, sent the following eulogistic message:—■ “The Dominion Chief Commissioner, who has been a spectator in the camp for the past three days, desires to place on record his intense admiration for all he has seen. The excellent spirit and discipline pervading all ranks has been apparent at all times. The sanitary arrangements have been splendid, the food excellent, and the general administration very good. The jamboree has been an unqualified success, and will prove itself to bo the greatest advertisement the movement has ever had. Where all have done so well, it is difficult to select any indivdiual for particular mentoin, but I am sure that all will join me in expressing our lasting gratitude to the district commissioner and his staff for the tremendous success they have made of the first Dominion Jamboree.