SCOUT NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21985, 21 June 1933, Page 5

SCOUT NOTES

By SCOUTEB,

TROOP NEWS. Games night has proved a popular innovation at the Christian Brothers' troop. This night falls once a month, and it is devoted entirely to games, “ hand-Soccer ” having already established itself. All keenly regret the departure of Mr Phillips, the signalling instructor, who was transferred to Invercargill. He was bidden farewell by the troop. Soccer: A game was played with the St. Martin’s troop, who provided an enjoyable afternoon’s sport, winning by 9 goals to nil. The most important event of the past month was the investiture of the troop. Commissioner Wing and Scouter O’Keefe conducted the ceremony in the presence of 40 or 50 parents and friends of the Scouts. It was an impressive ceremony, 36 boys being invested. A.S.M. Lomas received his red and white cords and his King’s Scout badge, having passed the tests while a Scout. P.L. J. E. Hartstonge also received the green and gold all-round cords. Seven boys were presented with the ambulance badge and nine with the second class badge. s An enjoyable and novel concert was then presented, after which supper was provided by the energetic lady members of the committee.

One of the keenest Soccer matches played so far this year between Scout troops was last Saturday’s match between Christian Brothers and St. Martin’s at the Garden's ground. A number of supporters watched the match. St. Martin’s attacked from the start, and had scored three goals before Christian Brothers made a determined stand. Play from then on became very interesting. The score at half time was s—nil for St. Martin’s. In the second half some excellent solo work was witnessed, and play was as much in St. Martin’s field as in Christian Brothers. The result was: St. Martin’s 9. Christian Brothers’ nil. CUBS.

How many eubmasters know their jungle books? How many does this question merely remind of the extracts to be found in the Wolf Cub Handbook, and to how many on the contrary, does it recall two old familiar friends whom they know from cover to cover, from beginning to end? Every cubmaster should know his jungle books. If he does not he is missing something essential for him and for his Cubs. He is neglecting the source and mainspring whence Cubbing draws its inspiration. He is depriving himself of a veritable storehouse of “yarns” and information vital to pack life. We all know that Cub age is the age of imagination and make-believe, the age when the lad’s whole being is athirst for stories of mighty heroes and of doughty deeds, agog for “ yarns ” of fantastic and romantic happenings. So let us help Cubs in jungle lore. Let us help them to live in the life of the jungle as lived by Mowgli and his friends. By doing so we are .training our Cubs according to the suggestions outlined by the chief in the Wolf Cubs’ Handbook, and, moreover, we are adopting the right methods to achieve what should be the aim of every cubmaster—viz., to send up to the Scout troop a Cub so trained during his Pack days that he will be a better Scout for having been a Cub. OBSERVATION. Almost the first lesson that a Scout has to team is that of • observation, or how to use his eyes. I do not mean by this that the eyes are in need of medical attention, but rather that he has not yet gained the faculty of using them to their fullest extent. A good Scout lets nothing escape his attention, and he keeps an eye on things near to him as well as on things at a distance. Now, this habit of observation can only be acquited by constant practice, and you have to commence it the moment you start your Scout life, and continue it throughout your life. I wonder if you have ever considered how little you really notice of what is going on around you. Could you, on returning home from a walk, give a really good description of the road you had travelled and the persons you had passed ou the way? After you have walked through the streets of a strange town could you not only retrace your steps, but also tell where the nearest doctor, chemist, fire

station, and hospital are to be found? Could you, after walking down a strange street, give an account of the shops you have passed and what was in the windows? This may, perhaps, seem to be expecting a lot of you, but you have to remember that the most important thing in Scouting is letting nothing escape, your attention, and to become proficient in this you must be continually practising, for the. tenderfoot cannot, in five minutes, get into the habit of really noting everything and letting nothing escape his eye. But it is not only that you must keep your eyes on the lookout, but also your ears and nose, and if you hear any strange sound or notice any peculiar smell, you should never be content to remain in ignorance, but should endeavour to find out what it means. In speaking of observation above I have almost entirely confined myself to speaking on the observation of things, but almost more important is the observation .of people. As you travel about day by day by bus, tram, or on foot, take to studying the faces of the persons you meet, and from their appearance and behaviour try to weave out their histories (position, probable business, etc.), and obtain such a photograph of them on your mind that if called upon later you could give an accurate description of them. It two of you practise this together and compare results afterwards you will find the study very interesting.