BOY SCOUTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 6

BOY SCOUTS.

["Seoul master" will be pleased to receive reports o f parades and other items of interest for insertion in this column. They should be left at (he office of the Otago Daily Times not later than noon on Mondays.]

Scoutmaster L. J. Churchill, of the Alexandra Troop reports as follows; —"The majority of our lads are of fine physique, and gymnastics and athletics are given prominent places in our work. We have the goodwill of the parents and the townsfolk in general. We lease a pavilion in the Recreation Grounds, and, although it is not ap elaborate place, it suite us splendidly. The troop meets every Thursday from 7 till 9 p.m., and our work includes despatch running, practically all Scouts' games, signalling (Morse and semaphore), knot tying, splicing, mat-making (with tussock), boxing, wrestling, stave drill, club-swinging, stretcher work, and first aid to the injured. We are indebted to Dr Burr for a scries of lectures oil first aid and ambulance work, and last winter I had the pleasure of giving seven addressee on the birds and animals of Australia. We have a business meeting every meeting night, and the boys are encouraged to propose and second motions intelligently, and these are all kept in the minutes. The boys pay 3d a week and the officers fed. Besides the treasurer's book, each lad is provided with a ponce-book after the manner of lodges. This is a- recent innovation and a great success.

‘Old Identity” forwards the following: “I daresay many people, especially fathers and mothers, will agree with me when I say, ‘till honour to the Scoutmasters, who, without fee or reward, arc striving to make the Empire’s boys into useful citizens.’ In some ways their work may have more farreaching effects than even that of the school master. Many a boy is led to join the Scouts, and is thus kept from loafing about the streets. On becoming a Scout be is brought more closely ’nto touch with the fields, woods, seashore, and pure and embracing air. Besides this, a Scout is taught many useful things, and, above all, is taught to be a manly boy in that lie learns to bo of some service to his country. Therefore let every boy strive to do hia duty, and I feci sure (he Scoutmasters will not have given their labours in vain.”