BOY SCOUTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3117, 10 December 1913, Page 6

BOY SCOUTS.

["Scoutmaster," will be pleased to receive re--1 ports cl parados and other items oJ interest lor insertion in th is column. 'iuey should be left j at the office of tbe Otago Daily Time* not later ' than noon on Mondays.] Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the Chief Soout, Las challenged any boy scout to a stalking contest. He says that, in keeping with his usual custom, he went out early one morning to stalk some of our fourfooted friends. In this particular case he approached to within 9ft 6in of a rabbit. He now challenges any boy scout to get any nearer under the same conditions, i.e., standing upright and stalking in fairly open country. The rabbit must first be observed, and then carefully etalkcd. Colonel Cossgrove, Dominion Chief Commissioner, has made arrangements with tlie Union Steam Ship Company to allow the Boy Scouts of the dominion who are taking part in the Australian rally a reduction oi 15 per cent, off their fares. A further reduction has. however, been asked tor. Two candidates of the required ago have been nominated Irnm Dunedin —one from the Mornington Battalion and one from the Green Island Troop. The programme of the rally includes competitions in ambulance, bugling, cycling, camp-pitching, drumming, I fireman's work, gymnastics, master-at-arms, signalling, pionot-r work, life -saving, and trek carts. There will also he exhibitions of scouts at work and of models made by the lads. The rally will open on January 17, and continue until the evening of the 20th. ; The fortunate members of the patrols that will represent New Zealand will have a very pleasant time, as, apart from the rally. the Australian authorities intend showing them the eights of the city in which th-j rally will be given. The provincial secretary estimates that at least 80 hoys have joined the ranks of the movement in Otago eincc the census was taken in August Encouraging reports are to hand from all quarters, ai:d it is evident that the movement is gaining in public favour and in numbers. He reports that a new troop has boon formed at Miller's Flat. consisting of two patrols—the Ham and Cuckoo. The latter patrol is not quite completed, but lads are qualifying lie admitted to it. JMr W. B. Kendall lias taken ' command of the corps, and he is to be congratulated on his. fine start. A new troop will in all probability be started this week in connection with the St. Clair Presbytcran j Church. "Scoutmaster" wishes the project ' a satisfactory settlement, and trusts that r.cxt week he may report that the troop is an established fact. The .Scout's Law.—No. 7: "A Scout Obeys Orders." In regard to obedience to orders a scout is on exactly the same footi ing as a soldier or a sailor. When he is ' given an order it must be carried out i promptly, and that without grumbling. He i may not like the dut.v that has been asI signed to him, but he must not "reason j why." His dutv is to obev. No. 8: "A Rco'ui Smiles and Whistles Under All CirI eumstances." The one thing essential to ! complete a scout's training is to teach him Co smile when things go wrong. This law I is, perhaps, one of the hardest of the ien, j but it has to be learned, and learned well.