BOY SCOUT CAMP AT OPOTIKI.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16630, 9 January 1925, Page 8

BOY SCOUT CAMP AT OPOTIKI.

When the Executive Committee of the Buy Bcoute’ Gisborne local Association accepted the invitation of the Opoliki Committee for a party of Gisborne scouts to camp with their hoys at o(potiki between Christmas and New Year, they hud not estimated by one-half the heights to which the hospitality of the tatter district was destined to rise. Leaving Gisborne on Boxing Day by the morning 1 train, Motuhora. was' reached shortly after 11.30. ’ A big lorry and a. motor-car, driven respectively by Messrs J. Sloan, and Albert Mokomoko, were waiting at the station, and the boys were immediately driven up to the public hall, where a substantial lunch was awaiting them, in charge of a committee of Motuhora ladies, hunch over, the second stage was commenced through tho lovclv bush scenery, which is the outstanding feature of this route. The light motor-ear, with its load of nine boys, made short work, of the journey, arriving in camp at 3.30 p.m. The heavy international lorry, with its load of IbiVty-s’X boys and two officers, plodded steadily along. Heavy rain obscured (lie. view of some of the best- scenery, but the. passengers never wearied of watching the dexterity with which Mr. Sloan handled Ids cumbrous lorry on some of the ‘‘hairpin" bends which are a feature of the Mofu route. A short stop: was made at Ton Ton for afternoon tea., kindly supplied by Mr. and Mrs. Heed. Jlukuwai camp was reached about. 6 p.m., arid the Gisborne scouts were played into camp by the (Vpoliki drum and fife band, under the conductorship of Scoutmaster Hitchens, to the strains of “Bor they are Jolly Good Fellows." Gisborne replied with a most vigorous Dominion rally, led by Seoulmaster Baker,

The Gisborne scouts., wore then offi cially welcomed by Mr. Hoodie, Mayor of (jpofiki. and the Lev. Hall, chaplain of the Opofiki troop. Scoutmaster .Baker replied on behalf of lire Gisborne scouts. The Gisborne boys were then supplied with, their straw allowance, after which they had tea, and settled down for the night. Somewhere about midnight a terrific nor-easter, accompanied by heavy rain straight oft the Bay of Plenty, struck I he. camp. The rain .fell in torrents, and the camp ground speedily became a great sheet of ,water. The two,Scoutmasters, hastily throwing on overcoats over their night attire, rushed out into the storm to see how their boys were faring. The tents on the whole stood up to it well, but having been erected hurriedly . there bad been no time to trench them, and all were suffering more or less frpm the water running •underneath. Two tents, however, occupied 1 by Oputiki and Gisborne scouts, were faring very badly, and the Scoutmasters discovered that,the Gisborne tent site in particular was covered inches deep by.a stream of muddy water, upon .which tloated ground sheets and .other impedimenta of a- sleeping tent'. The boys Were immediately removed to an empty cottage, and under the beams of a power*ful benzine lantern a procession of pyjama,-clad figures, riotously happy and bearing bundles ,of bedding) wended its way to temporary quarters. The following day was line, and all wet bedding was dried and tents properly .trenched. The equip then settled down to its daily routine.

A good programme of, work was put through, including, first aid, musketry, hut building, bridge building,. ,tracking, and instruction hi camp quokery. A treasure hunt .was held one morning, all the “plants'’ being found by, Gisborne seputs. Gisborne No. 2 .teilt also non (lie competition for the .best-kppt tent. The prize, a pair of hair brushes, for the scout performing the greatest number of “scouly” actions,, fell to the Butterwurth brothers, (Jpotiki. Where all the boys behaved so well this was a most’difficult-competition to,decide; the choice, however, finally fell on these two lads, and: the prize was divided between them.

.It '"’ill be some time before the .Gisborne scouts will forget the unbounded hospitality extended to them by the Opotiki people, the outstanding events being a free trout to the pictures and a motor drive out to the beautiful Waiotahi and, Ohivya beaches. Gifts of food, ice-cream, etc., .poured into the camp; whilst many a free treat fell to the lot of the boys on their occasional visits to town. When Scout Hartley fractured his'arm at least half a dozen people offered to, take charge of him. The camp was thronged with visitors day by day, all keenly interested in what was being done. There was a large, attendance of the general public on the last Sunday ’ of tim camp, when the Mayor and 'Scoutmaster Hitchens fargwelled the Gis.boriio scouts. Both gentlemen commented:, favorably on the good behavior of the boys, and expressed the. wish that the Remits of both districts would ' qi.inp together again next year. The Gisborne portion of the. camp was struck as soon as the visitors began to disperse,- the tents were packed .in reiidincss for an early move next, morning. and the boys accommodated for the night in Mr. Peterson’s bouse alongside. The return journey commenced hb e following morning. Brilliant sunshine greeted the lads' on their journey as far as Motii', and the beautiful bush scenery was viewed to the best advantage. Motuliora, was .reached in the pouring i n in. and: the scouts were given their lu.nch in the railway station. From Motuliora omvards the weather gradually cleared, and was perfect by the time the'train ran into the Gisborne railway station.

Cftie of the outstanding features of the Opotiki camp was the splendid spirit of esprit de corps which prevailed amongst the boys. So far as they were concerned Gisborne and Opotiki were but names; they'. themselves frere just brother scouts.'trying to live,up to the principles of the Scout Law.