SCOUT NEWS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12015, 18 March 1920, Page 6

SCOUT NEWS.

The Scouts of this district are much interested in the approaching visit of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. It is proposed to hold rallies at Marton and Palmerston so that as many Scoots as possible will have an opportunity of seeing their future King. As Chief Scout of Wales he shows a great interest in the movement and has expressed a wish to the Chief Scout in England to see as many Scouts as possible in the limited time at his disposal in New Zealand. All the Troops are busy practising the Haka of Welcome, or as it is now called the Dominion Rally. If this is done with precision by the united Troops it should make a good impression. The following paragraph taken from the Monthly Bulletin should prove of more than ordinary interest, especially to those who have recently taken up Scout work; — Mr W. D. Johns, Scoutmaster of Stanway, Halcombe, and sometime district commander at Napier, has sent for my perusal the manuscript of his proposed book, “How to Train a Boy Scout Troop,” being a syllabus of the first year’s work. I may say without hesitation that it is the best work I have seen on this subject and if it can be published it will be invaluable to Scoutmasters taking up a troop for the first time; indeed, it would be most helpful to all: The work of the thirty-six weekly meetings of one and a half hours each is divided into three sections and they are put in-so interesting and simple a manner that the merest novice could begin right away with the work. I hope to be able to report ere long that the book will be published. Since the above was written a generous friend who is interested in the Scout movement has volunteered to publish the book and hand it out for free distribution among Scoutmasters.

It is very gratifiyng to be able to report at the beignning of the year, that one of our Boy Scouts baa been awarded the Silver Cr.3ss for gallantry in saving life of a little girl who got into difficulties while bathing in “the Manawatn river a few days ago. Two little girls, named Robertshaw, were bathing, when one of them got into difficulties about twenty feet from the beach. The screams of her sister attracted the attention of Scout Sergeant-Major Allan Robbie, aged thirteen, of the Terrace End troop, near Palmerston North. On reaching the river side and hearing that Mona had disappeared he plunged in fulls' clothed and brought her to land and immediately performed artificial respiration and soon had her brought round. The lad, though young, is a strong swimmer, and was thoroughly trained as a rescuer and lifesaver by his Scoutmistress, Mrs Coles. Mr Robertshaw has shown his gratitude by sending Mrs Coles a cheque towards the funds of her troop, with a covering letter in which he extols her splendid work, and expresses the opinion that the Dominion is indebted to the Scouts’ Association fov the manner in which it prepares the boys for emergencies of every kind. Sir James Wilson, the Commissioner, applied to Colonel Oossgrove for the usual Scout decoration for Sergeant-Major Robbie and the Colonel recommended his Excellency the GovernorGeneral to award the Silver Cross. This his Excellency has done, and Sir James Wilson will make the prese tatiou in due course. It will b e gratifying also to those ladies and gentlemen who have subscribed to the funds of the association, to feel that they are supporting a good cause. This makes the fortieth decoration for life-saving by Scouts during the last ten years, and many cases in addition have been reported for which no claims have been made to headquarters. Since the Otter Challenge Sield was presented to the Association eight years ago over 3000 beys have been taught swimming and lifesaving, in addition to the many other subjects which go to make the good all round man.