SCOUT NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 21197, 25 September 1930, Page 2

SCOUT NOTES

. A YEAR’S SURVEY. Definite progress has been made in Invercargill during the past season. A little over a year ago a successful concert was held in the Town Hall, arranged by the Gladstone Troop, all troops in the town and the district taking part. All troops, either separately or in conjunction with others, held their annual camps, which were well attended and offered real Scout training for the boys. In addition parties from some troops enjoyed week-end camps throughout the year in various localities. A special camping site of five acres- has now been allotted to the Scouts, free of rent, by the Invercargill City Council among the extensive sand dunes near Oreti Beach, within five miles of the Post Office. One hundred Scouts and Scouters turned out for the opening day on June 4 and divided the area among the troops, which have been busily engaged ever since in planting trees, building fire places, huts or look-out posts, and sinking wells. The site is roughly a mile from Oreti Beach, one of the safest and most extensive beaches in the Dominion. The local troops will all make their annual camp at this site for the ensuing year.

The Scouters’ Club is functioning well, meeting every fortnight with an average attendance of a dozen. *■ We are greatly indebted to Mr R. Moore, of Dunedin, for practical assistance during his recent stay here. By arrangement with Mr Simpson, the Fire Brigade superintendent, the boys in all troops have an opportunity of instruction in fire brigade work once a month.

All troops are working strongly, raising funds by concerts, individual services, stalls, etc. The Gladstone boys are singularly fortunate in having been given the free use of a 10-roomed dwelling for their weekly meetings. They run their own lorry, which pays for itself and takes them wherever required. Their special “parents’ evening” this year was a great success. In the country district the Otautau and Bluff Troops have declared a moratorium, owing to lack of interest, but Riverton and AVinton are doing well. After a visit of some 20 Scouts and Scouters’ from here a troop has been formed at Ohai. Arrangements are now being made to get as many Scouts as possible to Dunedin in March next on the occasion of the Chief Scout’s visit. Official returns now to hand show a total of 236 Scouts and Scouters in Invercargill, comprising 22 Scouters, 121 Scouts, 93 Cubs and 12 Rovers. For Invercargill and the Western District, which includes the troops at AVinton, Ohai and Riverton, the total figure is 310. THE BOY SCOUT. There is a kind of knot, something like a Granny, though it isn’t one, that is variously known as Robber, Burglar, or Thief Knot. You can see from these titles what a bad reputation it has. At first sight, strange as it may seem, it resembles a good, honest Square Knot, looks enough like it to be its twin brother, just as the blue runner resembled the famous “j’inted.” But, as every Scout knows, the Square Knot is a gentleman among knots. It never slips. Y'ou can trust it to hold every time, no matter what strain there is put upon it. But that rapscallion Thief, or Burglar—■ there is a knot that slips on the slightest provocation—just as some boys do. A Scout has to look out, to be sure he is acting like a Square Knot, not like a Thief. He may be sure if he lets himself slip, behaves in a way that is a little less than Scoutlike, he is burglarizing, robbing the movement to which he has pledged allegiance, robbing his Scoutmaster, who has the right to expect better things of him, but, most, of all,, robbing himself, which, as anybody can see, is the silliest thing in the world to do. On My Honour. When a Scout pledges on his honour to do his best to serve God and country andother human beings, to keep himself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight he has committed himself to a great obligation. A Scout is trustworthy. No higher tribute could be paid to anyone, no greater glory won. (To be continued:)