WITH THE BOY SCOUTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 831, 27 November 1929, Page 16

WITH THE BOY SCOUTS

The Legion of Frontiersmen, recognising the need of teaching boys swimming and life-saving, have decided to arrange a competition among the Boy Scout troops in the Auckland Central District and to offer a shield to be held by the troop showing the greatest efficiency in life-saving. It is hoped to obtain expert instructors to train the boys, and the competition will be held probably next March. Scouts, therefore, have the coming summer in which to train for a competition which should prove an even greater success than the boxing tournament. * * * On November 19 the All Saints troop celebrated its 20th birthday and the “Hawke” Sea Scouts the 170th anniversary of Admiral Lord Hawke’s great victory of Quiberon Bay. Representatives of the other Sea Scout troops and Boy Scout troops of the No. 1 Division were present.. Mr. E. B. B. Boswell, Assistant-Commissioner for Scouts, Mr. R. A. Woods, AssistantCommissioner for Sea Scouts, District Scoutmaster Walls, District Cubmaster Matheson, Scoutmasters Price, Le Seelies, Swales and Abbott were also present. An apology was received from Mr. Holdsworth, District Commissioner. After Mr. Woods had inspected the Sea Scouts, the chairman of the troop committee, Mr. Coward, welcomed the visiting Scouters and Scouts, and explained the reason of the gathering. Greetings were read from Mr. J. D. Campbell, of Rarotonga, the troop’s first Scoutmaster. In a few I

happy words Mr. Boswell congratulated the troop on achieving the proud distinction of being one of the oldest troops in New Zealand and urged the boys to keep up the traditions of the Saints. The committee took the opportunity of presenting Mr. Veart with a very handsome rug, as a token of appreciation of his work with All Saints for the past five years. Games and competitions were played. A jumbled bus routes was won by Sea Scout Price (Fame) and Scout Middleton (St. Columba), who tied for first place, each receiving a fountain pen. In the tug-o’-war, “Hawke” Sea Scouts were victors. Leader Angus, of the Grey Lynn troop, danced the Sailor's Hornpipe, which was very much appreciated. Supper was served and a three-tier birthday cake with its 20 lighted candles and other appropriate decorations was cut by Mr. Boswell and distributed. Mr. Lewin, A Squadron, Legion of Frontiersmen, who was present, gave a very inspiring little talk on an incident of the Great War, showing how the traditions of sea still live. The singing of the National Anthem brought the evening to a close. The thanks of the troop are due to the parents and committee for their efforts in making the evening so successful.

An attractive entertainment in aid of troop funds was given by the Ellerslie troop at the Parish Hall on Thursday, November 21, and Scoutmaster Walker is to be congratulated on the successful training of the boys, many of whom show marked talent in elocution, singing, instrumental music and dramatic art. The Rev. R. J. Stanton was in the chair, and he spoke on his past and present experiences of Scouting, thanking Mr. Walker for all he had done as troop Scoutmaster.

Assistant-Commissioner Boswell addressed those present on the worth of the Scout movement and the value of the character training given to the boys, asking for sympathetic moral support to make Scouting in New Zealand as great a thing for youth as,.it is proving in England and other countries.

TO CALL AGAIN

The maid announced a visitor to the Professor, who was rather absentminded. “A gentleman to see you, sir, with a long white beard.” “Ah, yes,” said the Professor. “Just ask him to call again with it tomorrow.”