SCHOOLING AND SCOUTING

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1930, Page 13

SCHOOLING AND SCOUTING

REPORTS ON WORK AT WEST END. The West End school committee met in New Plymouth during the week. The headmaster’s report showed that the number on the roll was 462; the highest attendance during tho month was -139, the daily average being 42G.6. _ The chairman congratulated the headmaster and staff ’on the excellent inspection report. The rural science report was also good. A scout committee meeting received from Major Sandford a report on the work of the scouts. The lost, roll book had been recovcered. Principally owing to illness, the cubs had been unfortunate in their cubmasters. He was able, however, to congratulate them, and Miss Fowd'es ,of the West End school, who had consented to act as cubmistress until Christinas. The cubs were thoroughly organised, four patrols being complete. He had -purchased a hank of cord for the troop to be used for knotting and lashing.. Scouts McDonald, Malcolm, and Watkins had carried on splendidly with the cubs in the absence of a cubmaster. The cubs would suspend their meeting during the school holidays. Authority was granted Major Sandford to procure the necessary badges. The major outlined a scheme for some future date for an athletic afternoon for cubs and scouts at some local park. The chairman thanked Major Sandford for the framed photograph-of the “Wild Duck Patrol.” The photograph, taken in 1914, shows Major Sandford, Scouts Ray Deare, two brothers Downes, R. Griver, L. Smart (all pupils of the West End school) and H. Brooker and L. Sole (Central School). The patrol went to Auckland by steamer and spent a week at the 1914 Auckland Exhibition, camping at Epsom. They jnumeyed by boat to° Thames, then treked the Thames Valley to Paeroa, to Waihi and back, then to Te Aroha, to the Ruakura farm at Hamilton, on to the Waitomo Caves, to Te Kuiti, and arrived in New Plymouth after an absence of five weeks. In 1914, outside the Thames Valley, the only metal road was between Urenui and New Plymouth, the majoii.y being clay made with manuka stick.