LIFE IN A SCOUT CAMP

Taranaki Daily News, 11 May 1933, Page 6

LIFE IN A SCOUT CAMP

DAYS FULL OF INTEREST.

BOYS AT STRATFORD. Happy industry apparent everywhere is the first impression gained by a visitor to the boy scout camp at Stratford, where 52 boys are living under canvas and undergoing a course of scout training. The boys are divided into sections with an able instructor at the head of each. Yesterday, stated Major W. F. Sandford to a Daily News reporter, all secondclass work was dealt with. All work is done methodically and with an enthusiasm indicative of the interest that such an existence arouses in the heart of every healthy boy. The need for a break from continual training work is realised and the daily programme provides for several periods of organised games which the boys greatly enjoy. So apart from the actual initiation into the ways of the scout laws and work, the boys benefit materially from the mental and physical point of view, the outdoor life, association’ under different conditions with other boys and the strict discipline all tending to produce robust young fellows ready to take the knocks. The boys are roused at 7 a.m. (cooks at 6.30) and after the making of beds, breakfast is served at 8 o’clock. Prayers are held prior to the inspection at 9.45, and then the whole camp enjoys a period of organised games. The daily training work is interspersed with talks by Major Sandford, who has the knack of 'imparting instruction in a maimer interesting as well as full of educational value. After the evening meal everybody gathers around the camp-fire, and last night Commissioner F. W. Horner (Hawera) gave an opening address, and Canon G. T. Beale entertained with interesting stories of personal experiences. Lights out at 9.30 concludes the day. Yesterday afternoon Mr. W. H. Humphrey, an old commissioner of the district and now connected with the St. Andrew’s troop, Stratford, erected a suspension bridge with the assistance of his own troop and the Stratford troop. With a span’ of 20 feet, the bridge, when completed proved to be of strong construction and easily bore the weight of three of the senior boys. Mr. Humphrey explained the names of the various members used in the bridge and the manner in which it was put together. Mr. Humphrey said the bridge was identical with "one erected at New Plymouth on the occasion of the Prince of Wales’ visit in 1920. Mr. Humphrey has an autographed photograph of the bridge with the Prince standing on it. The camp was comfortable and well provided for, said Major Sandford, in reply to a question, and the neighbouring people had been very kind and generous in their donation of foodstuffs, some bringing along a canteen of soup and others stew or puddings. “We are living like fighting cocks,” said the Major.

OLD . RESIDENT PASSES, MRS. E. PEPPERELL, NEW PLYMOUTH The funeral took place at Te Henui cemetery, New Plymouth, yesterday of Mrs. Elizabeth Pepperell, one of . the early residents of New Plymouth. Widow of the late Mr. John Pepperell, New Plymouth, she : was the second daughter of the lale'Mr. and Mrs. William Pote, both the latter being pioneer settlers of the province. Mr. Pote arrived in the; barque Brougham and Mrs. Pote (then Miss Radford) came out in the Blenheim two years later. For some time the Pote family were farming at Omata, but on the outbreak of Maori hostilities they removed to- New Plymouth, and later went to Nelson. , Returning to New Plymouth Mr. Pote commenced business at the comer of Devon and Glover Streets. After Miss Pote’s marriage to Mr. Pepperell they went farming at Bell Block, later taking property at Upper Mangorei, and subsequently at Carrington Road, at its junction with Frankley Road. Here they resided until Mr. Pepperell’s death a few years ago. Mrs. Pepperell, who was in her 85th year, lived through days brimful of colonising experience, and retained good health up to the time of her decease. As recently as last Tuesday week she went for a drive, but suffered a stroke a week ago. She was of a kindly disposition, and was ever ready to assist people in sickness or trouble.

Mrs. Pepperell is survived by three sons and three daughters, Messrs. Frank Pepperell (Eltham), Ernest Pepperell (Carrington Road) and Verner Pepperell (Gore), Mesdames E. S. Allen (Waitara), H. Wells (Pukearuhe) and F. Harrison (Carrington Road). There are 18 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. The funeral service was conducted by the Revs. Henderson and John Nixon (an old friend of the family). The pallbearers were grandchildren, Messrs. Royce Pepperell, Eric Allen, Vincent Wells and Kenneth Harrison. PERSONAL ITEMS. — C Mr. P. Duffy, recently a resident of Stratford, left yesterday en route to County Monaghan, Ireland, where he will reside. Mr. Duffy has been in New Zealand for 29 years. Dr. D. Steven, medical superintendent at the Stratford hospital, is on a short holiday. Dr. Thorpe is acting as superintendent in his absence. Mr. Gordon Irving is visiting Stratford.

Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Budge are spending a few days at Wellington. Mrs, Percy Thomson, Stratford, is at Wanganui, where a meeting of the No. 5 Licensing Authority, of which he is chairman, is being held .

ELTHAM TALKIES.

“THE PENALTY OF FAME.” The intimate life of a New York newspaper columnist is revealed in “The Penalty of Fame,” showing at the Eltham Theatre to-night Lew Ayres, the star, enacts the part of a “chatter writer,” who often brings consternation to indiscreet Broadwayites who stray from the straight and narrow path, and who supplements his activities with radio broadcasts detailing the minor transgressions of various people in the public eye. But it is when he interferes with the activities of k' Snapping gangsters that the columnist encounters serious trouble, and the picture comes to a climax in a tragedy that is said to be so unexpected that the audience is left breathless.