SCOUTING NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19626, 21 October 1933, Page 16

SCOUTING NEWS

ST. MARY’S TROOP. Friday evening of last week was a very busy one, the presentation of the Long Service Medal to Scouter Keen being the important and unusual function which w r as performed by Timaru’s representative of the New Zeaand Boy Scout Council, Mr. Innes-Jones who spoke highly of Scouter Keen’s career as a Scout and as an Officer, n presenting the medal he wished him every good wish and “Many happy returns.” The annual meeting of the Commitee also took place and at the end of the meeting members were invited to visit the Troop Den which was in excellent condition and the general smartness of the boys highly commendable. We are proud of our headquarters and in consequence are all “Puffed up” over the remarks made by Mr. Innes-Jones, that he had been in many headquarters but that ours was the best he had seen for many years. Despite these distractions, a really good evening's work was done and a new method of learning morse received its initial trial and as far as we can see it is going to work. It is based on a system of Pelmanism and facilitates the process of memorisation to such an extent that learning the code is just a matter of two lessons. The evening closed with prayer and

a Court of Honour followed to discuss the question of a camp over the weekend. It has been decided to hold the camp at Oxford's Crossing and it will last for three days. We propose holding a church Parade to-morrow and the Camp will be open to Visitors in the afternoon. We will return on Monday evening. The means of transit will be “bikes" and as the road is all tar sealed the way should be easy. “That Highly Desirable Hike.” Last Saturday we had a hike which approached the Scoutcrs dream of perfection, i.e. even the troop wags were working. Sixteen boys left the top of Conoor Road at 1 p.m. and proceeded to Kiwi Gully where, after a few minutes rest the boys set to with a will to cook. Soon fires were blazing right merrily, and various appetising odours arose and mingled with the enervating scent of the burning blue gum nuts. At 3.30 p.m. the first phase of the cooking ended there was not one failure, everything being edible We had a game of spotting over a large area of scrubby, and rocky ground which helps in the make up of

our “Guny.’’ This was followed by a more energetic game of hares and hounds. The second phase of the cooking then began and all dampers are showing a vast improvement, and we have now done away with the "Towny” method of taking sandwiches, relying entirely on our own methods of coking to keep the wolf from the door We came home in good time and in anther direction. All were highly pleased and with the rumour of camp in the air everybody is keen to learn outdoor work ITEMS OF INTEREST. BADGES AND TESTS. The newly-admitted Scout proceeds with other tests. as soon as he has passed his "Tenderfoot. ’* The Second Class Badge—which he must gain before attempting any proficiency beiges, is an all-round test of Scouting merit. A knowledge of elementary first aid and bandaging is a great asset in these days of motor traffic. Besides, this, in teaching the boy to take careful observations, it will also excite ambition to pass the Ambulance Badge and enquire further into the structure and working of the marvellous machine—the Human Body. A knowledge of Morse or Semaphore Signalling has also great use.— the latter In the fun of signalling across great spaces, and the former with the development of wireless. ‘Following a trail for half a mile." what mystery does there not exist in following that trail And what excitement as each new' spoor is found** Heigh-ho for the snow-clad hills and a frosty morning. What testing of eyesight, deduction and speed! The alternative to ihls is Kim s game. This consists of remembering sixteen out of twenty-four well assorted small articles after one minutes observation. A splendid game for a wet evening quite as fascinatinc ns trailing. For further parti- ulars every boy should read “Kim - ’ by Rudyard Kipling "Go a mile in twelve minute'*— Scout's Pare ’ Tills form of jogging along Is familiar to every Scout It consists of walking twenty paces a:.d running twenty paces alternately, and is the easiest method of covering the ground—lncidentally. It enables .» Scout to estimate the distance h r has travelled by the time he has taken taking twelve minutes to equal one