SCOUTING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21090, 16 July 1938, Page 10

SCOUTING

By

“Red Plume”

DOMINION CHIEF'S MESSAGE

TREES An interest in trees, especially New Zealand Native Trees, can constitute a splendid hobby for boys and more particularly Boy Scouts. We have in this land the most beautiful forest trees in the world, but how many of the inhabitants of the land can recognize more than a half dozen or so at sight, and how few there are who know the uses to which the timber from these trees can be put. I would have these facts taught in the schools as such would be a subject of great educational value to the pupils and a necessary knowledge to a large number of the people. The flora (the name of the whole vegetation growth of any particular region) of New Zealand is said to be the most interesting in the world. This is due to our situation in the centre of the greatest area of water which exists. Well over one half of the plant life of New Zealand is unknown on the other parts of the earth. Of our vegetable life the trees have always had the greatest appeal for me although one must admit the beauty of other forms, especially of our ferns. All that space permits me to say on the subjects of Native Trees is that I recommend to the Scouts and Scoutmasters an earnest attention to this form of Nature study. Then we have a great variety of exotics (i.e. plants introduced from another country) among the trees of New Zealand. Certain types of exotic trees grow much more quickly that the native trees, due to their being introduced into conditions more kindly than those to which they have been used. These are the trees we more frequently plant. There is a very good reason for this in that native trees are for tile most part very slow growing. As an extreme instance, a Kauri tree

five feet in diameter is calculated to be three hundred years old while a pinus radiata (our most common pine tree) might reach the same dimensions in forty years. I should like to sec Boy Scouts interest themselves in planting trees and as boys are naturally impatient to see results for their labours the planting of pine and macrocarpas will give the greatest satisfaction in this respect. Do not, however, neglect any opportunity to get native seedlings and plant them for, while they grow more slowly, there is a corresponding satisfaction in seeing them thrive. It has been my practice to plant shelter belts of exotic trees to the extent of several thousands of trees a year. These have done very well indeed and this year I am going to plant at intervals along the shelter belts ornamental trees—trees which will yield flowers (such as wattles), trees to provide berries for birds, and trees (such as kowhais) to provide honey for birds. Will you all, even if you have a chance to plant only one or two trees, join me in this interesting work, and will you also join me in the interesting hobby of learning the names and uses of our New Zealand flora.—Hector Christie, Dominion Chief Cimmissioner. THE POW-WOW CORNER Does your Pack have a Handicraft evening? Of course, I know that some of you can’t because you can only meet once a week in a hall which doesn’t belong to you, and where you mustn’t make a mess, and so there isn’t any time for making models. Some of you are lucky enough to have your own Pack Den where you can do just as you like, and if you are one of these, I hope you try your hand at making models. Buy some black-and-white drawings of the Jungle animals from the Scout Shop, and then set to work to colour the animals with crayons in their natural colouring. Next, they mounted the pictures on three-ply wood, and with a fret-saw cut out the animals. Now came the most difficult part. The animals had to be made to stand up. A support was cut for each, and these were put on with hinges. A gift for those less fortunate than yourself. YOU PATROL EMBLEM IN BRASS Get a piece of sheet brass and cut with a hack saw to the required size and shape. Then get a copy of your Patrol Emblem or any desired design and trace with carbon paper on to the middle of the brass. Put some beeswax or any clear wax in a cup and stand in the middle of a saucepan, with water in the saucepan reaching about half-way up the cup, and boil until melted. Warm the brass, and with a small paint-brush paint the wax thinly over the whole design. Allow the wax to harden and then, with a sharp-pointed iron skewer, follow the lines of the design, making sure that the point goes right through to the metal. Get some nitric acid and spread it over the wax. The acid burns into the metal wherever the wax has been scratched away, and gives you a well-engraved design on the brass plate. Wash off the wax. drill a couple of holes in the plate, polish with emeiv paper, and hang on the wall of ycu den. —“The Scout.”

THE SCOUT SCARF When you get ready to attend your Troop meeting and are putting on your scarf, do you ever stop to think that it is not entirely for ornamental purposes? It has been included in the official scout uniform owing to its adaptability. Like the much discussed staff, there are numerous uses to which it may be put. Here are a few: For use as a signal flag by attaching it to a stick; A number of scarves tied together will form a lifeline in emergency; It makes a good arm sling in first aid work; It can be used as a triangular bandage (but be careful that the scarf does not come in contact with an open wound, else the dye may cause blood poisoning); As an arm band for team games. Then there is the good turn knot which you tie in the end. I know that in some books mention is made of this and it generally states that when you have don® e good turn you may untie the knot. Well, I just don’t quite agree with that! I feel that the knot should never be untied especially when in uniform. Why stop at one good turn? Or. if you untie the knot when you have done a turn, tie it up again and look for a chance to do some more. The possession of a scarf should mean a lot to a scout. It means that he has been accepted as a member of some particular troop and is bound on his honour to keep up the good name of the troop and to preserve its traditions. All the foregoing applies equally to cubs as well as scouts, so just think when next you put your scarf on just what it means and stands for. THE SCOUT LAW IN DAILY USE The scout law is one of the fundamentals of the movement. On it hinges the whole behaviour of a scout. Keep it always before you as a guide to your everyday actions. Once you have the law well memorised and can call the

different points to mind at the right moment you will be just that little bit more towards the ideal boy that every scouter looks for. For example, when you have a rather rotten job to do remember that a scout is cheerful, when you are out of sight of everybody, that a scout is obedient, when you are off with some pals, that the scout is clean, when you meet other people, that a scout is courteous, and always that a scout is loyal, trusty, ani ail the rest. Cubs, too, don’t forget that year law is meant for everyday use just as much as for when you are running with the pack and Ake la is keeping an eye on you. What about those times when you are tempted to “give in to yourself?” Just remember that Akela has told you that a cub does not do that. FISHING All cubs like fishing, and here is a jolly game in which you may catch some fish. Have ready some paper fish, cut out to shape, and about three inches long. In the head of each fish make a round hole. The fish are scattered in a chalk circle drawn on the floor—one circle for each six. Every cub is presented with a fishing rod—a small stick about the size of a pencil to which is attached a p!?ce of string and a bent pin. The cubs squat round their circles, and at the word “go” each cub tries to catch a fish on his hock A tn ’e limit is set and at the end the with most fish on the bank wins. Try it. It’s not so easy as it sounds! GUARDING THE LIGHTHOUSE The Troop divides into two parties. Each is given a lighted candle which is stuck on the floor, one at one end of the clubroom, the other at the other end. Each side has to try to blow the other side’s candle out. When we first tried the game, the battle royal that started up the minute I blew my whistle for commencement raised enough wind to blow both candles out instantly. That was a draw. The next time more diplomacy was used. You can try this game with clubroom lights out. Now It can be Told “Well I think women can keep secrets just as well as men.” “Ye-es, my dear, only it takes more of them to do it.” Lock-out Tired of waiting for her man, the collier’s wife went to bed after locking the doors of the house. Presently a ~< w, heavy knocking began on the front . door. She opened the window at last Toi . and asked her husband how and where he had spent the evening. “A’ve been to the club, lass,” he be-j gan. “telling a’ lads aboot a strike.” Then came the reply: "Tha’ can back an’ tell ’em aboot a lock-out." Unenterprising The little girl of the family was fl seated at the breakfast table one morn—jg-j? ing. As usual, eggs were served pjfi Either she was not hungry oi she qc had grown tired of the tare, for very.rrM earnestly she re: ; :::ed: “I (Id wistaon hens would lay something besides iuo I eggs.”