SCOUTING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21529, 16 December 1939, Page 15

SCOUTING

RAINCLIFF PIONEER SCOUT CAMP

Some months ago we asked through the “Scout columns" for an appropriate name for our Raincliff camp. Not so easy to And a suitable name, is it? The site of the camp is in the vicinity of the old camping grounds of the early pioneers and it was there that the stock were watered. The centennial pioneer park is situated on the hills behind our camp and the .year 1940 marks 100 years of progress of our Dominion. What better name could we give than that our property should be called the Pioneer Scout Camp—the scouts’ gift to the memory of the pioneers. Since our last report, our “brickie" has completed the larder, and he was not content until he had water-proofed the structure. There will be no worry about soft butter or the mutton during the camp. A pile of logs at the rear of the den was the result of hours of hard sawing by several fellows. Scouter Manthorp and the well-known “Bill” worked hard on the partitions while Mr Smith was very busy on the windows and sashes. Mr Nichol, as the pump-man, has given us a plentiful supply of fresh water and the pump is handy to both the den and the kitchen area. The usual weapon of the Cubmasters, the gorse-knife, was again in evidence. Patrol Leaders, with the helpof our car drivers had the job of carrying heavy boulders from the riverbed. So you can easily see that the jobs undertaken by all hands are no light task.

HEADQUARTERS COMMISSIONER FOR PUBLICITY Members of the Scout movement will be familiar with the excellent work done by the publicity section of the Jamboree Team, under the capable leadership of Mr Bruce H. Etherington, and will extend to him their congratulations on his appointment as Dominion Headquarters Commissioner for Publicity. Mr Etherington is a keen Toe H worker and is a man who has always been associated and interested in boy work, having for many years helped with the boys’ camp run by Toe H authorities at Resolution Bay. Mr Etherington is now the youngest member of the Dominion executive. PATHFINDING STUNTS TO TRY Of all the many interesting things that Scouts do, perhaps pathfinding is tire most neglected. Not because It is a subject having little or no appeal but because opportunities for practice seem to be so few in a troop or patrol programme. This should not be allowed to happen, as pathfinding is of tremendous value, particularly in England where National Service is claiming the attention of most Scouts.

So study pathfinding, whether you are in town, or country and be ready to answer a call for assistance should it ever be made to you. Mr N. A. Moore who is our examiner and an old Northdown Scout is always ready to help, and there are all manners of stunts that can be found in “Scouting for Boys” or in the “Scout” that will interest you in this badge. Here is a knowledge test that may interest you. Give each Scout a pencil and paper, then mention a name of some place in . the town. The Scouts then have a short time in which to write down all they know about it, tabulating the information so that it can be checked easily. At the end of the time the papers are examined, and points can be awarded to each Scout or to his patrol. Of course, the facts must be connected with the place mentioned.

THE NGAITAHU PACK

The annual Christmas party of the , Ngaltahu Pack was held during the week and as a result of a plentiful supply of supper, provided by the committee and parents, and a jolly programme of fun and games, the evening was voted a huge success. One of the highlights was provided by John Oddie, with about 15 minutes of magic and conjuring tricks. Arthur Branthwaite played his mouth organ and Don Philp sang a solo with the Cubs joining in the chorus. Both Guy Mitchell and Arthur Newton gave recitations. Two Highfield Scouts, Ritchie Mitchell and Don Green were a credit to their Scouter, for their rope-spinning was a popular favourite with the parents and cubs. After the treasure hunt, the honour of cutting the Christmas cake fell to Frank Meredith. When the supper had disappeared the Commissioner thanked the parents for their interest in the pack, and a special Cub “thank you" was given to Akela and her assistant, Mrs Mitchell. Mr George Wills suitably replied on behalf of the parents of the Ngaitahu Cup Pack. THE CUB KNOWS HOW A young Cub, who, before he went to the pack party, received a few hints from his mother on how to behave. “Remember,” she said, “if you are asked to have something to eat you should say, ‘Yes, please,’ and if you don't want——” "That’s all right,” said the Cub, “you needn’t bother about that part of it.” HULLO CUBS, Have you ever heard of observation tours? Sometimes visitors to a city are taken on an observation tour in order that they may see all the beautiful buildings and sights of that city. Then perhaps you may have seen a picture or read of Professor Pickard, the scientist, who went for a scientific observation tour in a big balloon away above the earth and made many observations which have proved valuable to science.

I am going to tell you of an observation tour which the Highfield Cubs took last Wednesday and which was quite different from Professor Pickard’s tour or a tour round a city. The Cubs went for a walk and noticed on the way all the things which began with the letter “B,” and when they got back to the den they wrote down all the things they could remember. One Cub noticed the blinds on the windows of the houses he passed, another noticed the bulb in a car lamp, and another saw some beans growing in a garden. That is an observation tour which everyone can take and for which you do not need any money or any scientific equipment but just two eyes to notice all the world about you. Next time your are going on a message or to school, make it an observation tour of your own and you will be surprised at the number of things you will see. Clear trails and good hunting, Bagheera. CANADIAN SCOUTS START A FOREST Some 12,000 young pine trees have been planted by Scouts and Cubs of the Upper Canada College Scout Troop at Norval, Ontario, as the first step towards developing a 550-acre college camp site. The trees were planted under the direction of the provincial forestry department.