SCOUT NOTES

Waipa Post, Volume 49, Issue 3505, 14 August 1934, Page 5

SCOUT NOTES

TE AWAMUTU TROOP. Leaving bv the express on Saturday night at 6.28, three Te Awamutu Scouts journeyed south to represent ie Aiwamtutu at the Otorohanga Troop s third birthday party. Except that they nearly missed the train the journey was uneventful. Arriving at Otorohanga they were met by some very obliging Scouts, who offered to do everything for them. Shortly after they arrived at the hall, where other Scouts and thdir parents and friends were- arriving. They wore met here by the Otorohanga Scoutmaster, Mr F. Hilder, a very capable officer, and made very welcome. With the arrival of Scouts from Cambridge and Hamilton, and later from Te Kuiti, the party was soon in swing in real Scout fashion. When the Commissioners from Te Kuiti and Hamilton arrived on the scene, they were accorded the true Scout welcome —the Dominion haka. By this time, the Otorohanga Scouts had taken over control of affairs, and the time was then taken .up with various and most original items, the local Girl Guides also lending a hand with a very excellently executed dance. Some of the items were “ Smithy’s Transtasman Flight,” and “ .The Burglary,” along With some items by the Cubs. Then followed speech-making by the various officers, after which Mr R. Hill, the A.S.M., was invested, in the presence of the assembled Scouts, acquitting himself in the Ipisi ceremony very well. After a very plentiful and tasty supper the party concluded and c.ur three Scouts were faced with the problem of bivouacing for the night. They commandeered the kitchen, there being a nice fire in this room, and on the tables therein they erected their beds of rugs, blankets and overcoats. The senior member bagged the side nearest the fire and in spite of all hindrances offered by the other two, he managed to get some sleep along with the cithers. Just as soon as morning broke the three woke up, rubbed their eyes, and wrapped in their rugs, sat up and yarned until someone suggested a fire, which was got going. After a wash, packs were packed, and the room cleared for breakfast, which was supplied by the generosity of the Otorohanga Scoutmaster. Bc.b cooked porridge while lan fried the eggs : n a frying pan with holes in the bottom. Nevertheless, those eggs were very tasty, as also was the porridge. The three then filled in time until Mr Hilder came along with his bus, and in they scrambled with the Otorohanga bovs, and headed for the hills to visit the famous caves above the reservoir. After a drive and a hearty scramble through real rough country, they arrived a+' the dam, where they had lunch. Then another heavy scramble through fern and shrubs brought us to the hill leading up to the cave; the advance guard was already there and waiting. Everybody having arrived safely, preoarations were made for the descent into the cavern. Mr Hilder first exnloi’ed the underground burial chamber and then in two separate parties, the Scouts were lowered into the cave. The exnerience was quite novel and thiflling, as with candles, the party explored underground. As there were plenty of bones about, the first-aid enthusiasts we"e able to show off the knowledge of the human structure. This exploring went off Uneventfully and everybody scrambled back to the road and thence by bus back to the township. Here, the Te Awamutu lads had tea- and said farewell to- hospitable Otorohanga, setting out on their bicycles for home. After a hard push home, they arrived, tired but hanpy, and vpvy with everything, and with the parting vote that the trip was one of the best and most interesting yet. They then went their various ways home.