Scout News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 106, 6 May 1936, Page 12

Scout News

(Bv “Tuakana.”) Conducted weekly >n the interest'of Scouting In the district. and to acquaint the public with the work which Scouting embraces. All contributions should be in the hands of “Tuakana’’ c/o A. F. A. Wooilams, Ridgeway Street, at the lat-

Gilwell StudiesA reminder to al! who have entered that the first study must be at. D.H.Q. by May 22, so get moving. Rovers. ... A report of First Dominion hover moot held at New Brighton, Easter, 1936—Hover Takarangi, who represented our group has returned with an enthusiastic report of Rovering and ms report will be of interest to all of us The camp was under canvas, on the Racecourse, and the weather was ideal. In order to let all the ehaps attend the various meetings and functions held the cooking was conducted on a central basis and the meals were excellent. The North Island was represented by Masterton, Ohakune, Wanganui and Wellington. On Good Friday the camp was opened, and all Rovers were given a hearty welcome by Major lurby ot D.H.Q. The programme of the camp included talks by Dr. F. J. Barrie, Mr. E Manthrop, Col. P. C. Fenwick, Mr. A J Mc’Eldowney, former secretary of local Y.M.C.A.) and a lantern lecture by Mr. W. Taylor on his woik among the S.I. Maoris. , Subiects taken were, life from three aspects, e.g., mental, physical, and spiritual, and the need for closer application of them; problems of youth and the need for co-operation among the | various.youth organisation; and Rover-1 ing in general. I Two camp fire concerts were held | and the items given by the various crews were good. Timaru were very , prominent in these events. I Outings included a trip round the bays one day, and a visit to places of interest in the city the next. On Easter Saturday a dinner was held at the Richmond Rovers IDen. The tea and social and dance was held at Buckett’s Hall, Armagh Street, and was voted a big success. ’ Flag break and prayers he.d each day made a deep impression on the chaps, and will not be easily forgotten. As is usual in such a gathering of Rovers, various discussions arose on the wearing of uniform or not when on rambles; wearing of lanyards and earrving of thumbsticks; the need and desire for bigger crews; Scouting amongst the Maoris; and the burning question of badges; arid the result of these discussions give food for much thought on our part. It was decided to hold the next Dominion Rover moot in the North Island, and Masterton was selected for the camping spot. This will be held next Easter. At one period in the camp there were about 53 Rovers present. When asked what impressed him most on his visits our representative expressed his delight and pleasure on the great Rovering spirit that was present throughout the camp. The Rover Dens visited were well run and very good. He was very much impressed with the Linwood Rover Crews idea. With 25 in the crew, and paractically a 100 per cent, muster each week, they meet on .Saturday nights, they are a brotherhood of the open road, and guest nights are held once a month when all young ladies are welcomed (this might be a good idea for getting over the Rover and his girl trouble). Rover Takarangi also mentioned that Dr. F. J. Barrie may be passing through our town, so we should -be ready tur calling a meeting to give him a welcome. One point stressed was that of visitng Rovers who pass “as ships in the light.” It was felt that in fairness to ocal Rovers they should at least try to ?et in touch wih us and give us the opportunity of meeting them. Will all such please note this, and when passing through call on our A.D.C.R.S.. Mr. A. F. A. Wooilams, Ridgway Street. Honours Roll for April. Only one Scout passed a badge, and he was “P.L.” Maurice Smith, West mere Troop, Second Class. The Busiest Thing on Earth. It would, I suppose, be difficult to say quite definitely what is the busiest thing on earth. I have always considered a beehive to be the most active thing. The hive seems to be alive with busy bees going about their business in an orderly efficient manner, as though their lives were short and they wanted to do as much as possible. We have a phrase which says, “as busy as a bee.” A fellow who is as busy as a bee is one who never wastes time. He values minutes. Time is power. You are a millionaire—not in money, perhaps, but in minutes. Your job is to turn those minutes into useful activity. Appreciate your time power.— don’t waste it. Akelas and Baloos. I “Tuakana” have often been approached by “Akela’s” for advice on •Cubbing matters and I appreciate the honour done to me. As an Old Scout of many years experience, may I offer a bit of advice, or rather, make a sug-

gestion. Let us each and everyone ask ourselves the question, would we like others to do unto us as we do unto them? and try to remember that the second Tuesday in the month is “our" night. If we love the game of “Cubbing” as wc say we do, then let us rally rouud at these “our” own meetings in the jungle and make them a huge success, and* remember that ‘united we stand.’ Yes, I know its not easy, or pleasant at times to turn up, but let me draw you back to the story of the “Seoneese” Pack given in the “Jungle Book.” If you remember, the story opens with an empty clearing; presently we see the wolves of the pack arriving and crouching in the council circle; when all are present (please note that remark), we read that the Old Wolf arrives and steps ou the council rock, and then we have the grand howl. Has it ever occurred to you what the old wolf would have felt if he had arrived at the council tock and found none of his pack there, and that halfway through the council meeting only one or two were present? What would ■‘your” feelings be if such a thing happened to you? Would you feel * keen to carry on your job, or would you throw up the sponge. May I ask you, as one who has had this experience to give your answer by turning up in full force next Tuesday, | May 12, at 7.30 p.m. and lets make sure that “we” are there to greet the I old wolf “on time’’ at the Rover IDen. ; “Good hunting O ye Free People” and lets D. 0.8. —“Tuakana,” Big Brother. Message. No longer talk about the kind of man that a good man ought to be, but be such.—Marcus Aurelius. Scout Boat Race. Have you tried this one? Each patrol sits on the floor one Scout behind the other with his legs apart and holding the shoulders of the chap in front, as if in a boat, holding an oar. The P.L. is the cox and sits facing the back man and gives the time. When all are ready, Scouter says “Ready!” then gives a certain number of strokes to be pulled—say 20. Then “Go!” Each man will pull in his mate’s shoulders the number of times given, as if rowing a boat. As soon as the number is pulled the whole crew will spring up. run to the end of the room and take up the same position as they were in at starting point. The first in position and silent are the winners. “Scaled Orders.” There was a full attendance of the 13th. Dunedin Troop, recently, says “Scout”; a treasure hunt was to be held. 'The hunt was in the nature of a surprise item and commenced when the A.S.M. handed sealed orders to the patrol leaders. These ordered each patrol to different streets, where further instructions were to be opened. Inside was a message in code and then in semaphore. After reading the semaphore, the words were easily decoded, each word being reversed. The message ordered them to go to a nearby train terminus, which meant running up the steepest gradients in the vicinity of the Scout Hall. From here they had to go to a certain corner, where a man wearing a white rose was to be asked: “Does the shining cuckoo ever polish up?” He told them to go to a place “Where the men in short pants play,’’ to wit, a local soccer ground. Ultimately they reached their destination, the hunt proving a great success. There may be an idea in this that some S.M. will develop. What a Difference! “Yesterday,” says a Scout writer, “I was in camp, far from the madding crowd. My sole companions were the birds. I fished in the river for my dinner. I cooked the fish for my meals on the hot embers of my wood fire. It was the primitive life. Now, mark the contrast,” says this lover of Nature. “This morning I was awakened by the electric alarm. My breakfast, bacon and eggs, was cooked on an electric stove. 1 went to town by an electric train, travelled to earth’s surface again by an elecric escalator. The moment I arrived at the office the telephone rang. At lunch I went fur a haircut and the barber used an electric machine. An elecric kettle was used to get afternoon tea and a fan has whirred all day to keep the editorial den cool. Is it to be wondered that more people do not take to the primitive life to get away from it all?’’ Now, of course, we must not altofgether despise these so-called “helps to ease.” They have for us all a very necessary work to perform; but, does not the desire to get away from it all at times assail each and all? It does to Scouts. They just glory in getting away to somewhere where they can minister to their own comforts, amid surroundings delightful to eye and heart. Stunts. Here are a few camp-fire stunts which will come in handy for your next troop evening;—*