SCOUT NEWS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 242, 12 October 1937, Page 9

SCOUT NEWS

Thought for the week: “Much can be achieved if there is the will and energy to attempt.” Wanganui East Troops: On Tuesday of the week in which the Scouts of this group were on holiday at Ohakune, six boys from Wanganui and one from Ohakune started off for the mountain hut on Mt. Ruapehu. The ! Scouts participating were R. Laird, Wanganui East troop, carrying a 191 b. pack, J. Purvis, of Ohakune troop, 101 b. pack, J. Willetts, of Glasgow Eagles 191 b. pack, R. Harris, Glasgow Eagles, 111 b. pack, P. Hogben, Glasgow Eagles, 151 b. pack, A Walker, Gonville, 7 lb. pack, and C. Laird, 81b. pack. They left at 11 o’clock and arrived at the mountain at 3.15, half an hour of this being taken for lunch, the distance covered being nine miles. The bush was grand, the trees were at every mile changing. At the one mile peg there was mahoe, white beach, karo, rimu, miro, and toro. At the two miles there was little difference except for maka maka, black beech, and horopito. The three mile peg showed karamu, miro, rimu, horopito, and an abundance of kidney ferns. At the four mile peg was puta puta wheta, totara, black and red beech, with an abundance of the prince of Wales feather fern. Five mile peg had white beech, still horopito, wineberry, kawa kawa, toil orchids and ferns, and at the six mile, beech of the four types, white, red, black and the mountain beech, lawyers, parsonia, broadleaf, and varieties of the koprosma family. Seven mile peg saw practically no change, but at the eight mile peg the bush had dwindled to mountain beech, toa toa, silver pine, kaikawaka, and mountain totara.

At the nine mile peg was umbrella fern, moss, and many other rock plants. The view of Ruapehu was unobstructed by clouds, in the evening, but Wednesday had black clouds over the peak. The party left at eight o’clock and ambled back to camp. Many plants were collected on the way down, and many native birds such as the native pigeon, tuis, bellbirds, whiteheads, or bush canaries, warblers, brighteyes, bush hawkes, tom-tits, harrier hawks and moreporks were seen. The party arrived back after an enjoyable hike at 12 o’clock on Wednesday and so concluded a very interesting expedition. Headquarter Notes: Wednesday, September 15, was the last day for the returns of the census papers. Those groups who have not yet completed their returns are asked to do so immediately. The chairmen of committees are requested to enquire into the position from those responsible in their groups. Wanganui has always led the way in the past and it is hoped that this year will not be an exception.

Dominion headquarters have now leased P.O. Box 1642, Wellington, and all correspondence intended for Dominion headquarters should be addressed there. Of course metropolitan district officers should pass correspondence intended for Dominion headquarters through the metropolitan district commissioner or the met. distri/t secretary, as the case may be, and not communicate direct.

Gilwell training camps preliminary notice is given that Miss N. Wilson, Aleka leader for the Dominion, will conduct a gilwell cub course in Hawke’s Bay shortly after Christmas. The exact date and particulars will be sent out later. All intending candidates should send in their names to Miss N. Wilson, “Lethenty,” Bulls, as soon as possible.

A cub gilwell will also be held in Christchurch from December 25 to 28. All Scouters interested should communicate with the hon. Met. secretary 67 Worcester Street, Christchurch. It is also probable that a Scout course will be held at Palmerston North occupying four week-ends and terminating at Easter.