Scout News

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20845, 1 July 1939, Page 20 (Supplement)

Scout News

A short while ago I suggested that as many of you as possible should try to get in a bit or winter camping, and I am wondering how many troops do make a practice of trying their hand at this. Of course, I know that the weather is, to say the least, very damp, but that should not deter a really good Scout from adding to his Scouting knowledge. Some troops seem to be In the habit or digging in Tor the winter and not even venturing out for a Saturday afternoon hike. There’s such a lot of things to do on a winter hike that one can’t do in the summer. For instance, how about making casts of animal tracks, which should be numerous at this time of the year, as the ground is so sort. This is just one activity to fill In a very Interesting afternoon. Arter all, Is not our movement an outdoor one and we should see that we keep tne OUT in Scouting well to the Tore all the year round. HAMUTANA

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK Procrastination is the thief of time. SOUTHERN CROSS TROOP Another evening of Scouting has been held since we last appeared in print. Arter the usual routine of flag-break and inspection, the evening’s work was de-

By “Silver Wolf”

voted to Second Class, Ambulance and Signalling, and First Class indoor work. Later in the evening- we received a visit from our secretary, Mr Allan, who has a surprise in store for us. We concluded the evening- with a hearty sing-song-. Saturday morning saw about a dozen or us at tlie hall to do some practice for our cyclist badge. From the collection or nuts, bolts, screws, ball bearings, etc., that were lert over when our bicycles were put together again, I think we will soon be able o start a bike repair shop. The afternoon following saw half a dozen or us at the hall to practise ambulance. Thus ended, for us, a very busy week-end. Scribe

ST. GEORGE’S First of all, we must apologise to everyone for the terrible weather that we put on last Saturday. We had hopes or a 1 line evening for our campfire and everything was ready to start, when down came : the rain to spoil everything. We trust | that all our would-be guests were not | too disappointed. At any rate, they say all good things j can keep, so we have to advise that we are hoping to hold our cainplre evening i very shortly, and this time we will make ' arrangements to hold it inside, in case it ; does decide to rain again. Monday night saw us roll up to enter- I tain Claudelands Tor the evening. After flag-break and inspection, we made ready to receive our guests and when they j turned up we greeted them with what we thought was a very good rendering or the | Komate haka. or course, this opinion may i be open to doubt in the minds of the j Claudelands Scouts. Al ter this warm up, | we settled down to games which filled in ! our evening very pleasantly, and when 1 supper was ready, everyone felt the need for !! CUP or rorpM. At about this time. have been too strong lot- one llumutana j Rover, who managed to put in an appear- i ance just in lime to join us. This ended j our evening and alter bidding farewell to j our guests we closed the parade. This Saturday we are holding our bottle | drive, wet or fine, so ir you see any St. | George’s Scouts staggering towards the ; S.M’s'place with arml uls or bottles, don't J be alarmed: At present we are without j our S.M., who is laid up with a sprained ' ankle, so our A.S.M. is taking over the j troop in his absence. Bei'ore we close | we would like to extend our deepest j sympathy to Mr and Mrs Hayward lor ; their recent loss. Geo Hayward was an ex-Scout, who frequently visited our troop . and gave us some very interesting chats on some of the phases or his work. We will close now and let you know more or our doings next week. Scribe HAMUTANA ROVERS To begin with, it all started when Gus and Sam being unable to get Allan’s old Lizzie tn start on Saturday arternoon, in spite of our protestations that all she needed was a new battery. Finally they gave it up in disgust and hired a car to take them to Matamata to attend the Dutch To make a long story short, five or the more foolish members went to Matamata on Saturday, leaving behind three of the crew who knew better. On Sunday morning. at the perfectly ghastly hour of 8.0 a ni.. C.uth., with a display of energy rarely seen, woke up the co-owners and operators or Lizzie and suggested going to Matamata. On the enquiry as to where we could get a battery from, he said be had one at home, whirl! brightened up the party considerably. Sure enough, we soon had Lizzie going and the three knowing Hamutanas set off to Matamata. m spite or rain that seemed to come down in torrents, practically all the way. Due to the faM that Lizzie had plenty of wide open spaces in the windscreen the front seat passengers were soon getting their

full share nr the trenilo zephyrs. Worse was to come, however, as we had to take the detour road. Rut did Lizzie falter? not she: The very sight of the long winding hills seemed to put new lire into her and the way she went up those hills would have, brought a gleam of pride to the eyes or her inventor. Later we round out that Cut-h. had filled her up with Super Shell, which may have had a lot to do- with it. On arrival at Matamata. we found that everyone had gone to find some caves out in the Hfnuera Valley. Before proceeding after them, we ventured up town to find something to eat and managed to find a Te Mataruru Rover who agreed to come with us and show us the way. This meant practically retracing our steps until we turned ofT the main road and took to a road which was little better than a clay track. Our luck was certainly in that day, Tor r.rtcr following along this road Tor miles and miles we suddenly spied our quarry In a paddock. It was hard to say who got the biggest shock at seeing us turn up in the despised Lizzie, and was mis’ scotch heart disgusted at the thought or so much good money being wasted on a rental car: After picking up Jack to ease the load in their little bus. w-e hade farewell to the Te Matan'mis and set off Tor home, and arter an uneventrul journey we arrive back about 3.H0 in the. arternoon. Thus closed another chapter In the history of the Hamutanas.and one which, three or us at any rate, voted the best trip we had ever done. Our Pierre has managed to pick up a better job at Tauranga, and we wish him better luck this time, although it means that we will have to go further still to visit him. We have to advise the Damiens that we hope to turn out to their winter camp in rull Torce and we will endeavour to show them just how winter camping should be done. Look to your laurels, Damiens! Cheerio. Scribe

ST. PETER’S TROOP

Here is the news from St. Peter’s for the last three meetings: On June 9, our meeting started at 7.(1 and alter our usual opening procedure we played games until the arrival or Commissioner and Kiwi, to inspect the troop. Afterwards they sorted out those Scouts who are going to the Jamboree, while Second and First Class Ambulance instruction was continued by Skipper. When our visitors had departed, we gathered round to listen to the Chief Scout’s weekly yarn, and then followed up w ith a game of “ Dog and Bone.” The meeting ended with flag-break and the Scout Promise. On June io our week meeting again slanted off with ambulance, while the senior boys swotted up their work lor First Class. This was continued until 8.4 5, when we had a game and then gathered round to listen to the Chief's weekly After this, the meeting closed with the Tuis in the lead for the Patrol Shield. Al a Court or Honour held arter the parade, two letters were received, the first one from D.H.Q. asking the troop to open a bank to obtain funds for gear, etc., to be taken to the Jamboree, the second being a request Horn tlie Hovers for items t'roir all Hamilton troops for a concert. On June 2 3 the meeting started as usua and during inspection w r e received anothei sisit from the Commissioner and Kiwi who came to see the Jamboree boys unc gave them a talk on the work that woulc have to be done and also asked them to trj lor such badges as Camper’s, Ambulance Books, etc. Ambulance class was again continuec arter the visitors had left and then Re milt Fred Murnby became one or on: great brotherhood. Well done, Fred, tin troop wish you every success in you future Scouting. i At o.u p.m. the shield was presented p p. 1.. Lincoln, or the Tuis, who had man I aged to retain his lead from last week. | sec you in 1 9 40.