BOY SCOUTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2676, 4 December 1909, Page 3 (Supplement)

BOY SCOUTS.

Y.M.C.A. TROOP. A good practice night was put in last week. Instruction was given in the Union Jack, knot tying, and the Scout Law. A good test in observation was “Kim’s game.” About twenty small articles were placed on a draught board and were shown to the scouts for /lie minute, and they then had to make a list of what they could remember. On Saturday the troop met in the Gymnasium on account of the wet weather, and a commencement was made at learning the Dominion scouts’ rally, which, is in the form of a Maori haka. After this signalling practice was gone into under Scout-Master Inglis. About a dozen are working hard for the second-class badge.

ST. ANDREW’S TROOP .

The Wolf Patrol.—On Saturday afternoon these joined with the Peewits in order to carry out the “Storming of Badajos.” The place chosen was the Waikanae Beach, and after picking sides a suitable sand hill was transformed into a fort, on the top of which half the Scouts were entrenched, while the other half formed the attackers. A series of most exciting fights ensued, first one side and then the other being the victors. Even the Scoutmaster joined in, and great was the cheering when he was hauled over the ramparts by Corporal Wallace. A defiance has been sent to the Y.M.C.A. troop who are expected to come out this afternoon and try to wipe out the insult to their good name'. Last practice night was given up principally to the study of Scout Law and the Union Jack in preparation for the forthcoming examinations. The Wolves are all very keen about getting their badges and are battling along in good style in view of their uniforms arriving in a week or two. The Peewit Patrol.—On class night the Peewits went down the street for object testing. The shop windows were selected by the Scoutmaster, and one minute allowed at each in which to “take stock.” On returning to the orderly-room it was found more difficult than it seemed to enumerate everything in the windows. Some semaphore signalling was also practised and the Union Jack drawn on the blackboard. On Saturday afternoon they went track, ing on the Waikanae Beach. When rain came on they used their staves to erect a tent, having an oil-coat for a covering. After the rain went off a series of tugs-of-war were carried out. NO. 1 TROOP. At a meeting of the Scouts last week Scout Law cards were distributed and two scouts were sworn in. A flag drawing test was given and was won by Scout Quigley. On Saturday last Haka drill and signalling were gone into. CONTINUED PROGRESS. The local secretary of the Gisborne Boy Scouts (Mr. C. R. Webster) is receiving names for the formation of a girls’ patrol in Gisborne. The girl ipeac-e scout movement is making rapid headway in various parts of the dominion. Several new troops have been formed in the North Island, and a troop of twenty-eight High School girls, under Miss B. Watt, lady principal of the Timaru Girls’ High School, as scoutmistress, lias been registered.

Reports of the usefulness and resource of boy scouts are frequently received by the Dominion Chief Scout. Last week a boy at Woodend fell during a game and broke his leg. Two scouts who happened to be camping near rendered first aid and carried him into their tent till the doctor arrived. He complimented the scouts on their work, on the neatness of their tent, and on their gas installation. Auckland newspapers recently gave great praise to some boy scouts who rendered help to .a veteran who met with an accident on the railway. District Commander Captain Arthur Plugge, of Auckland, recently wrote as follows to Major Cossgrove: “We had well over 400 boys on parade on Saturday. I think there is a great future for the movement here in Auckland; the great difficulty at present is to get hold of suitable* scoutmasters. We could easily enrol 2000 boys. The newspapers and the public generally are taking a big interest in the movement, and everybody that has been approached has expressed his willingness to help. "

In an interview with Major Cossgrove recently, Bishop Grimes expressed his entire sympathy with the movement, and assured him of the hearty co-operation of the clergy of the Roman Catholic Church.

Arrangements are almost completed for the publication of an “Official Gazette,” which will appear monthly. It will contain a list of all appointments, reports from various districts and details of aR scout bravery and usefulness, as well as a number of clean, healthj storyettes.