BOY SCOUTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2758, 12 March 1910, Page 4 (Supplement)

BOY SCOUTS.

NOS. 2 AND .3 TROOPS On Friday night -a- combined meeting was held. The Y.M.C.A. Troop march ed from their quarters to the St. Andrew’s rooms, when an attack was planned. The St. Andrew’s scouts posted sentries aIL round the building and in touch with it, and the game consisted of tile attacking force creeping up from all quarters and depositing some article within ten yards of them and getting away without being discovered. Points were given for a successful attempt, or to the defenders for making a capture. A good game resulted, and some fine moves were made by the attackers. The finish showed Y.M.C.A. Troop -j, St. Andrew’s Troop 9, the defenders having successfully held the fort. NOS. 2,3, AND 4 TROOPS. Saturday afternoon -was spent on the Waikanae beach, when a good time was had, although it finished up with a wet tramp home on account of the- rain. Battalion drill was first gone through, about fifty scouts being on parade. Then all hands stripped for a swim, but the life-saving trials that' had been planned could not be carried out. However, the boys were shown how to get into a life-buov, so the time was not wasted altogether. A suitable sandhill was then manned by the Methodist Troop, and the Y.M.C.A. and St. Andrew’s Troops marched to the attack. The battle raged for about three-quarters of an hour, but notwithstanding the best efforts of the attackers, tho fort could not he taken, and nine men were taken prisoners.

A one-act play, entitled “An Exciting Day, or Doing a Good_ Turn” (specially written for the Nortlicote Boy Scouts), was performed in Parry’s Hall, Auckland, recently, in aid of the building fund, under the direction of their versatile instructor, Chici-iScout-mastcr H. Stebbing.

Major Newton, district commander for Thames, reports another successful camp at iParawai. Around the campfire on January 28, the following resolution was carried by acclamation and forwarded to the dominion Chief Scout, to be sent on to the Chief in England. —“That the Boy Scouts of the Thames respectfully tender to the Chief Scout, Lieutenant-General Sir R. S. S. BadenPowell, K.C.8., their hearty congratulations upon the honor conferred upon him by his Majesty the King; their appreciation of his decision to devote himself to the movement, and their best wishes for his future.”—iSigned William H Newton, Major, District- Commander.

A notice appears in the “Scout" just to hand that the position of Commissioner for London has been abolished, and that all communications in future must bo sent to headquarters. Last week’s cablegrams also brought the news that the London Scoutmasters unanimously decided, at a mass meeting, to acknowledge Sir Baden-Poweli as the head of the movement. This is quite right, though much sympathy is felt- for Captain Sir Francis Vane, who lias done splendid work in .London.

Despite Mrs Grundy’s shrieks of horrified protestation, the girl scouts have evidently come to stay. Miss Markham’s suggestion in a letter to tho ‘Spectator” that the movement leads nowhere from a national point of view has been vigorously combated by Lieutenant-General Sir Robert BadenPmvell who points out that the “Girl Guides,” as they are to be officially known, may be made very useful feeders to the territorial organisation of voluntary aid. The girl guide is to undertake ail eminently practical course of training, and as soon as she can.pass tests in tho knowledge of the rules of corps, can Jay and light a fire, make a bed, cut out and sew a Union Jack and tie knots, she will be recognised as a second-class guide and may wear the “Bo prepared” badgo on her left arm. To become a first-class guide with the privilege of wearing the “Fleur-dc-lys” badge, a girl must- have a shilling in the savings bank, be able to cook a single dish, know simple hospital nursing, be acquainted with the history of a place so as to act as guide to visitors, and know the neighboring telephone stations. But the most important part of the guide’s equipment will be the knowledge of how to care for the wounded m the event of war. The instruction in this connection will include treking the wounded, signalling massages to say where the ambulance should come .to, learning how to tie up wounds temporarily,, learning how to make stretchers out. cl poles and cloaks and blankets and gates, lighting tiros in the < non, practical cooking, and the art o’ nursing moil back to health and “cheering them by reading, playing and singing.” Tho local administration of compauos is to be in tho liam.l s of ladies’ committees, andinu.'h company, consisting of eight girls each, is to bo under a scout mistress, who is styled a “captain.” This officer must be over twenty-one years of age, the age of the guides being from twelve to sixteen, \ and that of the patrol leaders from fifteen to eighteen. Under proper supervision there is room for plenty of useful work for the girls in the directions indicated, and even should their services never be required, a little tuition in such an advanced school of domestic economy as this ought to 0® helpful to them all.