It is now some considerable time since the Chief Scoutmaster of the Dunedin West-Central Battalion decided that his scouts must bring in a list of their good turns every week, and insisted that they must be signed by the scout's parent or guardian.
In this corps the idea has worked wonders, and from many sources he has found that boys who before would not do a kind action without a good deal of prompting, are now among the first to do ''something'' both in the home to which they belong, and among their fellows at school, at work, or at any time that they get an opportunity.
The Mornington scouts are now asked to record their good turns.
I have not yet heard as to the results.
Sir R. S. Baden-Powell recommends that every scout should keep a diary, and that in this he should make a note of every kind action he does.
I trust that every scout will remember in the future what is considered to be his most important duty.
• The farmers of South Canterbury are much concerned over the problem of harvest help during the coming season (says the Timaru Post), and many grain growers who intend to sow an increased acreage this year are asking themselves whether help will be available when stacking time comes on in the months of February and March.
The Farmers' Union is now seriously considering this problem, and all the branches in South Canterbury are passing resolutions asking the County Councils to suspend their road work during those months, so as to free men for work in the harvest fields.
The Government is also being asked to co-operate by allowing men engaged in public works to assist, and it is felt that if this is agreed to the problem will be solved to a large extent.
The matter, although harvest time is a long way ahead, is really urgent, for without some guarantee of this kind it is doubtful if some big grain growers will take the risk of planting big acreages which they may be unable to harvest owing to scarcity of labour.
• Lieutenant Sydney Cook, son of Mr Joseph Cook, married Miss Elsie Sheppard a few days before he left for the front (says the Wairarapa Times), and Mrs Cook, who was a nurse in the Prince Alfred Hospital, left Sydney for England.
The Kyarra, however, landed the nurses in Egypt, where Mrs Cook resumed her nursing duties.
Lieutenant Cook, wounded, was in bed in hospital at Alexandria, when, to his amazement and delight, he saw his wife walking down the centre of the ward.
He put up his hand and called her by name.
The meeting was quite unexpected.
• The Dargaville correspondent of the New Zealand Herald states that although the conditions of gumdiggers have been radically affected by the slump in kauri gum, owing to the war, the industry in the Northern Wairoa district still retains a large degree of importance.
Some 500 diggers are engaged in the winning and handling of the commercial resin, and these necessitate a weekly turnover of 1000.
Four-fifths of the men are Croatians, and are located on the peninsula which extends from Maunganui Bluff to the Kaipara entrance, a distance of 50 miles.
The remaining fifth embraces Britishers and Maoris.
When the price of gum fell to its present value the more enterprising of the Croatians sought work in other channels, and about 100 secured employment on the Kaihu railway extension works, on roading contracts, and as farm labourers.
Those left on the gumfields, however, find it possible to make fair livings, despite the fact that war conditions have lowered prices.
Apropos of the desire of fishermen to have a boat harbour at Pahia, it appears (says the Western Star) that this could be provided by the construction of a breakwater across a channel 154 yards wide.
There would then be a safe anchorage in all weathers for 30 or 40 launches. - ODT, 19.7.1915.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
