Display of scoutcraft

Some 1200 boy scouts of all ages and sizes attended the Exhibition sports ground yesterday afternoon for the second display of scoutcraft given in connection with the Boy Scouts Jamboree. To those who were unacquainted with the wonderful work done by the scouts’s organisation, it must have come as a revelation to see the exhibitions of scoutcraft given yesterday. Squads of eight, in less time than it takes to say it, scaled a 10-foot bare wall, and not content with that, took a field cart over. Three urchins of tender years perched themselves in an observation tower which, although built from improvised material would have done credit to an engineer and reflected great credit on the Petone Scouts who built it. Many other demonstrations were given, which left the spectators wondering whether they were watching schoolboys or a detachment of the Royal Engineers.

Score fraud mars champs

Up to the present bowlers who are taking part in the Dominion tournament have had little cause for complaint as the greens have been keen enough to satisfy the most exacting. As is usual in big tournaments there is a lot of stupid "faking" of score cards. A glance at the score cards gives ample proof of this. It is absolutely astonishing the number of well-beaten rinks and pairs that score five, sixes and sevens on the last hand, thus making their scores read better than they otherwise would. I cannot see that this silly practice has anything to commend it. The game of bowls is played by full-grown men who should be able cheerfully to accept whatever measure of defeat comes their way. The most capable bowler at times clashes heavily, and it should not worry him if his friends know all about it.  — by ‘Jack’

GM’s land holdings

The company known as General Motors (NZ) Ltd, with a nominal capital of £50,000, has quietly bought through an agent five acres of Crown Land at Petone, for the assembling, mainly, it is understood, of motor cars, trucks and, when advisable, aeroplanes, motor boats, etc.

"General Motors" is a very big and important firm, handling as it does such cars as the Cadillac, the Buick, the Oldsmobile, the Oakland, the Chevrolet and the Pontiac (the last-named is not yet known on the Australasian market). Also GMC and Chevrolet trucks. Recently it has taken an interest in English cars, through its having taken over the Vauxhall works. It has also been negotiating with the Austin Company, but so far it is said without success.

Councillors to monitor driving

Speeding and careless driving on the Main North Road was the subject of strong protest by Cr Briscoe at the meeting of the Waikouaiti County Council yesterday. He stated that, with the present volume of motor traffic on the road, pedestrians did not feel safe, especially in the vicinity of Waitati. With 1100 cars on the road daily, careful and considerate driving was absolutely necessary. Parents were anxious about the safety of their children when travelling to and from school. The councillors decided that the only way to check the menace was for each member of the council to report any cases of negligent driving that should come under his notice. A speed limit was not sufficient, as safety depended more upon care being exercised on certain portions of the road than on a specified speed limit. — ODT, 21.1.1926