BIG SCOUT RALLY.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR PRESENTS THE PRINCE'S BANNER.

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   About 18 Troops of Hongkong Boy Scouts and 6 Wolf Cub Packs paraded at Volunteer Headquarters yesterday afternoon, and were inspected by H.E. the Governor.
   The parade was taken by Mr. C.Champkin, the Acting Commissioner; and Col. T.A.Robertson, who is to succeed him in this post, was also present in Scout uniform.
   Among the spectators were H.E. Major General Sir John Fowler, K.C.M.G., the General Officer Commanding, Mr. J.Reid, and Mr. R.M.Dyer.
   A party of Sea Scouts presented a very smart and workmanlike appearance, as did the Scottish Troop, who were played on to the parade ground by a piper.
   The newly formed Japanese Troop, composed for the most part of exceedingly wee lads, were nevertheless very good, and seemed to take the proceedings inordinately seriously.
   After passing round the lines, Sir Edward Stubbs received from No. 6 Troop the Prince of Wales' Banner, which he proceeded to hand over to No. 8 Troop who have qualified to hold it during the ensuing year.
   In a short speech, His Excellency congratulated the assembled Scouts on their smart appearance, and paid tribute to the excellent work done by Mr. Champkin during his tenure of office as Acting Commissioner.
   Mr. CHAMPKIN, subsequently addressing the parade, said:-

   "Boy Scouts and Wolf Cubs,- A long time ago, when there were not so many houses in the world and men had room to hunt and ride, there was a fine old custom amongst the Scouts and Indians that roamed the forests and plains. These free men came in from their hunting grounds once a year and assembled in some convenient place at sunset to renew their allegiance to the great Chief.
   On such occasions they formed a semicircle, just as you are doing now, and the Chief Scout that addressed them always faced the setting sun. I don't know why this was so, except perhaps that they could see him better, but, of course, it also meant that all the Scouts were facing East and there may have been some important reason for this. We look to the East for wisdom and it is towards the East that we turn to greet the dawn.
   Now, this is our great day of assembly, and our time of greeting to our Chief Scout. For me it is something more, for it is the last time I shall address you before giving up my charge as Acting Commissioner. I would like to tell you of what we have achieved and of the gratitude I feel for all the ready and cheerful help that you have given me, but I would rather remind you that you are looking towards the East and that the great Boy Scout Movement of which you are are a part, is the Rising Sun.
   You are not to be content merely to look upon the dawn. It is for you to bestir yourselves and to see that the Boy Scout Movement spreads its light in Hongkong until it has brightened all the dark places. Every Boy Scout must be an optimist. It is easy enough to make pleasant ways more pleasant, but that is not enough. The mission of the Scouts is to make hard ways easy.
   The first time I addressed you when I took over this charge I told you that a good motto for a good Scout was 'Take the hardest path.’ You can overcome all obstacles by hard work, patience and a sense of humour, and the greatest of these is a sense of humour. No Scout was ever a good Scout unless he knew how to be cheerful and laugh at difficulties and I hope you will go on being cheerful and continue smiling till Mr. Waldegrave comes back, and then he will know I have Iooked after you all right during his absence.
   Now, if we were just a Troop we could greet the Chief Scout with our Patrol Calls, but with twenty Troops and Six Packs I am afraid it would simply be a frightful row, so being British we will give the Chief Scout three rousing British cheers and I am sure our brothers of the Japanese Troop will follow on with three equally rousing 'Banzais'."
   The Scouts and Wolf Cubs on parade responded enthusiastically to the call for cheers, and the Japanese troop afterwards gave a portentous greeting in their own tongue, producing a remarkable volume of sound for such tiny fellows. His Excellency was heard to comment with pleasure on their performance.
   Miss Woo, Headmistress of the St. Paul's School for Girls, presented a flag to the St. Paul's Troop of Boy Scouts.