CALL OF THE CLUB.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 187, 9 August 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

CALL OF THE CLUB.

Fenton Street, Stratford, July 28, 1930. Dear Peter Pan.— I must say that personally I prefer summer sports to winter ones. Winter here is such a cold, bleak, wet season that one doesn't get half as much enjoyment out of games as in the long warm days. However, like all other New Zealanders I love to watch a good game of Rugby, though I don't carry even that to the point of sitting in the wet while the water from other people's umbrellas runs into ray pocket. I once began to play golf with dad's clubs and silver pine cones, and even succeded in putting one into the school over the road; but that was as far as I got, for, after Alan put a.ball through the front door with a beautiful shot, mum put the clubs away. I like golf though, and am determined to take it up Seriously When I get older. What can beat a swim iff summer followed by a good game of tennis? I think you'll have a hard job to find anything betters Unfortunately we have to swim in the river or the baths, here, as there is no sea. Surfing is delightful isn't it? I love to glide into the shore, on. a curling green wave, and I think lots of others do too, Judging by the .number who frequent our beaches.

We all have the British love of outdoor Sport, and I am sure that is why New Zeaianders are such a healthy people.— Yotfrs sincerely DORIS BROWN.

George Street, Tuakau, July 30, 1930. Dear Peter Pan,—

readers have witnessed the wonderful outdoor sports in which I have played my part in Canada. I will not dwell on the summer games, as they are much the same as here, and I wish my readers to hear of something different. Here, It is true, we have foothall cricket, tennis and rounders, but they are' nothing compared to the winter sport in Canada. We do not play hockey on the grass, but on the ice and on skates. Played in this way the game is much 'too rough for eirls Instead of a Ball, a leaden "puck" is used and one' hit. with this may cause a great deal of trouble and injury. The players- are so swift that one cannot follow them with one's eyes as they dash from one goal to the other. Then there is ordinary skating. How we revelled in that sport! Unless one has done it, one cannot realise the thrill obtained by gliding across the ice in breeches, thick sweaters, scarves and woolly caps—now chasing, now tumbling, now colliding, now skating in the proper way. Once a year, in our little town, we had a broomoball match. This is one of the greatest attractions during the season. A few of the men of the town, most of whom cannot skate, gather together to play against the young girl skaters. The game is played on the same principle as" hockey, but instead of a hockey stick a broom is used, and instead of a puck a basketball. Screams of laughter rend the air as the men go flying in all directions, anywhere but on their feet. For Children Up to fifteen years, sleighridihg was the special attraction. Each of us ha,d our own little sledge, with a long rope attached. This rope we put through an iron ring on a big sleigh drawn by horses. By holding the end of the rope we sailed along behind the sleigh as the horses galloped on. It was quite a common occurence to see thirty children attached to one sleigh, going" three miles out into the country and catching another sleigh back to town.Room will not permit my dwelling fully on the other sports, such as snow-balling, ski-ing. curling and making snowmen, suffice it-to say'that in a country with such a variety of outdoor spoxt, we feel we could not do without it. Yours sincerely.—JEAN REEVES (age 15 years).,