FROM THE MAILBAG

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 217, 13 September 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

FROM THE MAILBAG

I WV. -

Peter Pan acknowledges receipt of letters and contributions at this'office as listed below:—

Letters.—Ruth Cox, Kongahu; Arthur 'Murpliy, Rangataua; Valraal Over, Epsom; Jean liawlcins, Hula; Shirley Kelly, Green Lane; Winifred Stone, Heme Bay; John Elmsly, Devonport; Cecil Lyall, Ponsonby; Ruble Lyndon, Wailii; Grace Moore, Grey Lynn; Bessie McSwceney, Horelce; Grace Dawson, Takapuna; Jim Smith; Alma Jeffrey, Grey Lynn; Grant Cox. Cambridge; Jeanne Turner, Newton; Mabel Caldwell, Mount Eden; Albert Johnson, Te Papapa; Patricia Leonard, Takapuna; Agnes "Bishop, St. Heller's; Vera Battle, Opotiki; Thomas Woodward, Kingsland; Sheila Ouinn, Mount Eden; N. Dixon, Mount Eden; Mervyn Blake, Pukekohe; Jessie Lve, Birlcdalc; Jeane Barnett, Morningside; Ronald Churches, Reniuera. Jokes, Riddles, Poetry, etc.—John Me? Phcrson, Ponsonby; lan Reynolds, Rotorua; Billy Leitch, Green Lane; Lorraine Gleeson: Joan Hannken, Morningsidc; Lorina Hegglln, Aria; Dorothy Burrows, Pußenui. • - Cigarette Cards.—Thca Mattocks, Dominion Road; Kathleen Russell, Mount Eden; Jean Buckton. QUERIES FOR THE WEEK. Certificates of Merit—Certificates of merit count as follow:—Blue, four points; pink, three points; green, two points; and yellow, one point. These certificates should be saved by competitors to whom they are awarded, and when they amount to 25 points the certificates can he "sent into tills offl.ee in exchange for a hook prize. Poetry Contributions—Contributions of poetry can he sent to this office by anyone who cares to try their hand at rhyming. Published work is awarded certificates of merit. Contributions—Contributions or poetry, stories, letters, etc., may be sent in- the one covering envelope. If entries for the weekly competition are enclosed Peter Pan's signature, cut from the paper, must he pasted in the top left-hand corner. Worn de Plume—A nom de plume may be used m the Budget only by penfriends and by "old" club members, who have passed the age of -is

Short Story Competition— There is no subject set ror the fortniglitly short story competition. Entries may be sent n any time, those which are too late for one competition being entered to tne next batcn to receive attention,

Desma Waghorn was chler cook and kitchen keeper when mother recently went to town. During that time Desma made a pudding, which, turned out so nice that everyone liked it. —That pudding must have been a great success, Desma. is it the first 'time you've ever tried making one?

Jim Middleton —It "Was hard luck that you lost the Budget, Jim, Your competition was received quite safely.

Jeanne Buckton —So glad that you enJoyed yourseir at the fancy dress ball, Jeanne.

Norma Strange —lt was unfortunate that the guide should have fallerr from her ■bicycle and cut her lip on the occasion of the party. Let us hope that this year's treat will not be marred by any accidents.

Glee IVlcCullough —So sorry that you've been ill, Glee. I hope that'you are now ■quite well again.

Lorna IWunns -wonders if I could suggest a name Tor Tier sister's black cat, also ■it" Nick would be a suitable name for her black Persian.—Do you think" that your sister would like Lucy lor her cat's name? I think : that Nick is -a very suitable name for a pussy.

Muriel Jones— Do you think that Bruce would be a good name for your dog?

Katharine Smijh —So sorry to bear you've been ill, Katharine. It is horrible toVbo kept indoors- during the holidays.

Elsie Perrin wonders if she could pool her certificates -of merit with her sisters' In order to obtain a book that they all could share.—Sorrj*, but your suggestion is not in accordance with the rules.

Betty and Dick Wagner —Your certificates were posted out as.-usual. If you haven't already received them, please write again and let me know.

Zoe Tibbits —Thanks for your chatty letter, Zoe. It's a pity that you can't train your tortoises-hell cat not to steal.

Mary Duncan —As you say, attache cases arc most annoying when they come open. Sorry I couldn't oblige with, an autograph.

Shirley Roberts wrote her first story about a "pretend" dream.—That was quite a good story, Shirley. Did you make it up all by yourseir?

Ray Pitcher—l'm afraid that you do not understand .what is meant by answering the lioll Call. Only ir your name appears In the design do you send in the cutting , . Never mind, perhaps your name will ajW pear one of these days.

Margaret Kerr's brother skidded on some loose metal whilst riding Ills motor bike.—So sorry to hear of Dave's accident, Margaret. I hope that his hand and leg soon get better.

,Esma Purdom sends in a short story, and wonders ir she should keep on. trying to write.—By all means keep on trying; only by practice can you hope to get the style you require. Try writing a simple story next time, and make your characters more consistent. The crowding sentences do not give one an opportunity to visualise the character, for although you wish to impress the reader with the fact that Mrs. Jenkins is both a loving mother and an angry old lady, you express yourself m such a way. that it makes your statements almost contradictory, if you like you could rewrite the story, making it read smoothly, like the stories published in 'the Budget, or you might prefer to write a new story, choosing easier subject matter.