TE KORERO

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 145, 21 June 1934, Page 20

TE KORERO

Gunson Signalling Cup. Competition for the above trophy will be held, weather permitting, at the Western Springs site at 2.15 p.m. on Saturday next. The standard message form as set out in the scout signalling manual will be used. » » • • Annual Church Parade. Scouters are reminded that the annual combined scout and guide church parade will be held on -Sunday, July 1. Colour bearers are especially asked to attend the rehearsal of placing the colours at the Town Hall on June 20, at '4.30 p.m. Last year's impressive display was solely the result of prior rehearsal. Orders for the parade on July 1 will be contained in the next issue of Te Akarana Scouter. * * * * M.H.Q. Retrenchment. A further economy measure undertaken by M.11.Q. takes the form of the giving up of two of the three rooms used in the past for office space. The large back room which now serves for all purposes, looks quite cosy and comfortable.

THE MYSTERY SHIP. (By Joan I'ain, Folkcs Street, New Lynn; age 17.) "Bad luck, kiddies" —old Joe Dawson, hands in pockets, stood nn<l cheerily surveyed the disconsolate little group bcfoiv him. The children, Frank, Cloriana and Marylin, had, as a special treat, been invited to spend part of their holidays at Perrin lighthouse, and how swiftly the (lays had fled. To-day the.y had planned an exciting picnic to I'errln cove, a delightful spot some three miles away, anl now they seemed doomed to disappointment. A frightful storm had arisen during the night and the waves dashed in fury against the rocks. As their recreation was nearly over, tlio children were naturally upset, and to make matters worse, it showed no signs of abating. After a few moment's contemplation, the old captain removed liis pipe from his mouth, scraped out the ashes, refilled and lit it and continued to puff silently for a while. "Would you like me to tell you a story, kiddies? It doesn't look as if we'll be moving from hero to-day?" "Rather" and "Good-oli!" they chorused. "Will it be a story of buried treasure?" demanded Frank, eagerly. "Well—not exactly," laughed the captain, "but here goes: "It was a wet, stormy night in October, and I have seen many gales in my time, but never one that raged with such unabating fury. It seemed as if this very lighthouse must perish, and I thought, as I tilled the lamp, of the poor beggars out in the teeth of it. I hurried downstairs, and peered out the Window. Somewhere—in the distance— a rocket flared suddenly and died away with a shower of sparks. I went to the telescope, and during one of the frequent flashes of lightning, discerned faintly some wreckage on the Jagsaw rocks, and as I watched it heeled over and sank from view. But not before I had caught a glimpse of it in the dawn light. It was green—dull green, and never in my experience did I know of any such craft. I opened the door, and in the pale dawn cast an anxious eve towards the rocks, for, altho' I'm getting 011, my eyesight has not yet failed me, and I had seemed to see that a bundle clung to the wreckage. You know I am in charge of the lifeboat here, and, donning my oilskins, I rowed out to the spot. With beating heart I found it to be wedged between two small but dangerous rocks, 'The Sisters,' so called on account of their similarity. Amidst the debris was a man —unconscious. Well, to cut a long storyshort, I procured help and brought him to the lighthouse, and to my delight found that life was not yet extinct. Well, it was a hard struggle, during which I was forced to listen to his unconscious ravings until the crisis was passed, and it was a certainty that he would live. I studied him curiously as lie lay against the pillows, with one injured arm strapped across his breast, his dark hair curling against the sheets. I judged him to be about 25 or 2G, with olive skin and wild, brown eyes. He was handsome, too, I presented him with a new suit, secured him a temporary job, and said good-bye.

"I had quite forgotten the incident, until three months later I returned home with provisions. Someone was tampering with my desk, and I threw open the door, pistol in hand, and to my amazement looked into the blazing eyes of the Italian. Well, I had no option but to hand him over to the police, who found that he had been discharged from his position on a charge of thieving. Behold my further consternation when, four weeks later, I was arrested on a charge of opium smuggling, and worse still, to my dismay, a large quantity was found on my premises. Kismet —call it what you will, led me to think of the Italian, and I told the police to leave the evidence and watch carefully for a week or so. I was right. He had informed the police on me as a revenge, but he was tried and condemned and he won'c have to worry over a night's lodging for many a day. Well —here's the sun again I do believe —who said picnics?"

BOOKS YOU MUST READ. (Sent in by Chris Shakespcar, 64 Mount St. John, Epsom, Auckland. 5.E.3.; age 15.) "The Corn," by Honor Foote. "The Antiques," by Fay Kingham. "Wine and Women/' by Rex Holmc3. "The Song of the Shirt," by Dryden Aird. "The Soldier's Plate," by Lydia Mestyn. "Gossip," by Liza Bound. "His Sin," by Harriet Onions. A WOODEN WEDDING. (Sent in by Heather Smith, 20, William Street, Mount Albert.) Son Nat: Dad, what is a silver wedding 1 Dad: The twenty-fifth anniversary of a wedding day, my son. Nat: And a wooden wedding, dad"? Dad: I don't know; I've never heard of a wooden wedding. Nat: I have, it's when two Poles get married.