GARDEN BATTLES

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21938, 12 November 1936, Page 6 (Supplement)

GARDEN BATTLES

(By W.W.)

The other day I overheard A spider talking to a bird: “My Webs!” he said. “ I never saw Such battles as were fought next door. You know that pumpkin thrown away? Some grubs rolled it from where it lay Into the grass, once hidden there They started building with great ease Their flats and bedrooms, bathrooms, halls, And state-rooms. Strong and cosy walls. They made throughout, and even floors, Ceilings, cupboards, windows, doors! Some wasps on seeing what they’d made Thought ‘bugs, no need to be afraid! We’ll turn them out from what they’ve got And live in this delightful spot!’ The bugs on learning their intent. Chose a councillor who went And interviewed the dragon-flies. (Who’d promised that they’d be their allies.) “The wasps arrived next day in force, But, lacking final .plan or course, They merely flew up to the pumkin And tried to find some entrance in. Imagine their dismayed surprise When diving, came the dragonflies. They tried to rise but ’twas too late For ere they could, half met their fate. (Above them bugs had put their shoulders To over balance handy boulders. Down upon the wasps they bounded And many a crushed wasp’s deathcry sounded.) By now the dragon-flies were there Prepared for aerial Warfare. The wasps fought bravely killing some But they were quickly overcome. The bugs now ply a busy trade At letting half the flats they’ve made. The dragon-flies hold some on lease And ‘Pumkin Mansions’ is at peace.” The bird then said he’d “have to fly” And meet his wife, so said goodbye.

The Cable-Gars (By Fay Sinclair, Dunedin; 9 years) When I first came to Dunedin I lived in Kaikoihi Valley which is situated over a hill from the city. Now, as this hill is very steep on both sides the electric tram-cars cannot go over it and so there are what are called cable-cars. They are very small and do not go very fast. These cars are called cablecars because they are driven by a truck steel cable which runs under the ground. When the cable-car is to start, the gripman, as the driver is called, pulls a lever and a piece of machinery grips the cable and away the car goes. The gripman drives from the middle of the cable car and then at each end is a little cabin, and then on each side between the cabins is a long seat. At busy times people climb on every** where and the conductor has a hard job to get the fares. As I had lived in Christchurch, I thought it great fun to ride in the cable-cars, especially when I WM allowed to sit outside.