Kiwi Opens the Mail

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 33, 2 November 1929, Page 28

Kiwi Opens the Mail

. Dear Scribes.—Thank you for the riddles and puzzles, I always - - feel glad when I find one that you’ve made up yourselves, because I ' know how hard you have to think to do it. Puzzles are such tangles • • • I i Sometimes. Did you have a happy time .on Labour Day. KIWI. ! H TT«' i " ■ ■' ■ ■- J LETTERS FROM LEAGUE MEMBERS

T '..‘tEaiTy,Nightlight”'tells us something •'about., thhee hateful sharks' that swim .iabout' cur bays,'Sometimes. I wonder .where■ she learned it all! ."There is Tno'fish that sailors hate as they do the :ishark,” she. writes. "He is often so big' and so bloodthirsty that he may •jwen r ; be hated. Sharks follow ships f.timt-they may pick up scraps or what- : ever." else falls. overboard. They turn tester on their backs -and seize with their teeth'whatever they catch. Sailors -love capturing sharks, for they ure so merciless with their own prey. Often Interesting articles are found in the Rtemachs of these fish when captured. Tn, one shark was found a lady’s workbasket, with scissors and all its pieces, which she had dropped overboard. . . ' '[l: shall always be careful not to drop overboard In future. It was. a long and interesting letter, “Fairy Nightlight.”] 3 , ;

“Sunbeam” says that she always likes to read letters from other “scribes,” for one reason, because it is nice to know all about different parts of* the country, 1 and there are often useful hints .about wild, flowers and birds in the letters., “How the weather changes!” she writes. “After bright days of sunshine and gay flowers come black and grey days, with monotonous rain, or cruel, cold winds that tear up the flowers and chase down dusty lanes, whirling the dirt into people’s eyes and sending them running after their hats. How the plants droop after the rain, waiting, waiting for ' the,,tender little sun-fairies &>.'appear 'and coax them to life again:"'And’the trees all groan and angrily shake their leaves as that merciless; restless "■ buffoon, • the south wind, goes thundering by. While up in a "grey sky the clouds sail above the web.-green fields'and taunt the rocking trees. '-Now: each night we. sit before the fire and read to the, merry; sound of crackling woodland the,dreary sound of the wind knocking at the; window panes. And.,in (the morning: -it is as cold as cold, and one'peeps outside in the hopes of:seeing a frost, a good excuse for getting up late.”[Summer is late in coming to your part of the world. I am glad yon like the mall column. It helps you to know one another a little.]

“Billie” writes: “We went to Foxton on Sunday, and we took -our racquets and had a game of tennis.: A band came from Wellington to play, and the Salvation Army ladies sang.;; About a hundred cars came and had a picnic between themselves. I fhad ice creams. Going: home we met another ear on a bridge and had to reverse to let it go on; but,we arrived home safely. Our old black hen has." no chickens yet, but in a week’s, time she will, as she has been sitting on her eggs for two weeks. I’ll be glad when she has some. I wish I had put, a brown egg there too.”

[What a lovely drive you had. Perhaps its just as,well that you didn’t put in a brown egg, because one little black chicken would have felt very lonely among all the white ones.]

“Mountain Maid” has turned into a gardener. “Last week,” she says, "the apple blossom was looking its best, but it is fading now. Our gooseberries are as big as my thumbnails, add our currants are a' fair size too. My father dug me a vegetable garden about two months ago, and I have a nice number of things growing. I have carrots, beet and radishes two .inches high, and some tomatoes and potatoes. They are about six inches high. My flower garden is also looking very pretty just now. The primroses are out, with forget-me-nots, shamrock and narcissi. Some of the other plants are not’yet in bloom.”

[T hope the weather is better now. Still, the rain will be good, for the gardens. Which do you think is more interesting,, vegetables or flowers?]

“The weather in Reefton. is beautiful,” “Chatterbox” says. “I went fishing to-day with my brother. We caught one trout. Our form is in the science-

room now. I love it over there. We turn the tapmon and the water runs all over our books. I sit in the back row near the window, and can see the blossoming fruit trees. Mr. Black, the youngest member of Parliament, belongs to Reefton. He lived here before he went to Big River, a little place eighteen miles from here. It was once a prosperous gold mine, but now it is not working.. , 4 [You ‘have had a successful basketball season from the results , you mentioned. Perhaps if you try hard next year you might play at the New Zealand tournament.] Another keen gardener is “Riverlad.” He writes: “I am very keen, about my garden, especially just now. lam cutting lettuces and pulling radishes, all my own growing, and we all love them. I think I told you about my chicks.-1 had fourteen in September last, .and they are lovely birds'now.* I also have a hen sitting, and expect some more chicks on Monday next. This is lovely work, and makes life so interesting., Living in the country keep sone busy.” [I thought the puzzle was very carefully thought'out, “Riverlad,” and you will see it in print'very soon. It-was splendid of mother to help.] BRIEF REPLIES “Rose Marie.”—l’m afraid you mustn’t alter your pen-name now. I think it is much prettier than one you wanted to change it for. Yes, I can imagine what happened when the puppy got into mother’s bedroom and ran away with one of'her best shc. s. I hope he didn’t leave it under the house.

“Water Lily.”—Sunshine Valley is a good name for the beautiful spot you found. It would be splendid for a summer camp. Would you live in a tent?

Joyce Harris.—The pen-name ' you asked for is already taken. Did you make up the poem on the back of the page? The' drawings were splendid. Puck had a high hat like a clown. “Topsy.’—l think this is the nicest name of the three, don’t you? It must have been exciting to come to Wellington to say “good-bye.” You will be lonely without them while they are in England, and especially without dog Bruee x

“Bellbird.”—l hope your finger is healed now. You must have made a large number of calls in Masterton that morning. Best wishes to all at Longbush school.

“Morning Glory.”—Would you tell Peggy that someone else has the penname she asked for? Rastus is a lovely name for a eat. Is he tortoiseshell colour?

Bill Gemmell.—That was a big book for you to read. I hope there are heaps of crackers for the fifth, and that the fire burns, well. I suppose Joan and Josie are looking forward to it too.

“Fluffy.”—lt was just a short little note; Tell me if you find a pen friend this time, won’t you? Perhaps “Snowball” will answer.

“80-Peep.”—Was the poem about the witch copied, or did you make it up yourself? Thank you'for the limerick and the trick. Joy Simes.—“My Garden,’’ is a sweet poem.' -Thank you for the riddles too. “Twilight” belongs to another member, but I shall see if I can find another name for you. “Peter Puck.”—Yes, of course you may. The liftman will tell you just how to get here. I would love to see some of those paintings if you will bring them.

“FairybelL”—-I was so surprised when the, pressed viola dropped out of the envelope. It is a beautiful flower, and I hope mother’s plant has many other blooms Best wishes to “Heather Bell.”

Letters and puzzles were also received from: —M. Thompson, Olive and Margaret, “Morning .Glory” and Joan Gemmell. 1