Kiwi Opens the Mail

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 57, 30 November 1929, Page 28

Kiwi Opens the Mail

Dear Scribes,—What happened to the letters this week? Wert you ail sharpening pencils for the last of the examinations? Don’t forget to jell me all about your Christmas plans.—KlWl. LETTERS FROM LEAGUE MEMBERS

Last week the Girl Guides of Taranaki lield their first large rally at New Plymouth. "liltin'’ was there. She writes:—"There were 15 companies in all. Three Hawerii companies. three New Plymouth and nine from other parts. Our Manaia Guides left by ’bus at 6.45 a.iii. to catch the 7.30 train from Huwera to New Plymouth, We were all very excited witli our outing. - At' tlie different towns we came to; Other companies Joined us. The train was very slow, for it toon three hours to get to New Plymouth. On our arrival, we marched to the racecourse,' where we bad lunch and played games until 2 o’clock. The Commissioner then arrived and each company marched past her. Afterwards all the companies In turn gave un exhibition •of guide work. At 5 o’clock we marched buck to the station, and we arrived back in Manaia “Mayflower” is smother keen Guide ■with news of the rally. She says. “We left Manaia sit st quarter to seven and arrived its Hawera at ten past seven. Leaving there at halfpast, we continued our journey till we reached Eltlsam. Here we stopped to pick up the Eltham Guides, We then resumed our journey, stopping only at small places for a few minutes, till we arrived at Stratford. Here we were allowed ten minutes, during which to stretch ourselves on the station. In half un hour's time we found ourselves in Inglewood. After si brief spell we rushed on in the screaming train, past Egmout, on, on till we at lust arrived sit our destination. Deserting the' train, the Taranaki Guides marched through the city, through Pukekura Park, and on to the racecourse. Here we. sifter a brush-up, rehearsed our grand marchpast, and then had lunch, At two o'clock we started our programme. The Opunsike and the Manaia Guides performed the trefoil formation, in which we marched Into the form of our trefoil. A whistle was blown, and we sill knelt ami bowed our heads. Into our midst marched the Brownies, who signalled in metuphore our motto, "Be prepared.” At si prearranged signal we rose and marched off the field in single tile. Other items were given, but I am sorry that 1 haven't time to describe them." Good luck to the fT.-srsipsiki Guides! They are st very young family, but they grow quickly. How many service stars have you won, “Mayflower”?

“Blue Gem” tells us a little about those tiny birds that look like flashes of suplight. "The go'dfiuch is called the Prince Charming of the finches.” she writes, "They were first liberated in the Nelson district in the year IJSG2. and now these charming little birds are to be found in large numbers prise-tic-ally all over both islands. Goldfinches build their nests in orchards and gardens.' The nest is a beautiful little structure of vegetable dowib hair, feathers, and spiders’ webs, fine root, dry grass, stems, mid lichen. These bright little birds are useful in the orchards, destroying many of the harmful caterpillars and grubs. In late summer, bands of goldfinches scour the open fields for food, as they live entirely on weed seed. There is no prettier sight to be seen in our bird world than a goldfinch balancing on a Scotch thistle, extracting the seed, as dainty as the little bird Itself.” [The envelope was packed tight, “Blue Gem.” Thank you for all those puzzles. The goldfish is one of my favourites.]

“I am going to tell you about a pigeon which conies hud settles on a willow tree just at the back of our house,” writes Doreen Poole. "When I take him out some breadcrumbs he hops along the bough of the willow towards me. He takes fine eate that he doesn’t come too close: hut I wouldn’t hurt him for anything. I think pigeons are saprtflty/don'tyou?'. ... In the morning when he hears.me. getting dressed he hops on to the window-sill and waits with his head on one side, until I bring him some breadcrumbs or something to eat.” [Yes, I did feel the earthquake, but I suppose it-, was longer and stronger down there. I wonder how long you will keep your pigeon friend?]

at about 8 o’clock, after an enjoyable day's outing,”

[They must have looked splendid in their neat blue uniforms and bright ties. Which colour is yours?]

Doris Court writes: —“I have beard Wellington spoken of us 'Windy Wellington,’ but, dear me, it could hardly be worse than it is here to-day. All sorts and sizes of clouds are scudding across the sky, Some'are large, fluffy cumulus clouds; some are long, smooth-looking stratus clouds, while In places the clouds look just like a river does when the wind is blowing against the current. .Sometimes the wind is dreadful, isn't it. Kiwi? Ore minute it is howling down the chimney, another time it is wailing round the corners, and i? one goes to walk around a corner it nearly blows ore off one’s feet. Yet it is nice to be outside on a windy day and to feel the cool air rushing past, but it does give the gardens a bad time, especially the young plants. It really doesn't seem as if summer is here yet, does it? Due morning it will be glorious, yet before noon it will be ruining hard; but, still, we can be thankful that it is warmer than in the winter. It makes us feel quite excited when we think how near Christmas is, doesn’t it? Only several more weeks!"

[Thank you for the riddles, Doris. Did the result of the competition surprise you? Perhaps it is better to sit after all; them when the examination is over, you will feel that you have earned success.]

BRIEF REPLIES

“Pale Moon.”-—I had one, too. I wanted it ever so much, then, after I'd kept it a little 1 didn’t want it at ail. That was foolish, wasn’t it? You di<l very well in the examination, “Pale Moon.” Don’t you feed poor Billy at all?

“Yours Truly"—Who forgot to sign their name, but said that they had a little grey kitten? Would Puff or Misty be suitable? I hope the very bad cold has quite disappeared. Don’t forget to tell me your mime next time your write, because I'd like to know.

"Antoinette.”—l hope you find a penfriend, little French maid. It must be splendid fun having all new clothes to go away for a holiday, and to know that you have passed your examination. Has your badge arrived yet?

"Cleopatra.”—What tun to have nil aeroplane each and a flat-roofed house to land it on. Do you think we ever shall? But wouldn't it be dreadfully awkward if we went visiting In our aeroplane and found somebody else had arrived there first I

“Freckles,"—l think it is jqsf the shape of the shell that makes the faint noise of the murmuring sea, What :• wonderful collection you must have, They never look so beautiful when away from the sea-water, do they ?

"Edelweiss.” —Are you fond of concerts? I am, too. Hints on the running of them would be very useful, as you say, in the Christmas holidays, ami I shall try to find some for you. There plight even be the play you asked for,

"Hebe." —It is just as well to find out about a new bathing place before you swim there. I think It Is best to try to learn without water-wings, even if it’s just a teeny bit every day.

“Joanne.” —The first verse tf "Bubbles” is; — When I’m blowing bubbles, though no one knows but me, I’m really blowing chariots for fairies,

don’t you see? Little coloured chariots, of pink urn)

blue nod green— Just Hie tilings to travel in to see tin: Fairy Queen.

"Pixie Slnuii)Of course you may, Will it bo soon? The wind is sighing and whispering like the taniwlm in the water cave. There will be another painting competition very soon. It is a long time since our artists littd a picture to make.