Kiwi Opens the Mail

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 88, 7 January 1933, Page 17

Kiwi Opens the Mail

»■ . # •< LETTERS FROM LEAGUE MEMBERS

Dear Scribes, — “Swept Lavender’s”-writing, is yery good, and “Butterfly Wings is making hers neater each time she writes, and Bathia Luttrell’s is always good, and Mabel Pearson is a new scribe -who writes neatly and well, so lam very pleased with my scribes this week; Now for a big mail bag! ' ■ ' ■ ' ' - ■■- ■ •• , Kiwi. ■

Bathia Luttrell. aged 15. Waimana, Bay q£ Plenty, writes: —“When we were at. the beach th? other day, Kiwi, the tide, .was .'just creeping, in and . the whole sweep of sand' was -covered with 'seaweed- Isn’t it queer stuff 1 I gathered a large piece and brought it home with me. I knew:Of an old man who kept a piece: which he hung behind the door. When it : was going to be rainy the seaweed was soft ana when otherwise .it would be quite hard, so that’s what mine is for. Do you like-the idea? Next time I’ll let_you know Abe weather forecast for sure - [I expect you will find your seaweed very accurate about the state of the weather which .-you can-tell by looking, out of the window.!. .To put it more plainly', it will be. damp and sticky when the rain-is obviously coming down in torrents, but not before. I must tell you the tale of a haf. This hat's owner was at the wharf one. day, and the hat blew into the sea. It . was rescued by two men- and a lifebelt, which was funny, but-not part of this talc. The hat died-out and its owner was. pleased. When next she wore it, alas, her way took .her by .the seashore, and at once the? hat hung round her face in limp folds! The salt left in Ihe straw, you Bee. . . , Your-seaweed reminded me!] Mabel Pearson, Lansdowne, Masterton, is a new member.. She says:—“About a month ago two starlings built, a nest in a creeper climbing a chimney. Every day I watched them bringing sticks and feathers, straw, mud, hair, and even pieces of rag to their building place. When the nest was . finished four ess? were laid, but one morning, when the eggs were nearly hatched, there came a > wind and blew the creeper down and broke up"air the nest and eggs. Poor birds. ' [I think that was a very sad tragedy. They had worked so hard, hadn’t they; to build their nest? I think “M.P.’would be a most intriguing pen-name, so I. have put it down-for .you. It might easily stand, for .“Mysterious. Person !] -‘(Butterfly.-Wings,” aged 12, Wellington borrows a greeting:• ‘‘The best wishes that can be forged in your thoughts be servants unto you.” I am using this small piece Of Shakespeare to convey the best New Tear’s) wishes to you, and to Inkling. (Thank you. dear; we appreciate the ft wish very much. lam sure you will remember the resolution; you .are a very faithful scribe. Yes, I did enjoy the cake that Inkling brought. Wc had a jolly first-footing. | ■ “Mangamiika,” ' Palmerston North, writes: “I promised to tell you about the' Mangamuka Gorge. . . The road ascends from tfie pretty fertile Victoria Valley, with the bank on one side towering high above, and the gully on the other. A tinv. tiny little stream winds away down at ‘the bottom. At one place therefore soda springs, and here the'creek is plainly seen with-the rock about, and beautiful bush beyond; Kauri,: rata, totara, punn, graceful rimu, etc.: pungas too, all flaunt their beautiful, foliage in. a hundred shades ...of green,. The. road is narrow with ' twists and ' turns, and • suddenly without knowing how it happens, we find the .'stream.on the-other, side of us with tall bushland cliffs on the other. We think we have come to the end of: the road lots of times', but it sneaks on round a' corner in the most surprising way. ’ [The snapshot helped me to picture, the gorge, but your description is very vivid. You didn’t enclose a stamped envelope for the picture's return journey, did you.?] “Pink- Mar.'' aged 11; Dalefield..,Carterton, writes: “I have three Persian;, kittens about a month, old. They are very playful things. .We put a board up at the

door to stop them from coming in, but they were too cunning, and jumped over.it. A few weeks ago I found.a lark’s nest w’th three eggs in, which soon hatched. Gradually they grew bigger, and were ready to fly away. Their feathers were a .pretty bro.wn, with yellow around the edges.” . [Are the Persian kittens grey ones? I am sure they are a handful, and they are very hard, to keep safely in one place—they will jump over banners as soon aS yotir back is turned. I hope you arc having a lovely holiday in Slartmborough.] BRIEF REPLIES "Tuppence. Ha’penny,” Carterton: I hope you arc having a lovely, holiday, after all the exciting preparation's. The notice is in, you see. - - ‘Thelma Luttrell, Havelock North: They were hard, I agree, and your attempt to bring-them back alive was quite good, though no. tgood enough for a prize, “Princess Bebe." Masterton: Thank you very, much for the little budget of jolly things. , Jessie Hughes, Mangamaire: Yes. Jessie, you may join, and: have .“Radio. Fairy” for your • name. - - You ■will • eee the notice in the Exchange Circle, and I hope you find it brings'you several friends. Write again soon. “Ericula,” Hawera: Such a long letter full of surprises.. There was something good for the page every time I turned a page! Thank you so much, you splendid helper. Only do write again soon. "Lady Frecsla.” Kangitumau, Masterton: I am so glad that you sent the pretty little verses. I like them very much, and I shall keep them for winter and .spring pages. Thank you for the newsy letter and the puzzle. . , “Sweet Lavender,” ■ Levin :■ ■ The story made me laugh. It is very funny. Just bo careful not to overdo that particular type of humour. And I think "We wooßters have our pride” is too like Mr. P. G. Wodehouse to be an asset to what is re'ally a very comic little story. Thank you for your good wishes. "Briar Rose,” Napier: Here's an impatient little person. It'will arrive very soon —perhaps before you read this, and Marjorie's will be sent at the same time. “Hanging Blossom,” Featherston: “Many Happy .Returns" for you. and your father, almost as soon as Merry Christmas was said! I think it sounds as if you all had a very jolly time. "Moata Mary,” Masterton: You and your brother had fine presents from Father Christmas, you lucky people. Thank you for the riddles and for all your good wishes. Ngalre Wrigley. Kangitumau: The drawings arrived safely, and they are very good. Glad you' had a jolly Christmas. Yes, vou may be “Lily White.” Thank you for the, excellent Kiddle-me-Ree, . Freda Wrigley, Kangitumau: Someone else has “Rio Rita” for their name, so will you choose another? That’s a’ good puzzle, thank you. Janet Ferguson, Wadestown: I don't believe T told you how much I liked the dainty ..Christmas card,, with its . attractive lettering. “Detective Lloyd,”. Wellington:. Sorry I couldn't see you that very' busy - day. Thank you for the puzzles. : . iSlmon Dalgleish, Longbusli':' Certainly vou -may. l>e a member of our ■ -League, Simon, and "Friar Tuck” may be your name. "Tres Bon,” Napier: Yes, I do love pansies, and I’m glad to hear that you do. Don’t ' miss the little poem about them in the . Flower ..Garland.. Thank you for tho .puzzle— the answer was a. surprise! Ruby Patterson, Napier: Certainly I will enrol you, dear, but first I must.know vour age. . Someone else has “Daphne,” so will you choosl! again?' And arc you and Marjorie no relation. to .one-another ? One signs her name “Pattison” and the .other "Paterson,” but you lire in the same house, so it seems rather mysterious!