THE BOYS’ PAGE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 112, 4 February 1933, Page 19

THE BOYS’ PAGE

«. ♦ * 1 want to be in the Boys’ Page, And I don’t know what to say. But I must be in the Boys’ Pago, If I only can say “good day." I’d like to tell of a castle grim, With towers tall and grey, And of all the thrilling adventures there, But I don’t know what to say. Dear Kiwi, please tell all the boys How I thought and thought all day, How to write an exciting story And couldn’t think what to say. —From “Toby Tickletoes,’.’ aged 8, Manakau. ißllllllHlllllllllllllllKlllliailllilllllilliailllllKllllllllililllllllllll

NU'eaha Tamald, aged 10, Atca, writes to Inkling this week. He Bays: “Dear, Inkling, I thought you and the other boys might like to hear about Rotorua, where we spent a few days when we were touring. A Maori guide showed us the geysers, boiling mud pools, and hot springs. She also showed us a Maori fort, which was very interesting. We saw the blue and green lakes. We went for three swims a day in Rotorua, and 1 can tell you that when I got up home and started swimming there I thought I was up at the North Pole!' The Maoris are expert swimmers; even the babies .swim. Wahines carry their babies oil their backs in a blanket. The geysers looked best when the sun shoue on them ns they, played.’! [What an interesting letter Owen ! I am, looking forward to hearing about Waitomo next time you write. I really think I must fly to Rotorua on the Sharpener Plane myself one day and have some fun abong the geysers and mud pools.—lnkling. (I only hope you will be very careful there, Inkling.—Kiwi). Of course!—lnkling.] Ililina Anderson, Takapau, writes: “Wo have a dear little kitten named Tinker; he is very-full of mischief. We also have a pup whose name is Poddy. It is great fun to see Tinker trying to fight Paddy. We. often used to go for swims down the river, which is not far away, but lately we have not been able to go, because the weather has been sq rough. We have quite a large orchard at the back of our house, and all the fruit is beginning to ripen ; it looks very pretty to see tile trees made quite red by the rosy apples, but it looks very much prettier when the trees are covered with beautiful blossoms. The other evening my Bister and I went for a long hike ride into the country. The farmers had just finished their long day’s work stocking the. oats, and as the-last rays of the setting sun fell upon the stooks it made them look even more of a deep golden colour than they really were.”

[I wonder who the friend is who persuaded you to join? Please thank her from me 1 But will you tell me your age, please? I wish I could let you have that pretty pen-name, but- it belongs to someone else. However, I am sure you will soon find another. I suggest “Mariana;” Do you like that?]

"Woodland Whispers,” aged 14, New Plymouth, says “I go for a swim nearly every day now,. in the river. I have taught myself to swim just a little bit, and I find that the overarm is much easier to do than the breaststroke, for me anyway, in spite of. what the swimming teachers say. At last all the ensilage and haymaking is done, and oh 1 I am sorry I We children climb on the sweep and ride in with hay, and if we have a large load we elimp up and nestle among the hay itself; it is not a bit dangerous, and it is such fun. On Tuesday night our electric light-failed, or-rather fused, and we had to go back to their aged ancestors, the candles. I really don’t think wc appreciate the electric light, wireless, etc., till they fail, do you? Still, the wireless was still going, so that was .a blessing, wasn’t it? [lt is never too late,for good wishes, so I was pleased to have them. I believe that all up-to-date swimming teachers teach the overarm stroke first now, s<i you are in agreement with them. It is years since I rode home on the hay, and I felt envious when I read your letter, for it really is the loveliest fun.] JoarLChatfield, aged 13, Tttui, explains why she has not written for some time. I am sure all scribes will be glad to read a letter from her again. “This time last year I was in Auckland for six months, so that is why I have not written. While I was in Auckland father took us to the zoo, where, there were many interesting animals to see. One of the big monkeys pulled my finger, and nearly pulled it out of joint. The next day we went to see the beautiful museum, and inside there were great big Maori canoes and Maori houses. One day some of my girl friends and myself went for a picnic up to one of thy little hikes at Kiatnrwa. As soon as wc reached it we went for a swim. There ‘were many frogs croaking, and tadpoles swimming about. I did not like the frogs much, so I got out.” [Quite so! . Frogs at close quarters are not very pleasant, I think. You were lucky to have the experience of living in a new' city, and Auckland is very interesting mid beautiful, isn’t it? How saucy of the monkey to pull your finger! Didn't you think the polar bears were beautiful creatures?]

“Fairy Nightingale,” aged 16, Upper Hutt, writes: “This week I am going to tell you of. the day I spent at Cambell’s Mill last Friday. Wc went on the lorry and left the main road up near the Karapoti School. Going up to Cambells Mill we had a river frontage nearly a.l tho way. It is a wonderful place, almost too beautiful to describe. On one side of the road Is a steep hill, and the other side is the river just down below the level of-tho road. On the.lilll thorn are nil the ferns you can think'of, and if you