THE JUNIOR DOMINION

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 174, 20 April 1937, Page 16

THE JUNIOR DOMINION

Kiwi’s Mail Bag

Dear Scribes, — . Though there woren t as many entries for tile competitions this week as 1. had honed there would lie, there was still 11 goodly pile of letters, and Foslio didn t got let on Ids load. “If the weather gets any warmer,’’ lie declined, “and if your mail gets any larger, I’d lie a shadow in no tittie!” .... .i "Then,” I said, “you will have to have a holiday. Cheer up, Postie, there’s a silver lining to every cloud.” Postie brightened a little. “Well, lie said, “if 1 could get a holiday for my pains, I’d quite gladly carry all your mail, even in this weather, in fact, the more letters tiiat come in tile belter, for then my holiday "ill come ail ilie quicker.” Let’s see if wo can get Postie ins holiday soon bv just deluging him with as many letters and entries for die next competitions as we can. Kiwi. Princess Celandine, Marton: Me were “lad to hear Iroui you again, and thank you for the story. Yes, it will do nicely for the page-look out for it. Weddings are fun, aren’t they, and always so pretty, too. Cicely Fraser, Lower Hutt: Not as good as your usual, for the connection was not made clear enough—something about the train going on aud taking liiiu from your view would have completed it nicely. Pauline Shadlock, : A good story, Pauline, and well-deserved a star point. Remember, though, to send competition entries in by Wednesday of every week. Taniwlia, Itaumati Beach: Better luck with the fancy work next time. Victor is lucky to have a sister to knit his pullover. Thank you for pointing out the mistake about your points. Swiftwing, Paten: I know just how busy you have been, and how hard it is to find time to write letters when you haye lessons to do as well. I always look forward to your letters aud was pleased to get this Mako Shark, Raumati Bejich: What fun you must have had telling the class about Laddie, and wouldn’t he have been proud to know about it! Thank you for sending the tiower—it was a little bit of spring that had forgotten what time of the year it really was. JFlax, Paraparaumu: Isn’t the quail a quaint little fellow? The beach must be lovelv these warm days. Dad’s Cobber, Carterton: Perhaps you will win a point next time. Keep on trying, and remember that success after failure’ often counts more than success right away. Pepper, Palmerston North: A good paragraph, Popper; and now you have another point. llune, Rongotai: Yes, I love the autumn, too. Do you know Keats’s poem about it called “Ode to Autumn”? Toi-Toi, Paraparaumu: lifter ail, paddling is almost as good as bathing, isn’t it, and the beach in weather like this is so very much pleasanter than in the middle of summer. Desmond Scott, Levin: I am sending you a badge and certificate, Desmond, so watch the letter-box carefully. Try to send original verse as'much as possible—we onlv use copied verses occasionally, and then only if they are very good. Thank you for- sending it, though, and thank you, too, for the drawing; it was a good attempt, but not quite up to the standard of Blue, Masterton: Try to avoid much-used phrases aud too many adjectives. The use of many high-sounding adjectives spoils a piece of prose. Simplicity can be just as beautiful and far more etfective. Pooli, Feildliig: The riddle is not quite diflicult enough for you give the game away in the last line. Try again. Bonnie Brown-eyes, Masterton: lour paragraph was quite good, and I expect you have seen that you have a point for it. Buster Boy, Wellington: Thanks for your suggestion for the page. I think it a good one and will probably use it sometime soon. I like the idea of tile “newspaper”; it will appear in the page later, and we would like you to continue your extracts, but must see the lot before any can be printed. White Dove, Levin: And so you have a point, hurrah! The paragraph was not quite good enough, but better luck next time. Taffy tbo Tree Etf, Dannevirke: Neither poem nor story was quite good enough for a star poiut, but try again, and next time you may be successful.. Suzanne, Tailinpo: A quaint little poem, Suzanne, but not quite good enough for the page. Your pony sounds such a dear, what is her name? Sunshine Box will open in June, it is splendid to have started already. The idea sounds a good one, and I hope other members will follow your example. New Zealand Lass, Waipawa: Lucky girl to have a baby niece! I hope the photograph conies out. Budgie, Upper Hutt: Thank you for the letter, aud the drawing—l hope Billio had her hat on while she was lying in the sun.

Bobtail, Carterton: You have a point each for tho drawing aud the paragraph; they were quite good, and I hope you will keep on trying. Geese are funny, big, clumsy,things, and so heavy as a rule that they cannot run very fast. Jessamine, Masterton: Your paragraph was very good, Jessamine, I liked it very much, indeed. I will look up your star point and I suspect you are correct. Gloria, Rongotai: Welcome to the league, Gloria, I am looking forward to seeing some of your work soon. Hune is an energetic member; so 1 hope you will keep her work company. Smiler, Carterton: Although your story has not been awarded a point this time, keep on trying and perhaps next time you will succeed. Hilary Aldridge, Wellington: You have not got tlie metre of the verse quite correct. Try to get a more even, flowing rhythm and it will be better. Greengnto Lil, Hustings: Yes, send in riddles, as many as you like, so long as they are good ones. I am glad you like the page, and are interested in it. The drawing is not quite good enough—do it next time on plain unlined white paper, and iu iudiau ink if possible. The system of points is this: 5 points means a prize. But prizes are given out twice a year—at Christmas and at mid-year (June- July) when we have “Winter's Page.” When five points are gained, you may start again, and possibly win two prizes when the time comes for them to be given out.

Betty Moore, Seatoun: Yes, you may. have Neadle Witch for your pen-name,zßetty. Welcome to t he league. Patricia Sievers, Pahiatua: Welcome, Patricia. No, I am afraid Bell-bird belongs to another person. Choose again. George Boyd, Greytown: We are glad you have joined, George, but Glow-worm belongs to someone else. Would you like to choose again? Nessie Annear, Asliliurst: You may have Lavender Girl for your pen-name, Nessie, and a very hearty welcome to the league.

Mayflower, Martiuliorougli: Yes, watch for tlie handwork, 1 think you will love it. Mr. Printerman evidently made a mistake, but I do not think he will do it again. Miss Now Zealand, Petone: Lucky girl to have been able to carry the King’s Message; it certainly must have been a thrill. Yes, we are having a coronation page on May 8. details of it in last Saturday’s page. Desmond Scott, Levin: Drawings must be done on unruled white paper and in Indian ink, Desmond. Joan Smith, Paekakariki: Welcome, Joan. Harrietta is a sweet pen-name. Iteta Wilsher, Plimmerton: Glad you have decided to join the league, Reta. and you may have Lightning for your pen-name. It is nice for you to have two member friends already: you will have lots to talk over about the page.

Fred Frog, —: Thank you for the drawing and the puzzle, lint I am afraid that neither is quite good enough. Mind your spelling—there are two “s's” in “ass”. Peggy Smith, Clareville: Welcome Peggy. I wonder if you are really what your penname says. Norma Mclver, Lower Hutt: I am afraid somebody else has already chosen Biddy for a pen-name; perhaps you would like Binkie? Makere llutniui. Featherston: It is a rule of the page that no pen-names may be changed, Makere. 1 think Goldie is a sweet name.