News from Members

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 249, 17 July 1937, Page 9 (Supplement)

News from Members

Signs of Spring. MP HE first sign of spring I saw was a few little snowdrops. I was very surprised to see them, as it is very early for them here. But. what do you think I saw on a neighbouring farm? A tiny white lamb. He is very early, as we people round here don’t usually have any till September. I love the springtime best of all, with its golden daffodils and other lovely things. I see the daffodils are peeping out of the ground; it won’t be long till they are out. I also love to lie awake in bed in the early morning, listening to the birds singing in the trees—a sure sign •that spring is coming! —Suzanne (12), Taihape. Birds in the Garden. During this bitterly cold weather we have been having lots of little whiteeyes, and now they are really quite tame. They are dear wee things. For weeks now I have heard a funny noise in the garden, and I thought it must be a young magpie learning to talk; ,but this morning I looked up into the flowering gum. and what do you think I saw? A tui. I kept still and had a good look at it, and it was so near that I could see the little white feathers on its throat quite plainly. —Chum, Parewanui. More Signs of Spring. I have noticed that the sparrows come very near the back door in the winter for the crumbs and titbits that I put out for them every morning. As soon as I come out with the crumbs a cheeky sparrow appears on' the clothesline or a nearby tree, and as soon as I turn my back he descends to the lawn and is busily engaged eating the crumbs when I look again. Like Tuppeny and Boy Blue, I. too, have found signs of spring. Walking through my grandparents’ garden, I noticed that on the almond tree were many tiny green buds, and there were even some tiny pink flowers on some of the twigs. The fruit trees have barely visible buds of lightest green, and the paths are bordered with heavily-scent-ed narcissi and snowdrops. The. garden is a mixture of autumn, winter, and spring, for there are a few trees which still bear the signs of autumn. One is completely covered with the beautifully-coloured foliage of autumn. The majority of the deciduous trees are, as yet, very bare, and the mulberry, which is a large, spreading tree, looks a rather queer sight with its rough-barked, twisted branches and gnarled trunk. I —Hune (13), Rongotai. Fun at the Beach. We spent yesterday at the beach. Margaret brought her Shetland pony and we all had rides, even Kirstie, the baby, I can ride all by myself. We had rides up and down the beach, which was white with pipi shells. —Toi-toi (8), Paraparauniu. A Birthday Party. I had a party the other day with -17 children. After Bill had tipped, out the hay we all had a ride in the sledge; then we had lovely rides on Margaret's pony, Judy. The cake' had seven candles on it and kewpies that Toi-toi and I had dressed. —Flax (7), Paraparaumu. Arbor Day. Spring is a bit early yet, but. Arbor Day, with its tree-planting for our new school? is causing a great deal of interest just now. Our Journals are full of Arbor Day, and our essays, too! Daddy told me to write about the rata; but I know our garden trees better and the orchard ones better still. —Dad’s Cobber (10), Carterton. Miss Mischief! While mother was making socks she left a skein of wool on the couch with the knitting. Not knowing that the pup liked wool, we let her in; then my cousin came over, and while we were talking to her we didn’t see the pup tangle the wool so that we couldn’t use it! —Keith Stockwell, Feildiug.