News from Members

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 255, 24 July 1937, Page 9 (Supplement)

News from Members

The Rabbit Warren. TOURING rambles in a clump of bush at the farm, I found a rabbit warren. These interesting places always fascinate me. Little passages and runaways led from the roots of an old totara to a gorse patch. Dozens of holes opened from the banks and tree-roots, while the rabbits had made a wee track along the fence from their village to the hay-paddock, where I often tee them hiding in the hay-cocks. If a person rode up the gorse-track in the evening dozens of the furry creatures would scuttle away from the horse’s feet. Some people think rabbits are “more worry than they are worth,” but I enjoy watching them at every opportunity— Tomato, Taihape. New Napier. T FEEL a bit puzzled when I see some of the houses in Napier. They are perched precariously on cliff-sides and in “holes” dug in the sides of huge hills. I don’t suppose people can really I’ve anywhere else, as Napier is a very hilly place-Mmt I wouldn’t live on a cliff-side for a fortune! My sister’s house is on the side of a hill, the back of the house being “built up,” so to speak. We had a big earthquake the other night, and I just hate earthquakes. I was thinking that if the house slithered into the valley below —what then! Bluff Hill has a golden carpet of wild marigolds in places. It looks lovely. The hill behind our house is covered in marigolds and red poppies, both of which grow wild in Napier. Also growing wild are little snapdragons and tiny mauve flowers like pincushions. Do you know those little flowers that have leaves very much like an onion plant? They have the quaintest little whitish-mauve flowers. The hills are covered with them. Spring js really on its way now, for I have noticed little tight buds on the fruit trees, and there are sprays of soft pink blossom on the almond tree. From my window I can see the sea —angry, tossing waves dashing in and hurling themselves against the rocks at the breakwater. There is a boat out at sea, and the fog makes it look so mysterious; it makes one recall exciting pirate stories. It is marvellous how the sea can change in such a short time. Not long ago it was calm and smooth, hardly a ripple disturbing the shimmering surface; but now it is a dull grey, with huge, white-crested waves thundering in.-— N.Z. Lass (15), Waipawa. First Signs of Spring. J~ J AST Saturday as I sat knitting on the sofa Tommy Twinkles was looking out of the kitehen window when he suddenly said to mother: “Mum, look at those pretty white blossoms on the cherry plum tree.” Of course I could not resist getting up and having a look at them. In a month’s time the tree will be covered from top to bottom in a pretty white mantle of blossoms. The rose tree has a few dear little buds on its half-bare branches, and I have noticed lots of jonquils, snowdrops and daffodils out. Our neighbours have twelve wee, woolly lambs, though we haven’t any yet. I am hoping there will be two little motherless lambs for me to feed and play with.— Mermaid (!)), I’arewanui.