News From Members

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 234, 1 July 1939, Page 7 (Supplement)

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TA AD and I traffipjid up the Tararuas. Winter time up these ranges is very beautiful. The frost stay’s.dri&p, and the native trees are a deeper green. But the summer fires had ruined much of the forest reserve. Beautiful iiikau palms were burnt right down to the ground ; ferns and native trees lay on crisp, burnt, black ground. Dad was annoyed at someone’s carelessness in starting a fire among the native bush, the home of the birds, Who do ho harpi. I got as black as an engineer bn a train going through tuhnels, climbing up our Usual track. We looked in vain for our “own ka kaws,” as we call them. Higher up on another ridge we saw the busy “riflemen” birds and blight birds doing their winter Work, and the pigeons sunning themselves. The tomtit and tantail and waxeye birds we saw.

Winter IS dn old,' old man—as sketched by Parkhill (14), Tikokino.

too, and heard tuis singing. A scarcity of berries in the bush will iniike the birds hunt for grubs and insects this winter. We met men with pack-horses going over the other side of the ranges to catch rflbbits.

At one part a fog came down, and sort of enveloped us in it. I felt then that I might be in Mars, for all anyone would know. A kind-of up-ln-the-sky feeling. When we came down, we had a look, round the orchards. Bruning and clearing find leaf mulching—all winter Work; and once again the activity of the birds, Nlolng their piirt in the winter work. We could never do without these happy feathered workers; whiit a lot of Insects and pests they hunt out. On our way home we passed some sheep, and I thought, “Shorn in Summer for us to wear in Winter.” The sports of Winter: how lucky are the i boys who live near the snow districts hnd cun go ski-ing.— Dad’s Cobber (12), Carterton. Dewtfrop Diamonds. Such a beautiful sight 1 All the cobwebs hung in the bushes With tiny drops of water all over, displaying just how many of them there are, I think they look like strings of pearls strung together ■with invisible thread, Some that are broken look like a pearl froht. Some have a spider in the middle of them, some have not. It looks a very uneven-line, as some of the drops of water are big and some are little.— Lucius (8), Wellington. More First Melodies. I think I mentioned some time ago that We have u piano now. Well, you can imagine the fun I’m having tfyieg te 14urn to play it! I felt a fellow feel- : ing for “N.Z. Lass” in the throes of- “ First Melody" on the violin; for ’Us said to be far harder to learn to pliiy a violin than the piano, and I know what the piano ls Uke I Mum had lessons

. y.etirs ago and can still play, so between j her and a tutor book I have mastered , a charming little tune called "April ;■ Showers” and another called “Drift--1 ing.’’ I try various modern sbiigs I , know, but the resemblance of my reui deriug of them to the original is min > ute. If I Had two right hands I would j get along belter, for vvhat tunes Ido get are played with one hand. I can’t > remember to keep both playing at once. Then again, if I had an additional pair J of eyes I could read, the refrain music j and the bass at the same time! —I’eter (16), Makeretu. , Monkey Business. Hamilton was crowded for the Wai- ■ kato Winter Show. One night another girl and I were in charge of the Y.W. C.A. stall. We were selling dolls dressj ed as children of all countries. Some of the dolls were dressed as babies in ; little knitted frocks. A lady came along and was admiring the dolls. Then sbe hsked if she could buy the dresses and not the dolls. I explained that I could not give her any discount, as I had no authority to do so. I said, though, that she could buy the doll and the dress and leave the doll. ■ She bought one iu this way and then she told me what she wanted it fof. She had a pet monkey whose mother had died and she (the lady) was rearing it. She had taught it a few tricks and it was performing in one of the sideshows, and she wanted to dress It in one of those little knitted frocks. Still, it was a strange request, wasn’t it? — Strathaird (14), Hamilton. 'free Names. I I often climb one of our trees to read. It Is a good "climbihg tree.” We have given it names at different places. It lias nine names; Christmas House, Halfway Squeeze, Schoolroom, Kaitoke, Chairs and Tables, Summit. Muy Branch, Crow’s Nest, and Happy Landing. “Halfway Squeeze” is a squeezy place; with two branches on each side. —Honeybell (?), Carterton.' List and Learn. I read this quotation iu a book the other day and it appealetl to me. "Be sure to climb the hill to admire the view. The hill may be very steep, the climb Very long, but the view is always worth the climb. Rise nbove the view and look down on it and you will see its full beauty. Rise above your troubles in the same way and. looking down on them, you will see them in their I true perspective and in their entirety and be better able to cope with them. Remember, too, that the hilltop’s air Is rare arid fine and will better equip you to deni with what is before you tbun the ait in the valley.”— Weiitly (12). (Hawera). , Fireside Fancy. Winter has arrived! We have had snow on all the hills; around us and incessant rain, but it is good to snuggle tip to h fire ■with a book and to hear the sound of the storm outside. I always feel that if I could creep quietly to the window and peep through curtains I would be able to see old King Storm glaring through at the hot fire and the Cosy room. But somehow he is always a little too cunning for me, • and when T look out, all I see is the rain falling and the trees bending and swaying as if they are mocking at me ■—of old Storm there is no sign except the fork of lightning which marks the way of his departure.—Symbols (14). Pahlatua.