The DAIRY RING

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 39, 15 February 1941, Page 19

The DAIRY RING

"A WATER GARDEN; In the smallest crevices among: the tall, rugged rocks, one finds 'the most dainty and colourful of pools. . Let us take a peep into one.. The, edge is surrounded with little brown, fust-red, 1 and purple sea anemones, whose long petals sway to and fro as the water plays amongst th^em, and clinging to the sides of the rocks are little .rockoysters and mussels. On the sandy bottom, two tiny pink crabs lie motionless beside beautifully coloured shells. : Thickets of seaweed of every hue, hanging grapes of amber and ribbons -of russet, dance about as little grey shrimps dart, in' and out and about theni, then swim away to their rocky homes, leaving, behind them wee air bubbles to float gently to the surface. This is not only the home of tiny fish, but it is also the children's play pool. They love to bathe their hands in the cool, clear water, letting the seaweed slip through their fingers; to try to catch the quick, sharp-eyed cockabullies; to close the anemones by touching their soft, bloodied centres. When the tide .comes dashing over the rocks it covers the rock poolsv with snowy-white foam and rushing blue water but, as it goes slowly out again, it leaves the quiet little pool with the sun glittering and sparkling on it and the little fish merrily playing in it as before. "POMPOM" (13). Island. Bay.

HOLIDAYS. (Original.) . Holiday time Is meant for fun Beneath the ever-shining sun; ■ When beach and bay and camping guide Is calling travellers far and wide. , - The surfy waves give endless fun To bathers old and bathers young, . Who love to ride abreast the waves, / Which, splash among the "rocks and caves. And glowworm caves and boiling pools, All help to banish school-time rules; ■ So while the holidays glide by, Let's play beneath the azure sky. . So when the holidays corns to an end And back to school we all must wend, ; Don't be discouraged, for 'tis plain, More holidays will come again. s "WATER NYMPH" (14). Lower Hutt. .

LETTER-BOX NEWS SUMMER SHADE. "For my holiday I went to Tltahl Bay, I had a lovely time swimming and playing on the beach. Our house had a pretty garden and on hot days It was nice to lie down under the trees." "TWINKLET." City... A CAMPING HOLIDAY. "I have come back from our camping holiday. We have had a great time. Wo went to New Plymouth and Kotorua, where we saw the parade of vehicles on Christmas Eve. Then we went to Ohope Beach, where, on some days, wo went for three swims a day." , • "POM POM." Island Bay. 'FORGET-ME-NOTS BLUE." ' "My bridesmaid's dress Is of pretty ■ pale apricot organdi, with blue forget-me-nots sprinkled oh the hem, and around. the scalloped neckline. We are wearing large floppy hats with forget-me-nots forming a pretty flowered crown." "FAIRY SILVERWOOD" (13). Melrose. NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN. I have a budgfe and her name "Is "Nooky." She makes a dreadful clamour sometimes when we are having tea. She will have some crumbs of cake bread, then will fly back to her cage again. "PANSY PIPKIN. (11). Northland. PICNIC FUN "During the holidayis I went-to a picnic and there was a bun-eating contest. The buns were tied on to a rope and we had to eat the bun with our hands behind our backs. It was very hard. I came third and won a box of chocolates." "MYLTYL." Wadestown. IN NIKAU GROVE "When we were staying at Piha, North Auckland, we walked up to the 'Nikau Grove.' It is beautiful up there and so named because the nikau palm grows there. I got such a fright lon the way to the 'Grove' when something crashed, into the undergrowth by the track, but I was told not to worry; it was only a nikau tree celebrating its birthday. You see, every year the nikau grows about two inches and then the uppermost part of the trunk dries and. falls off and another bit grows from that. There are rings all the way. up the nikau's straight, bare trunk, and by counting those rings as a year each you are supposed to be able to find the age of the tree. I think that's very interesting, don't you?" "LITTLE TOTTY" (15). Petone, ;

11 v y Jr

"In a Rock Pool"

The Best Entries in Last Week's Competition.

',"TERROR.IN THE POOL"Masses of delicate green seaweed wave to and fro in the clear water,.and tiny fish dart away at my approach. A family of crabs scuttle to safety, and a cockle-fish retreats quickly back into his shelL Only the vivid sea' anemones remain, their delicate petals fluctuating with,the movement of the water. Sometimes an unlucky sand- ; hopper is drawn into their soft .embrace, and disappears, but the beautiful pinkish petals still draw gently, in and out, waiting for another victim.; A large red and yellow star fish at the bottom of the pool moves his six limbs, showing the '. innumerable' suckers on the under side of them, and his voracious mouth in the middle. The cockle is coming out of his pink coral shell again, and his long feelers quest for shoots of young green, seaiweed. Reassured, the,fish dart about again, and a big spottie basks in the shallows. The sun sends through the translucent water little netted gold sunbeams, and I go home." ' "LADY OF THE. CLOUDS" (12). City. .. • "NATURE PAINTS A PICTURE" "In the shade of pine and manuka trees we pitched our tent near the beach at Wainui. This corner of Nelson is still unspoiled by tourists, and there in that little-known haven of peace and sunshine we had planned to spend our Christmas holidays. "Next morning, soon after sunrise, I slipped into my bathing suit, and ran eagerly down to the beach, "AH around me were shallow pools of wdter, left by, the tide, which a few hours before had covered they, rocks on which I sat; Sitting idly;;ih the sunshine .1 began, to study the pool

PIXIE PEOPLE: So many rock pool entries came last week that I almost imagined myself living in one . . . specially when I looked at the watery; wavery world outside the Ring window, with tramcars churning the water in the street as they droned along like giant yellow seamonsters, and people scurrying across the street like little crabs, for, looking downward, all we could see were hurrying legs beneath " brown, black, and coloured umbrellas. #

We do hope the sun shines for you by the time you read s the Ring. Letterbox Elf is tapping the barometer ■"•' most anxiously, because he. is going to his beach-house and is hoping for two summery days. '' "Silver Eye" has just skipped into the Ring with her curls tied up in a green 'kerchief. "Goodness!" chuckled the.,

Elf. "/ thought it was a mermaid." That was because so many Ring people wrote mermaid stories instead of describing rock poob. We'll choose one of the best to print in the Ring next Saturday, but tonight we have chosen the best rock pool entries for you to read. Congratulations to (he clever prize-winners, "Lady of the Clouds" (12), City; "Pom Pom" (13), Island Bay; "Tylo" (9), Wadestown; and; i " 'Squita" (12), Newtown. We liked your entries ever so much, and the Ring People will enjoy reading them. : ; Love to you all, from Letterbox Elf and \ • FAIRIEL.

FairieJ Sends an Tlnswar t0...

"Silver Eye," City.—lt was a pleasant surprise to find a midday visitor at the Ring door. Letterbox Elf and I hope you were not late for school and that the story book was very exciting. We thought the pictures were lovely. "Sketching Fairy," City.—'A good idea to draw people whom you. see around you. elf. The beaches are packed with good subjects for sketches and your little girl with her bucket made a jolly picture. . . . '. "'Squita," City.—Welcome to the Ring, new pixie. We have a new storymaker here for ,your competition entry waa written with a storymakihg pen. 0, yes, we remember "Silver Shoes." We hope she has not twinkled quite out of the Ring, because .we liked her stories so much. "Saturday's Child," Island Bay.—Good work,. Marie, specially the poem. I think your teacher would appreciate a copy. Did you go to the museum with your school-this week? "Tylo," City.—Poor "Blinky." He seemed a very nice crab. Most of our author-folk made him tire villain of the piece. * Always send your, address with every entry, Shirley. "Patricia X.," Lower Hurt.—A good story, Pat. but it took us ever so far from. tha rockpool. I have found a lovely mermaid drawing to match it. So watch the Ring carefully next Saturday. . . ;.. :, "Evening Star," Nelson.—Two entries came from-' Nelson. I wonder if you met a holiday elf; called Pamela. You both discovered specially beautiful rock pools to write about. "Sunray Sally." City.—l can't decide which of this week's sketches I Hke best. I think'the; mischievous terrier wins, though the child- S; ren with balloons make a dainty silhouette picture. We send you success wishes for the new school year. •"_: "Happy Hill," Moera.—lt is a long time" . . ;■ "but all the better for that my dear" as Red Riding Hood's wolf said. What grand times you" had in Auckland and Wanganui/ Yes, "Mother Bear" is one of our most i faithful Ring people* - • Sv. ;

nearest / me. It was about- four feet long and rocky ledges rose all round it, leaving it undisturbed by the morning breeze. The ' sandy floor was covered with all kinds of shells, both occupied and otherwise, beautiful sea anemones, and even a large hermit crab who poked his nose out of his stolen home.* In the rocky crevices up the sides, several brightly-coloured crabs showed their claws menacingly before retiring to the seclusion of their rocky 'hide-outs' or taking a little exercise among the coloured shells at the bottom of the pool. "Both above and below the water, intricately marked grey limpets clung tightly to' the rock walls, while small shrimps moved here and there, carefully avoiding the seemingly innocent tentacles of the sea anemones. But this was not all. In, among and around everything the graceful seagrass fronds swayed to and fro, their greens- and browns blending in perfect harmony with the pinks, reds, and oranges of the shells, the purple of the crabs, and the grey of the rocks. - x "All the occupants of the- pool were going their own ways, whether moving about, hunting their breakfasts, or just lying in the warm water, totally unconscious of the fact that they all combined to make a beautiful picture. I think that Nature has made iew things more beautiful than that*pV>l, with the cloudless blue sky above, the sparkling sea in front, and the white sand behind. "I sat and gazed, until someone called me-away to breakfast, but many times during my visit I returned to enjoy afresh the beauty that lay beneath the unruffled surface of that sheltered rock pool." '"SQUITA" (12). Newtown. .

"BLINKY THE CRAB"

"HI-HI," Karori.—How neatly you print, plxlekln. Thank you for copying the story about the errand boy^ Are you going to try to make one up yourself? "The Romp," Oriental Bay.—l think Wilfred Is f a good-name for your new 'possum friend. I wonder if he'll,come visiting next time you visit your cottage in the bush. "Dad's Helper," Island Bay:—And did you pay a visit to the Museum with all your schoolfriends that morning? I'm sure there was an essay to.write next day . . . but what fun it must have been. "Rambling Ron," Miramar.—Good news that you are back in the King,. Ron, after such a wonderful holiday in the north. You should be able to write a good sailing story after that.*/.- '■■ ■■: -.',.■■ .; ■ :■. . ' ,' "Latsle/'Kelburn.—Such lovely glowing things - those toadstools on a dull day. .They had an adventure and travelled to most Important : places. A thank you to your friend for that gay scrapbook &o. neatly put together! "Bird Boy," Pllmmorton.—You know ao much .; about bur',gulls ;and seabirds that the Elf -'; would like to.ask you.lots of questions about thera.l He wants to know if you are a forest-and-blrd-rprotector. ', I'm sure you are. "Blue Veil," City.—What a jolly party you had '■• and fifteen -shillings, was a grand sum to .make; for, the Red', Cross.; Most of our Ring :r People are whelping'with, war work., ': ■ "Darby," jHataltaLr—Your Treasury is like lost just now and npwhere can a copy be found r\.,;..66:i:m afraid we'll have to . send your second .choice. ■•:..'■'; .:■■'.''■< ; ,"Yiim YOm.'^Naaloi—What -a ..musical ' feast f •'.■■•;•■ .- . no wonder you are excited: It;was clever of IJncle to hit;"on sucha lovely birthday present. Happy holiday news from this mushroom. :; ' :;: '.-,•;- '\" :•••■-.■.■- . ':! ■■■■ • ■ ■■■■*.' —— '<■/'''■' ■■'■:'''.-■.■

There was once a crab 1 who -lived in a. pool among some rocks oh the sea shore. Though he lived in a house by himself, he was not lonely. He bad neighbours .who lived on either side of him, and many other friends. This icrab had an orange back, and tyro beady eyes oh long stalks,'and was called Blinky • because he .blinked^ a lot. His neighbours were Mrs, Starfish and Sammy, the Jellyfish iamily, and lots of others.. '■- :-: " H

One day when Blihky was going out for a;walk, he discovered that! a new family of jelly fish had arrived. After a while Blinky became friendly with them and they had many jolly games together; Blinky was now getting old and found that he could riot jrun around so much. So he took to sitting outside his house and watching the" little sea anemones;on the rock above him. They "Were very graceful sea flowers, and • fascinated Blinky ! watched them close up suddenly on i any poor little sea creatures that ventured too near1 them. •' ; Sometimes on fine, sunny days he would go across the sandy floor of the pool to visit his friends. It was on one of these days that Blinky was caught by a little girl who took him to her home in a bucket. She showed Blinky to her friends, and .the next day she returned him to a pool. ButMt was | not his own pool, so. there •we will leave him to start his life afresh.,; • V "TYLO 1' (9); ' Wadestown. . '. 't

BACK TO SCHOOL". (Original.) ; Clang! Clang! Clang! : The old school bell sounds out once more. Bang! Bang! Bang! ,' Desks pushed around; books on the floor. Chatter! Chatter! Chatter! ■] The children's tongues are ' very busy.. I Clatter! Clatter! Clatter! ■ The noise really makes me Quite dizzy. Tap! Tap! Tap! The teacher hammers up a drawing. - Quiet! Quiet! Quiet! The teacher for silence is roaring. Scratch! Scratch! Scratch! The pens o'er the paper are scurrying. Rub! Rub! Rub! They have made a mistake through hurrying. When at last the lunch bell goes, They are ready on their toes, . To hurry to their homes for dinner. Positive they're:getting thinner. '■■„ "SATURDAY'S CHILD" <I 3). . Island Bay* ;> ■■«;-. v. _ ■ FROM|iONNY ■ ' Here is an"extract|from a letter written home by an evacuated eight-year-old boy now on a Somerset farm: "I have arrived safely. I like the man's face. I don't likfe the woman's face, but p'raps she'll .look better in the morning. I'like the dog's face best. Love from Jonfiy." TO PUZZLE YOU CUT: OFF. THE LAST LETTER. Curtail a word that means'civil or kind, And what we all are will be" brought' to you* mind. . . ".••'. * '.- ■ ♦ ■.■■''• ■*■-■■■ DOUBLE WORD SQUARE. ' b v."A-:.v- ■ ■■'"• • •".. V.V A L; .■■,;• /' I - - ,-:■r/,,A..1i,.- ;; S-- .-.■.. " : ."■ ..■ • .;- ' ■ ■ ; ':'&m*m.k-k^:^ . ■ :■ .-\:-.^ ■•';•'.-£-"A'■■•B :: ■ ■ -r-^ -:''' , "■■■ ■• • A -R.- : .T■■■;.,■' Print the name of aaV'antaai In, the horrzontal line represented by dots and the came name in the vertical : line represented by dots. This will"'complete'--a* continued word square in which all -words reading from Cleft to right will read the same downward. : liVhat animal ia,.it? ■': -■:■-.. ",. J-- -.- ■ ■■■.;■.. .-•■,:..

TRY THIS TRiCK This trick is easy and needs very little preparation, for the oiily requirement is a box, of- kood wooden, matches. That is essential, for cheap ones will not work, as .inferior" matches do not make so much- charcoal when they burn. A stick of charcoal itself would, of course, do even better. ." Light the match, letting it bum down low. Then blow it out and allow the head to fall off.. If you use a stick of charcoal there is no need to'bum it. Draw a line with the burned .match or charcoal thickly across the heart line on "the palm of the left. hand, beginning near the \ little finger and slanting ■ downwards towards^ the thumb. Just af shortish. line is needed, but it must go well across the line and be clearly drawn. r Now "turn the hand over, and draw a. similar line on the back in the opposite .direction, beginning under the third finger and sloping towards the little one in a downward course. Do .noi; draw this line so thickly. \ Having done this, tell the children that the second line is to be sent right through the hand to make a cross (or? kiss) on the , palm. . *" Jfext, put your hand behind your back, creasing it firmly from the little finger to the ball of the thumb, airid: draw the back of the.hand sharply against your coat, bringing it forward again, all in

one quick movement; to hold it, palm outstretched, when ' your — auaience will see that a cross has appeared quite distinctly on your palm while the line on the back of your hand has" gone! (Wiped away on your coat, but they don't know that!) A small boy had--just been','vaccinated, and the doctor*,prepared to bandage the sore arm, when ; the youngster said: v- : - .• "Put it on the otfaer-,,arm,-doctor." "Why, no," said the physician. "1 want to put the bandage on your sore arm so the boys -at; school -won't' hit you on it." --- ~.s—'- -JL "Then put it on the other arm, pleaM, You don't kn9w the fellows at our 1*