THE POSTIE'S BAG

Evening Star, Issue 22572, 13 February 1937, Page 8

THE POSTIE'S BAG

Beaumont. Dear Big Brother Bill, —Nestling among the innumerable hills of Otago on either bank of the rapid Molyneux, and sheltered somewhat from the bleak west winds by the ill-named Blue Mountains, is the little village of Beaumont. It.is the relio of a once busy and prosperous township, for many years ago the railhead was situated there. Gold miners flocking out from the overcrowded mines in Lawrence, attracted by the tales of enormous gold deposits, were responsible for it ever being settled. A number of miners still work along the banks of the river and away back in the hills, but almost everywhere they have been forestalled by the intrepid, persevering prototypes of the ’sixties. Now the chief occupation is farming, and there are four apple orchards, for the banks of the Molyneux are very suitable for the growing of trees, and the summer sun causes the fruit to turn such a delicious red that many ravenous youths have yielded to the temptation to test the taste of the apples. At the extreme southern end of the village is an afforestation plantation, and the trees extend well back into the mountains, in which wild pigs and deer afford pleasure to those who shine in the sport of deerstalking. Past the forestry, as it is called, is the wild bush, and there it is that picnickers and campers find the unspoiled beauties of Nature. Bellbirds and other native birds find a pleasant sanctuary there, and one day when boiling the billy I saw a tui, which came quite near and sang very sweetly. People have told me that Parrakeets, magpies, and cuckoos have been seen flying through the trees, and wood pigeons are quite common. The river is spanned by an imposing red iron bridge, although in the “ good old days ” one crossed from side to side in the ferry at a point about half a mile below the modern structure. The old roads, which met the ferry, are now either byroads or else overgrown, with grass and used as pastures. The village boasts two shops—-a general store and post office combined, and a bakery—and there is a local butcher. There is a tennis court in the school grounds, and swimming ponds are just wherever the creek is deepest or the river safest.

One paddock does for a racecourse, football ground, cricket ground, hockey ground, emergency lauding ground, and a sheep pasture. There is a good natural grandstand formed by one of the river terraces, and on this crowds gather every Easter to see the finals of the trots, the cup races, etc. I think this should suffice for the present.—John Child. [Thank you for your interesting letter, John Child. It is some time since Brother Bill received it, but it was filed for use later, and here it is in this week’s columns. Your name in on the Honour Post, and you are the winner of the “ best letter ,r prize. Brother Bill thinks you ought to continue writing, because you certainly have tho pen of a ready writer. The bairns will be interested to read your account of Beaumont, especially those who have not been there. Brother Bill has passed through a number of times, and has always admired your quiet little village nestling under “ .he bieldy ’ side of the hills. Write again soon.] 98 Queen street, Dunedin, N.l. ' * January 18. 1937. Dear Big Brother Bill,—May I join your large family circle? lam 10 years of age and am in Standard HI. at school; at I will be when the schools start again. I have three brothers and two sisters, and I am afraid mother is having rather a trying time, trying to keep us all at home during the holidays. We have spent a lot of time picking black currants and

raspberries for mother to make jam, and, of course, we have eaten almost as much as we have taken in for jam. Sometimes at the week-end we all play cricket in the backyard, even mother and father joining in, but the games usually finish up with a lost ball, and then the girls have to look after their dolls and the boys find some other mischief to get into. Before coming to live in Dunedin two years ago, we lived on the West Coast for a few years, and another time I will write to you and tell you something about the big earthquake over there in 1929. Daddy has promised to tell me something about the damage which he saw when we went to live over there in 1930. I was too young to take much notice, so I hope daddy will tell me something interesting to write about. As this is ray first letter, I will close now with best wishes for a happy New Tear to you and all the bairns. —Yours sincerely, Jean Martin. [Thank you for your letter, Jean Martin. Brother Bill was glad to read it. Your name appears on the Honour Post for neat writing. There would be a good number of parents breathe a sigh of relief last Saturday when the restrictions were lifted. One father told Brother Bill that he law awake at night trying to think of new ways to amuse his four imprisoned children. It has not been a happy holiday for the bairns from this point of view, nor for mothers and fathers either, hut it was well worth the care if it saved children from the epidemic. Brother Bill will look forward to your second letter. You must write it soon.l \ 12 Duke street, Dunedin, N.l. Dear Brother Bill, —This is the first time I have ever written to you, and I would be very pleased if you would enrol me on the list of your merry band of bairns. I am 12 years of age, and I have obtained ray proficiency. 1 shall be in Standard VII. next year. I am very fond of birds and animals. We have little birds that visit us every day, and they search for worms on our lawn. Every morning when I wake I throw crumbs out for the birds, and later watch them through the window. I must close now, with hopes of success in your competition.—Yours faithfully. Edna Johnston. [Thank you for your letter, Edna Johnston. Brother Bill is glad to welcome you to the family. It is good fun feeding the birds; indeed, there is no kindness so fully repaid as that given to Nature’s tiny things. Did you ever try to make friends of the birds? They will come and feed from your hand as soon as they realise that you are friendly toward them. Even the shy tui and hellbird will do this. The cheeky little blight birds (white eyes) will give you lots of fun in this way. Write again soon.] 318 Bay View roach South Dunedin, S.W. 1. January 30, 1937. Dear Big Brother Bill, —It is a very long time since 1 have written to you. This is only the second time. I go to St. Clair School, and I shall be in Standard IV. when we go hack to school. I am 10. I am a coeocnb, and it is great fun. We have a little PO7ll. which can do a few tricks. Every morni::g 1 give him dog biscuit sops for

breakfast, then he has meat and biscuits. We have a cat, too, called Tommy, and tho cat and dog are quite friendly. I live at a shop and it is good fun. Audrey (my little sister) and i get lots of lollies. I will close now, giving my love to all the aunts and imcles, and especially yourself.—l remain, your loving bairn, Elva Yates. [Thank you for your letter, Elva Yates. Brother Bill was glad to hear from you again. Your Pom. and Tommy, the cat, are sure to ho very friendly. Brother Bill has a Pom. puppy which is very friendly with all the cats. Indeed, he has just taken over a tiny kitten from its mother, and is making quite a fuss of it. It sounds the best of fun to, live in a shop tho way you describe it. Brother Bill wonders what mother will think about it when tho lollies prove not quite as profitable as she anticipated. Perhaps she will not mind as long as her bairns are happy. Write again soon.] 78 Nelson street, Dunedin, S.W.I. Dear Big (Brother Bill,—May 1 have the pleasure of becoming one of your happy band of bairns? J. am entering for this week’s competitions, in whicti I hope to be successful. Owing to the epidemic I could not get away for my holiday, but I hope to do so later. My playmate and 1 have passed the time in making a garden, in which we have planted carrots, beetroot, beans, parsnips, and cabbages. lam learning to play the violin, and in the last Trinity College examination, in which Mr Adolph Mann was tho examiner, 1 passed with 72 marks. I hope to go into Standard V, this year. I will close now by wishing you and all the aunts and uncles of 4YA a very happy new year.—l remain, yours truly, Nancy Pinder, [Thank you for your letter, Nancy Pinder. What a splendid way to pass the time during the epidemic restrictions. It would keep you busy, out of mischief, and yield a profit later on. You are very welcome to the family. Congratulations upon your musical examination. Did you know the violin is the nearest instrument to the human voice? Great players have been known to make their sound like a voice singing. Brother Bill hopes that Nancy Pinder will become a great player. Write again soon.] 248 Kaikorai Valley road, Dunedin, W.2. January 4. Dear Big Brother Bill,—l wish to join your.nappy family. I am nine and in Standard 11. Igo to Mornington School. I am going in for this week’s competition tor under 10. I am starting to collect stamps. I listen to you over the wireless, and am very interested' in your stories about different kinds of birds. I also mind my father’s sweet peas. There is a lot, of bush about here, and T take a great interest in the native shrubs and trees. I had better close. —Yours truly, Nellie Adamson. [Thank you for your letter, Nellie Adamson. Brother Bill is glad to welcome you to tho family. Stamp collecting is an excellent hobby for girls and boys. It is so full of interest and information. Brother Bill is glad to know about your love for birds and native bush. He hopes that you will always retain it. Do you have a bird table where they can come and feed? You would get quite a great deal of fun in this way. Write again soon.]