BIG BROTHER BILL and the BAIRNS

Evening Star, Issue 22805, 13 November 1937, Page 8

BIG BROTHER BILL and the BAIRNS

THE FELLOW WHO WILL NOT PULL IS NOT WORTH A SEAT IN THE BOAT Winners of competitions published October 30 are as follow:—Under 10 years: Lyall Beck, Brighton, Otago. Over 10; Doreen Paul, 79 Mam North road, Dunedin, N.E.I. Congratulations. Prizes will be posted. THE COMPETITIONS The under-tens are asked to discover the names of six subjects taught in school, and the over-tens to find the answer to the puzzle of the seven men who went to dinner. Send your answers to Big Brother Bill, care of ‘ Evening Star.’ Stuart street, Dunedin. C.l. Mark the envelopes “ Competition.” JUMBLED SUBJECTS. (Under 10 years: Prize, Is. The letters of each of the following words and phrases, if rearranged, spell the names of six subjects taught ia school:— SHY RIOT BAN TOY OH GREY GAP A LINT HIS GLEN MANGEB SEVEN MEN WHO WENT TO DINNER. (Over 10 years: Prize, Is 6d.) ( There were seven men who dined at regular intervals at a certain restaurant. The first visited the place every day; the second every second day, the third every third day, the fourth every fourth day. and so on. One day the landlord declared that he would give a free meal to all these seven guests on the first day that they all arrived together. They continued their regular visits, and at Inst, one day, they all arrived at the place together. When was this? • PEN FRIENDS 1 CORNER H Readers of the columns who wish for pen.-friends are asked, to send their V/' names, addresses,, ages, and, a. description of their hobbies for this corner. Bairns with names and addresses of children in other countries who wish for

pen, friends ■will help by sending them to Big Brother Bill for use in this corner. Send to Big Brother Bill, t care of * Evening Star,’ Stuart street, Dunedin, C.l. Murray Eckhold, 21 Grosvenor street, Dunedin, C. 1., wishes a pen friend in England. Murray is interested in collecting stamps.

THE POSHE S BAG Pumping Station, Whare Flat, Dunedin, N.W.2. October 26, 1937. Dear Big Brother Bill, —It is a long time since I last wrote to you. Paul entering for this week’s competition. I will tell you about a tom-tit’s nest •we found under the bridge here. My brother can climb right down to the nest and touch the birds and they will not fly away. They really are the most interesting little birds to watch. When we first found the nest the birds were featherless, but now they are quite big and there is hardly room for them in the little nest. The parents come along and push the worms and grubs down their throats. Watching them, anyone would think they were all dead, but as soon as the father bird alights on the nest four long necks bob up and nearly knock him into the creek. On Sunday when the peonlc come out here they all say: “ What a most interesting nest it is!” On Labour Day we went for a walk arbi’.!’ 1 r:'".v There is a lot of olor--' I ’'. t|u\ year, ;>nrl it was oyer the edge of the race.

I We - did not pick any as it dies very quickly but we gathered a large bunch iof white cherry blossom. Later in the afternoon we went for a long walk down the road and we counted 180 cars •belonging to picnickers. There were two large observation buses out and also a few campers. Well, Big Brother Bill, I will have to close now, and I wish your page every success.—l remain, Dorothy Osborne. [Many thanks for your letter, Dorothy Osborne. Your name' is on the Honour Post, and you are winner of the best-letter prize for this week. Your description of the tom-tits’ nest is quite good, also the walk about the race. Clematis is lovely in the bushfairy stars, some people call it—but it is most beautiful when left there. Did you know the lovely Maori legend of the clematis? It is too long to tell here, but Brother Bill will print it in the columns one of these days. Write again soon.] 1 Hawthorn Terrace, Millbrook, Jersey, Channel Islands, September 23, 1937. Dear Brother Bill,— I expect you will be surprised to receive a letter from so far away. My grandpa gets a newspaper sometimes from a friend of his in New Zealand, and he was showing me your corner, and I thought I, would like to write to you. If I may, I would like to become one of your family. I am 13 years of age, so am still at school. Last year I was playing as goalkeeper in our junior football club, and this season I am playing in the same position in the senior team. * I have a younger brother named Ronald, who will be 11 years of age in November. He would also like to become one of your family. We have sand competitions in Jersey every summer, and I have been very lucky in them A space is marked out on the beach for each child who goes in for the competition, and they allow a certain time to make a design. Some GOO or 700 enter. Then judging takes place. The judging is done by visitors who aie here lor their holidays. Each design must be made with sand and anything else that can be found on the beach, such as shells, coloured stones, and coloured seaweed. Last summer, in my first attempt, I made a lighthouse, and I was awarded the prix d’honneur, which gave me a trip to London by air, and' a silver cup. I. have been in several other sand competitions since, andihave been very lucky. 1 Now I -must hot take up too much of your space, so will close for the present with my best wishes.— Yours sincerely, Raymond Medder. [You gave Brother Bill a delightful surprise, Raymond Medder. A letter all the way from the Channel Isles. A beautifully-written letter, too, so your name goes on the Honour Post. Brother Bill will not be at all surprised if some of the New Zealand bairns who read your letter writ© to you in reply. , Indeed, he thinks it would be a very good idea if they did so. You willread this reply, because Brother Bill will have a copy of the ‘ Evening Star ’ sent to you. You and brother Ronald are welcome to, the family, and wo shall all look forward to future letters from the other side of the world. Congratuations on' your success in the sandbuilding competition. What a stunning idea, too I Do you keep the silver cup, or is it to be competed for every year? The next letter you write, tell us how you enjoyed your air trip to England Write again soon.]

Warepa, October 4, 1937. Dear Big Brother Bill, —This is another Jeuer from Warepa School, which is two miles from my home. 1 was at the sports in Bablutha on Saturday, October 2. i did not win any race, but was in the, drill, which was best of all. I hope you are glad the merry spring is back to see us once again. In the morning when I go to school i see all the little lambs frisking in the green fields. We have two. hens sitting on eggs. I think they 'should have chickens in a couple of weeks, and 1 will see all the fluffy little chicks. We have 22 hens and are getting 20 eggs. On Sunday I found two hens’ nests. One had 41 eggs and the other had 16. As I have no more news I 'will close now.—Yours faithfully, Gordon Ashley. [Thank you for your letter, Gordon Ashley. Spring is an exciting time, even to bairns who live in the city. It is the beginning of colour in the gardens. Mother Nature puts on her gay clothes again. But it must be ■much more so in the country when all the young things are born. Brother Bill saw some lambs a few days ago, and they were frolicking in the sunshine. Congratulations on being in the winning drill team at the sports, Gordon. That is something to be proud of, anyway. Write again soon.] Toiro, October 22, 1937. Dear Big Brother Bill, —This is the first time I have written to you. I am in Standard 11. at school. I have only a few chains to go to school. We are doing handwork. We have made an Indian suit, and we have also made a papier mache vase. We put eight layers on first, and then we jput on •putty, rolled it in rice, and painted it gold. The older boys are making a doll •house. They have to put it together, and they put paint on the roof.—Yours sincerely, Keith Geer. [Thank you for your letter, Keith Geer. Brother Bill thinks that a good •many bairns will be doing handwork for the last weeks of the school year. Is this the time when Christmas presents are made for home? Your vase sounds as though it will look quite beautiful. Fancy the older boys making a doll’s house! It will he an education in building things, anyway. Write again soon.] War cno, October 27. 19.37. Don: - Big Brother Bill.— I have made up my mind at last to write to you. At

home we have three hens and a kitten. In the term holidays I was in Dunedin for a week. I went to the picturesDid you go anywhere for the holidays ? Wo are busily practising for the Busy Bee concert. Lamin a play. On Labour week-end my friend was up from Invercargill. She was ht our place for four days. lam interested in stampcollecting, fancywork, and. film stars. I went to the sports on October 2, but did win any races. I was in the drill in which there were about 600 children. I went in the bus in the morning and came horn© at night with my father. On the grounds there were stalls. We could buy fruit, lollies, soft drinks, and ice-creams. I will have to close now. I remain, yours sincerely, Pearl ..Roberts.

[Thank you for your letter, Pearl Roberts. What a pity you did not call and see Big Brother Bill when you visited Dunedin. You must do so next time Brother Bill hopes the Busy Bee concert will be most successful, the play especially. Have you a pen friend interested in the same things as yourself? If not, you must write to the Pen Friends’ Corner and obtain cue. Write again soon.] Warepa. October 4, 1937.'• Dear Big Brother Bill,—l am writing to you again. At home we have three little geese, which came out of the eggs yesterday morning. We have 14 fluffy chicks and one duck is sitting on eiglit or nine eggs Have you seen any little lambs yet? We have three hundred lambs so far. It has been very cold for the little creatures this season. At home we have a turkey which lays every second day. Dp you keen small liens at your home in.' Dunedin? 1 build cranes with my Meccano, and fix pear to pull Stones out of the quarry. I have a boy correspondent in Wendon Valley He is 13 years old and is m Standard IV. I will close Love to all. I remain, yours faithfully, James Shanks.

[Thank you for your letter, James Shanks. ‘Since you wrote your letter the weather has become much warmer. It has in Dunedin, at any rate, and if this is true of Warepa tee lambs will have a much more comfortable time. Yes Brother Bill has some small chickens at present, and funny things they are. Their mother is .a bantam hen, and she is a good mother, too.

Brother Bill will whisper a secret about Meccano. He likes to play with it, too. There are some fathers, James, who never grow beyond the stage of liking to play with their son’s toys. Write again soon.] PLAY THE MAN Fear not what the world may say; Hold the straight and narrow way Jn the open light of day. And play the man. They will call thee poor and weak, Being merciful and meek : Heed not thou the words they speak, But play the.man. Trust in God and lot them mock, Vain as waves that surge and shock, Broken on resisting rock: Play thou the man. ■—Walter Chalmers Smith. PETER PUCK ON SCHOOL At sums, alas, I don’t excel; Nor do I find in them much glee. Take simple interest. Well, my friends, It simply does not interest me.

A PLACE FDR BIRD LOVERS The Pledge.—“ 1 promise to care for all wild birds, especially New Zealand native birds, to feed them in winter, and to protect them at all times. I promise also to protect our native trees and bush, and at no time to assist in their damage or destruction, since they are the natural home of our native birds.” Name Full postal address If you wish to join the Bird Club it is necessary to send Is in stamps, or a *

postal note, and bird book and badge will be sent to you. Address your letters to Big Brother Bill, care of ‘ Evening Star,’ Stuart street, Dunedin, C. 1. Be sure to mark your envelope “ Bird Club.” THE SILENT CHOIR OF THE COUNTRYSIDE One of the drawbacks of country holidays toward the close of summer is that children from the towns never hear the birds. Tho tide of life is silent at the full, soundless before tho ebb. We listen, imagining that it is but a momentary lull; but no, Na'ture has other purposes for the energies of this vast choir. The birds have undergone a great strain in building their nests, tending their young, and feeding them from dawn to sunset. They have worn themselves shabby in the process, and now need reclothing, and all their strength goes into the production of feathers. They are fitting themselves out for the autumn and winter. In place of the gay plumage in which they wooed and won in spring they will put on garb of soberer hue which will make them less conspicuous in the leafless trees. All tho marvels of feather-making are now in full operation. Horny quill and dainty down are being built up from the blood of the birds by processes as wonderful as those which give tho stag his new antlers every year. Some must hasten their change of raiment in readiness for the flights that are to carry them over the ocean to the tropical South; those that remain must he clad in warmth against frost and winter winds.

So there is neither cause nor strength for song. Bird music, whether lovesong or.challenge absorbs energy, however spontaneous and joyous the singer’s outpouring _ may be. At present every unconscious effort of the bird’s organism is concentrated on the shedding of worn feathers, frayed and unlovely, and the growth of feathers which will carry them almost to the world’s end or fortify them against the wildest rigours of our own land. So it is in vain to halt and stop one’s breath in the hope that some late singer will rejoice us. The only sounds of the air now to be heard are the cooing of the wood-pigeons and the cawing of the rooks. These to-day are the voice of Nature in tho country, welcome enough to human ears, but perhaps contemptible to those masters of song so silent now while Nature reclothes them for the hard days ahead.

THE GULL AND THE BALL _ Nobody likes being gulled, and the lighthouse-keepers _on the Flannan Isles in the Hebrides are wondering how to outwit the gulls, which are preventing them from having some wellearned recreation. • The men have made a small five-hole golf course, but as soon as one of them drives off a gull swoops down, snaps up the ball, and flies away with it. This has happened so maiiy times that the keepers are sending~'to the mainland for a supply of second-hand balls. THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE TITS We rejoice to know that the Prime Minister, like many other well-known men, is a lover of birds.

It seems that when Mr Chamberlain moved to Downing Street last year he fixed a nest-bax to one of the, lime trees in the famous garden, and in March this year a pair of blue-tits took up residence in the box and laid three eggs. Alas, it was found later that the nest was deserted and the three eggs reduced to two. Evidently the birds gave up their attempt, for bluetits lay 10 to 12 eggs, and often rear a youngster from each egg. They are never content with a mere three! We hope the P.rime Minister will have better luck next time. THE SWIFTEST ANIMAL Hunters and travellers sometimes err in their estimate of the size, strength, and speed of the great beasts they meet in the wilds, but there seems a probability that they will all be proved right in what they have unanimously asserted regarding the cheetah, or hunting leopard. They have always voted this the swiftest animal over a short distance. Its natural prey is the fleetest of deer and antelopes, and it captures them by sheer speed. In spite of this, however, it was thought that the English greyhound could beat the cheetah, but the travellers were right after all. Eight cheetahs have been brought to England and tamed and trained by Mr Gandar Dower. The animals, true to their, reputation, have proved friendly and amiable, so that it has been possible to test them