THE POSTIE'S BAG

Evening Star, Issue 22881, 12 February 1938, Page 8

THE POSTIE'S BAG

9 Fern Hill, Dunedin, C.2., January 5, 1938

Dear Big Brother Bill, —Since I wrote about the summer in Central Otago in jny last letter, I will this time write about the winter. As you probably know, the severe winters do as much damage as do the dry summers. In the winter all the tapg freeze and burst; then when the sun comes out and they thaw you can well imagine the mess. The Central winters are very pretty, although they'a-ro so cold.' The hoar frost, lasting from' four to six weeks sometimes, is really wqpderful to see. Anyone who has never seen it cannot possibly realise what beauty there is when all the trees are in their coats of glistening white and all the spiders’ Webs are delicately marked out with tiny frozen drops of moisture. But despite its beauty hoar frost spells disaster. With the fog freezing on to the electric wires they become heavy and sag, and sometimes they break. Then, again, the extreme cold sometimes kills valuable trees and plants. The early spring in Central usually causes the most anxiety to fruit farmers, because-of the late frosts. When the early potatoes have just begun to grow and the fruit trees to blossom a late frost will often come 'and blacken the potatoes 'and kill the fruit blossoms. Although all the fruit farmers use smoke screens to protect their fruit, severe frosts penetrate even the smoke * and injure tne delicate blossoms and fruit. Of course, the winter brings fun for everyone. When the Manorburn dam freezes over people come from far and wide to skate on its surface. Then, when it snows, although it sometimes causes great losses in sheep, nearly everyone enjoys the fun of snowballing and sliding. Well, Big Brother Bill, I really must close this letter. — Best wishes to all, Vahnai Munro. [Thank you for your letter, Valmai Munro. Your name is on the Honour Post because the letter was so interesting. Your description of winter iu Central Otago is very good indeed, quite worth the best letter prize which tyou win this week. What a pity that 'co beautiful a thing as hoar frost should mean disaster to the farmers. Frost is •Useful, too. It is Mother Nature’s way of cleaning the earth for the coming of Spring. But it is like a gun in the lands of somebody very foolish—likely Sto kill things the better for being left ilone. Perhaps the time will come [when New Zealand fruit farmers will Successfully organise against it. as they have done in California; then those who love Nature, even in her most destructive moods, will he able to enjoy the artistry of Jack Frost, unspoiled by any worry concerning damage, done to fruits and foods. Write again soon.] 13 Corunna street, St. Kilcla, Dunedin, S2. Dear Big Brother *Bill,— I Thank you yery much for telling me about the lighthouse. It is a very interesting tiling. 1 was very pleased to see that my name was on the Honour Post, as I am trying hard to get it on the neat writing side this time. lam 10 years old, and 1 am very interested in your competitions and hope to win a prize. I am looking forward to going back to school! because I like it. I am in Standard 111., and am anxious to see who my new teacher will be. I must close now.—Love from Audrey Paine. [Thank you for your letter, Audrey Paine. Your name is on the Honour Post for neat writing. You deserve to have it there, because it is quite evident that you took plains about the writing of the letter. Brother Bill hopes that you are satisfied about your new teacher. Teachers are just ordinary people, Audrey, with a job that is very tiring and nerve-wracking at times. It is really, although small people may not think so, and when teacher comes to the day’s task, feeling rather weary and dispirited about the whole business—well, things are quite likely to go wrong. A little patience -md consideration from pupils to teacher quite niton changes a - ■ •'■■■l- int'i {ho best fellow in the indeed, patience is as

necessary as oil to the engine of a motor car; things run much smoother when it is used both at school and at home. But you will become impatient with Brother ‘Bill if he goes on preaching, so he will say"thanlf you for your letter, and will hppe you will write again soon.]

Koa street, Gore, January 31, 1937. Dear Big Brother Bill, —May I join your happy family ? I will be 13 on February 4. I have left school, but I am going back to college. I obtained a shilling on- Saturday with a King George VI. head oirwt. I am not sorry lam going backfto school. After all, school is a fine place. 1 have a small hen, which I call Fluffy. My small brother is'entering for the under--10 competition. As this is all at present, 1 will close.—Love from Greg Connolly. ' [Thank you for your letter, Greg Connolly. You are very welcome to the family. Are you a collector of old coins? Numismatist is the "right word, is it not? It is a very nice hobby, but ’a hit expensive. Of course school is a fine place. As good for boys and girls as foundations are to houses. You may not think so now, Greg, but the time .will surely come when you - will be grateful for your teachers. There is no , room in the world for an ignoramus—a person who knows nothing and is proud of it. The prizes of life go to the people who know, which is the good reason for all schools. On this reading of things, Greg Connolly is a wise person going to college to fashion a key that will unlock most of the problems of after life. So good luck to you. Write again soon and tell us something of the fun you must have with Fluffy.] 24 Pitt street, Dunedin, C.2. ‘ February 6, 1938. Dear Big Brother Bill, —It is a long time since I have written to you. I am entering for this week’s competition, and 1 hope to he successful. I have been enjoying my holidays very much, but I am looking forward to going back to school. I shall he in Form IV. this year. Hoping you will have a good holiday at Easter, I shall close.— Yours sincerely, Joan Frisk. [Thank you for your letter, Joan Pnsk. Brother Bill was glad to receive and read it. He is glad, also, to know you had a good time during the holidays. Where did you go and what did- you do ? Thank you for your good wishes about Brother Bill’s holidays. He hopes to have a god time, and to have an interesting story to tell the bairns when he returns again. Write again soon.] 3 Chethara Avenue, Dalmore, Dunedin, N.E.I. January 14, 1938. Dear Big Brother Bill, —I have just come back from Taiefi Mouth. We were there for two -weeks. I had a lovely time. I was in swimming, and ■my brother, Sid., caught some [ flounders. We took our cats and Peter I with us. On New Year’s Eve we had ; a big bonfire, and some crackers. We ; went to the rocks twice. It is a good • walk. We were out on the lagoon in a ; boat. One day, when my brother was l going clown to the boat, he found a ; small bird in the grass. He picked it • up and took it over to the crib, and, as ' it was a babv bird, we.kept it and took lit home with us. We fed it on bread, ilt lived for two days before it died. :We went looking for the nest, but j ronld not find it. We found three old I nests. I saw manv hawks and magpies I out at Taieri Mouth. I will stop now, | as T want to get this letter posted.—• 11 remain, your loving friend, Rona E. I Robinson. , ~ „ [Thank vou for your letter, Rona Robinson. ‘You had a very happy time apparently at Taieri Mouth. The small bird would be sure to die if fed only on bread. Birds—especially young ones need meat—raw meat. You see, that is how thev are fed when the mother bird does the feeding. Worms, beetles, insects, and tilings of that description make up the bird’s daily menu, which is the reason why birds are friends of human folk. They help to keep down the creepy-crawlics. Write again soon.]