THE POSTIE'S BAG

Evening Star, Issue 23834, 14 March 1941, Page 3

THE POSTIE'S BAG

Otokia. Dear Big Brother Bill, —1 had a great time swimming last week, as it was “ Learn to swim week.” I went to the baths at Mosgiel. I can swim 33 l-3yds now. We are taught cooking at school. We have preserved fruit, made jam, baked a billy loaf and scones. I now. help mum with her cooking every Saturday. We are practising for the school sports,just now, and’ the. girls wear shorts to practise in. r I am entering for this week’s competition.—Kind regards, Ella Wilson. [Thank you for your letter, Ella Wilson. Your name' is on the Honour Post, and you are winner of the best letter prize. Congratulations on your swimming progress, Ella. It’s such lovely weather for it,' too. Brother Bill hopes that you will soon be able to swim a mile. Your description of cooking lessons sounds quite mouth-watery. All those tasty things.! Do you take them home after they are cooked ? Shorts

for practising sounds to be quite the correct thing for this warm weather. Write again soon.]" 10 Eden street, Dunedin. Dear Big Brother Bill, —1 am entering for this week’s competition and hope to bo successful. I am in Standard 11. at school,, and always read your page on Friday night. This is the third time I have written to you, and I must tell-you what a lovely holiday we had at Lower Portobello. We went bathing every day and had a lot of fun at low tide catching crabs. My little sister Joan could catch them easily. Wc went for a walk every night and we had such a lovely time we did not want to come home. Will close now.— With love from Alisa Matheson, (Standard II.). [Thattk you for your letter, Ailsa Matheson. Brother Bill is glad to know you enjoy- the page each Friday. Your name is on the Honour Post for neat writing. Portobello is a good place for a holiday, as you found out, Alisa. Did the crabs nip? They do, sometimes. Brother Bill remembers a

small boy who found to his horror that one had caught him by the toe. It was not a small crqb either. But the little blue fellows on our beaches are more good fun than dangerous. Write again soon.] 42 Pitcairn street, Belleknowes. Dear Brother Bill,—This is the first time I have written to you. I went to Pnrakanui for my holidays and had a lovely time. Every morning about 10 o’clock 1 got ready t-o go down to the beach. When the tide goes out, there is a stream in which we were allowed to swim. My mother would not let me go swimming when the tide was in. I always love reading your page in the ‘ Star.’ Yours ■ sincerely, Ngaire Isbistor. [Thank you for your letter, Ngaire Isbister. Welcome to the bairns’ club. Brother Bill knows Purakanui, and

wonders where the stream was in which you swam. Mother was a wise person. The tide coming in to the lagoon makes very deep places ; , the kind of places that only strong swimmers can use. Still, if you practise, there is no reason why yon should not swim there in future when you can swim a mile. Write again soon.] Dear Brother Bill, —May I join your happy lot of bairns? My name is Mollie Harris, and I am seven and a-half years old. I, go to Arthur Street School, and am in Standard 11. Every Friday evening’s ‘ Star ’ I read, and think it very interesting. It is very nice colouring the pictures you put in the papers. I have recently come from Wellington, and now am in Dunedin. I have a baby sister. Her age is 19 months.—l remain, yours truly, Mollie Harris. [Thank you for your letter, Mollie Harris. Welcome to the bairns’ club. Brother Bill hopes you will like Dunedin after Wellington; He thinks it is -a nicer place. There is a colouiring competition this week, so you' must nave a try. Write again soon.]