GIRL GUIDES

Hawera Star, Volume L, 26 July 1930, Page 17

GIRL GUIDES

NOTES BY “GUIDER”

A. recent letter received from Miss Ballantine is dated from Foxlease. She writes that the weather was perfect (June) and the garden a, mass of ‘colour. Her room overlooked the garden, where the cuckoo sang in the nearby trees. A special welcome was given a.t the first campfire to overseas Guiders. These included one from Belgium, one from India, one from South Africa, two from Australia, ana Miss Ballantine the only representative from New Zealand during the week she was there. The routine in her patrol was as follows: Dust Scotland (one -of the rooms) and put out books for prayers. Colours came next and then breakfast. After breakfast the silence room (Wiltshire) had to be dusted, together with the garden room. Then own beds had to be made and rooms swept. The first .session was at 10.30, canteen at. 11, session; from II till 12, lunch 1 to 1.30, rest hour 2 till 3, afternoon tea 4.15, session 5.30. supper 7.30, camp-lire 8.30, canteen 9. bed. A very full day. On the first Sunday,cold lunch was put in the outdoor dining-room, and Cluiders t-olcl they could have it where they liked. The patrol leader of Miss Bnllautinc's patrol motored her patrol into the New Forest and a glorious day was spent in the sunshine. The rest- of the week was to- be spent in test work, games, hikes, and enrolment ceremony. Miss Balantine expects to sail on August 15 for New Zealand. What a lot she will have to tell as!

BIRD ITEMS FROM FAR AND NEAR THE WHITE HERON. Lake- Okarita, on the West Coast of the South Island, is a charming sanctuary only recently gazetted as such. It is the only known nesting place in New Zealand of the beautiful white heron or kotuku. Only about, a dozen birds are to he found on the lake at -present, but as they are jealously guarded by the nearest residents they should increase. Amongst- the Maoris this bird is considered sacred and that death quickly befalls any person, who kills one.

THE PANTAIL. The .pied fantail is common throughout the Dominion, but tlie black fantail is confined most exclusively to the South -Island. Neither species is a songster, but both utter a pleasant twittering when engaged in catching insects on the wing. The nest-s of both birds are almost identical. The finely woven structure of twigs, hair and moss is generally cleverly constructed in some leafy branch over-hanging running water. The eggs are white with rufous spots at the larger end, three to five to a clutch. The “fan’ tail of this bird enables it to perform wonderful aerial feats. It is one •of the tamest of our feathered friends, and will invade- the house through open doors and windows and pick up crumbs from flic table in the cheekiest maimer.

THE SWALLOW. Tn Scandinavia, the swallow is known as the sva-low, or “bird oi consolation,’ ’ from the belief that at the time of the crucifixion it flew backwards arid forwards above the cross cry in. m softly, “Svalu, Svalu” (console),' trying by its sympathy tc bring some tiny scrap of consolation to its .suffering Lord. . A FARMER’S FRIEND. Writing in the Dominion Girl Guide, David Smith, Stanehurst, Mastei-ton, says: “1 hope pukeko will not he oh the shooting list this year. 1 hope known the birds all my life (over 60 years.) and I do not know 01 any mischief they do. 1 know, however, what good they can do, anci all thinking farmers like them around in order to lighten our fight ngainsi insect pests. 1 have never had a grain touched by them and they arcstrutting around the stacks every day. Further, if they do- take a small quantity of grain i would not mind but would look u-pen it- as so muc-li wellearned wages.”

SOME HIKE COOKING RECIPES

Girdle Scones. —These can be made on a piece of tin, or, if yon possess one of those cunning combined Lilly and frying pan gadgets, you can use the pan. Before, leaving, home mix half a pound of flour with a tablespoon of sugar, a lump of butter and as many currants sa you desire. Transfer this mixture to a paper bag. A\ hen your lire is a mass ol nice bright embers heat your tin, first adding enough water to the paper bug mixture to make it as moist as clamper. Press dollops of the mixture into scone-like rounds and drop them on to the hot tin or pan. Turn as soon as brown.

Bacon and egg cooked in orange shell. —First cut off the top of an orange, and scoop out juice from both top and the rest of the fruit. But this aside as it will serve lor your orangeade drink. Now line the shell case of the orange with a- bit of grease-proof paper (taken from mother's pound of butter if she is kindhearted). Pop into this nest your slice of bacon and break egg on top. Line the lid of the orange with another piece of grease-proof paper and place lid on. Place the whole thing in hot ashes, standing it upright with ashes covering at least- half-way up. If you like, your egg soft, and ashes are very hot, cook for ten minutes, but Id minutes will sot the egg somewhat more.

Oatcake. —Her© is another splendid hike dish famous in tile Scottish Highlands. It is given by Mr Hector MncQuarrie in bis thrilling book, “A\ e and the Baby,” the story of a motor trip in a. baby ear up into the never-never laiui or northernmost Queensland. Mr MacQuarrie writes: “My mother used to make oatcakes, and I have tramped, many happy miles in the Highlands with a packet of oatcakes in pocket. The absence of soda in their composition allows frhe oatmeal to remain completely nutritious. “Soul,” of course, is necessary in the making of good oatcalces 'as it- is necessary in the making of a. bed. However, rub, say, little more than a tablespoon of butter (or good dripping if butter is not about) into a cup of honest oatmeal, adding a. pinch of salt; achieve a thick, sticky dough bv adding not too much very hot water: flatten into fairly thin cakes, and place on a piece of tin over a not too fierce fire. Tf the fire is too hot the cakes will burn, and the inside will not b.o cooked. When cooked the cakes are soft-, but- if thev are placed near the fire (like toast for breakfast) they harden aip, and may be kept to eat at off times. Damper will wreck weak “innards;” oatcake will not.”