PRIZE ESSAY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 86, 27 March 1926, Page 11

PRIZE ESSAY

SENIORS. SPORTS AT WAIPAWA. Dear Chief Kiwi, —Last Wednesday week we were granted a half-holiday on the occasion of the Waipawa United Friendly Societies’ amateur athletic sports. The meeting was held on the Waipawa Coronation Park in ideal weather. The attendance was somewhat small at the start, but gradually increased until there was quite a large crowd. There were good fields in every Ayjevent and the bicycle races all came to exciting finishes. There were many shady spots which picnickers took advantage of. The Municipal Band pdayed some delightful selections. Under the shady trees stalls were erected and afternoon tea and soft drinks, also lollies, were provided. There were a few other attractions, such as dart-throwing. The society made a special effort to give all the '»ren a good time and innumerable races were run for children of all ages. There were races also for married and single ladies. About fivs o’clock the people began to make their way home after an enjoyable day. The day’s amusement reflected great credit upon its organisers. —Prize of 2/6 to Hazel Hinman, aged 12, Ruataniwha. ® ® A BLACKBERRY PICNIC AT FERNHILL. Dear Chief Kiwi, —As I have not writtenHo you since Chief Kiwi No. 1 left, I am going to start now. When I woke up on Saturday mornflig the first thing I did was to look out of the window to see if it was a fine day. To my great disappointment I saw the black clouds overhead, while the ram came pitter-patter on thhe roof. About 11 o’clock it began to clear a little, so mother said if it kept fine till 1 o’clock Dad would take us and a friend of mine, with her mother, out to pick blackberries at Fernhill. When we arrived out there we had to go round a big hill, then we had to do a little bit of climbing before > we arrived at “Blackberry Land.” Millicent and I immediately put on our togs, and went for a swin in the river. After we had had a good swim we decided to go and climb the hills near by. In about a quarter of an hour we were standing on the top of the hill, looking down on the river and all its surroundings. It was glorious. When we had tired ourselves of climbing we went _down and picked a big bunch of watercress, growing by a little stream. About half past four mother called us to come and get ready for home. On our way back to the camp we saw a poor sheep nearly dead. Dad said it w r as dying of starvation. Coming home in the car we were singing all the way. Sunday was bright and sparkling, but I was stiff and sore—just the opposite. certificate to Joan Martin, aged 12, 411 St. Aubyn street. » ® AN ENJOYABLE TRIP. Dear Chief Kiwi, —I am going to tell you of an enjovable trip to Napier, via Havelock. Manga teretere. Whakatu, Clive, and Awatoto, during my holidays. We reached our destination at 12 o’clock. Fortunately the day was fine, and as the gracious sun showered its warm rays on the landscape we travelled through the busv streets of Hastings towards Havelock, passing in the gayness of the scene large numbers of happy children who were glad that the summer vacation had come. After the bridge had been crossed we reached the village, where the lorry which was conveying us to Napier was loaded up * with goods to be delivered to various places, before we left again. Many orchards in Havelock and Mangatere. in which there hung from the leafy branches of the trees delicious fruit, were seen. At the larger ones we received fruit to take to the sale. The residences of the orchardists were without doubt beautifully laid out Flowers of numerous colours adorned the gardens, and in the centre of one grassy lawn, throwing its sprays of water prettily into the air. stood a fountain. It was not long before Whafeatu was reached, where, in the background, stood the freezing works, with clouds of deep, black smoke rising from its tall chimney, and in the foreground a river singing merrily as it wended seawards amid magnificent scenery. The little Post Office was the first glimpse of Clive. Shops came in sight and many who were shopping. When the Clive and Waitangi bridges had

been crossed and the station passed, the only things seen for a long tune were tfje railway lines and the sea. Xwatoto being passed, Napier was neared and my pleasant trip soon came to end. I left my friend who had driven me there, and on returning after admiring the shop windows 1 discovered he had gone. So later in the afternoon I came home by train. Now, Chief Kiwi, I will close. —Blue certificate to William Laws, aged 11, 503 Miller street. ® ®> FLOWERS. Dear Chief Kiwi, —This week 1 am going to write about Howers. How glorious it is to be surrounded by a beautiful garden of flowers. Their sweet faces look up at us, giving out a delicious perfume. As we look into the petals of a pure red rose, it seems to tell us a story about Nature; of how kind Nature hits been in giving us the beautiful gift of flowers. The red rose rules as queen of the garden. Many dainty little flowers welcome us as we look around in early summer. The flowers which are blooming mostly now are the asters and zinnias. These are very dainty flowers, and their becoming shades give a fresh and sweet appearance to our gardens. When we walk through the woods we are fascinated by the clumps of primroses we see. We can scarcely resist dropping to our knees and picking to our heart’s content. It almost seems a shame to leave them to wither and die. We also have to think of the sunshine and the bees, for without them the flowers would be colourless. With much love to you and all the Kiwis. —Blue certificate to Joyce Symonds, aged 11, 202 Prospect road. CEYLON’S RICE FIELDS. .. Dear Chief Kiwi, —We were sitting by the fire one cold night listening to the stories told by my uncle who had just returned from India. We had so often heard of the rice deias that we asked him to tell us about them. \c.w [ shall tell you what 1 learned Lum my uncle. Bice grows standing :n wa+er, so it is most easily grown in the valleys, but in Ceylon (for that was the place he had seen the rice grow) the people have learnt to grow it on the hillsides by cutting the hills into terraces. A little strip of ground is levelled on the hillside and a bank of earth and clay constructed around it so that it may hold a low inches of water. A little below another is made and so on right dowu the side of the hill, just like a bight of steps. When the hili is very steep these little plots are only a few feet wide, while at other places they are as large as a garden. The top one is filled with water from a spring or the rain, and when it overflows it fills the second and so on all the way down. When the new rice first comes all these plots look like beautiful grass lawns._only a brighter green than has even been seen. —Blue certificate to Elsie Kitt, aged 12, Murdoch road. A PLAY AT CORNWALL PARK. Dear Chief Kiwi,— 1 have been wanting to write to the Kiwis for a long time, lor 1 have only written once. As I live over the road from the park 1 can tell you many things about it. One day in the December holidays 1 went to the park to play. 1 left home at 10 o'clock and J .first had a swing, then 1 had a slide. Many children were over at the park playing on the swings, roundabout, slides and seesaws. Suddenly 1 felt a tickling on the neck and turned round to find my friend Mabel. We decided to go on the roundabout. After we been on that we walked to ’see the rabbits, swans, guinea pigs and other creatures. It was half past twelve when we went home and I was spoken to for not coming lor dinner. In the afternoon 1 went to my mother and asked permission to take some cakes to the park, but mother gave me many other things. As Mabel never came to the park 1 shared them with Jessie. We had quite a long conversation and then went home. With best wishes for Easter to you and vour Kiwis I will close. —Orange certificate to Una May Loach, aged 9, 409 Cornwall road. ® ® . THE MILLIONAIRESS. Dear Chief Kiwi.- I am going to tell you about what 1 would do if I were a millionaire. T would spend most of my time at the hotel. Moving from place to place and staying at the best hotels, staying a week at each. I would go to the Dunedin Exhibition and have a taxi to and from the Exhibition. 1 also would buy a fur coat to keep me warm during the cold days at the Ex

, Inbition. Before I left Dunedin I e would get in a good stock of clothes. Then getting an interpreter I would go s for a trip round the world. First of e all 1 would visit Australia. Then f 1 would go to North America and sp on till 1 had been right round the world. 1 Having finished my journey round the 1 world 1 would go to Rotorua and see all the geysers. Then going back to Auckland I would get some men to . build me a three-storied house. When getting settled I would buy a RollsRoyce limousine car. Then 1 would live in my own house. Now I must close, with love to you and the other Kiwis. —Mollie Hull, aged 10, P.O. Box 76. 1 Hastings. v r t s FLOWERS. f r Dear Chief Kiwi, —Here lam once 2 again. This week 1 am going to tell . you what 1 know about flowers. There s are many kinds of flowers and all different colours. It is spring time when y we have the most beautiful flowers, ? lor we have the daffodil, the narcissus, - crocuses and bulbs of all sorts. Then t then are the rpses, pansies, the 3 stocks, snapdragons and heaps of - others. Mv Grannie has a garden with e many pretty flowers In it. and she ; often gives us a bunch of flowers to s put in vases. Well, Chief Kiwi, I ‘will j end up now. with love from 3 —Lorna Mcßobbie. Box 76. Havelock 1 North. 8 3 £5 ® ® LEARNING TO RIDE A BIKE. Dear, Chief Kiwi, —One bright afternoon having nothing to do I decided to try to learn to ride a bicycle. 1 put the pedal round and trying to get on 1 over-balanced and what a crash 1 5 came. L then had another attempt; j this time on the lawn, which would be 1 softer if 1 fell again. * I got on, and J just as 1 had the pedal half way round 1 slipped off, and that was counted as ’ another tumble. 1 found that my knee 1 was bleeding, and I nearly decided to give up hope; then I thought I would ’ just have one more try. On I got and ’ this time I succeeded in getting three » or four rounds of the pedals. After that ' I managed to ride the length of the L lawn. Then I went in and told mother i that I could ride a bicycle. I —Red certificate to Iris Cameron, ; age 11 years, 1000 Tomoana road. ’&® & & 1 WINTER IN ENGLAND. J Dear Chief Kiwi, —1 am going to tell L you about a Winter in England. The j winter commences in November. 01 course they have heavy snowfalls, not ' like the winters in Hastings. It is very ; interesting to see the snow fall iu cloudy flakes, and the sleet. We aii I need warm clothes, or we should be ; very cold. It is nice playing in the. I snow, and making snow-men. ’‘’They have skating on the frozen ponds, and the children enjoy themselves very much. The snow looks pretty on the trees as it hangs down and makes - pretty pictures. ; Love to yourself and other Kiwis. —Red certificate to Marjorie More- - I ton, age 12, 903 Ellison road. &> & ® ■ A VOYAGE TO AUSTRALIA. (Continued.) i ; Dear Chief Kiwi, —We now leave the i Chinese quarters behind and two days i later the Royal party sails for Australia, . threading the narrow Straits of Sunua between Sumatra and Java, and passingnear to the famous volcanic island o. Krakatoa, which in 1883 explored, and I killed ten thousand persons. I Now the Ophir is out on the open sea and preparations are at once made to ceicbrate in the old fashioned way the crossing of the “line” or Equator. A great bath of sail cloth is rigged up on deck, and when all is ready -. ( bugle sounds and the sea-god Neptune, who looks very like Father Christmas is , seen approaching in a car drawn by blue jackets. He is accompanied by four masculine-loking ladies, representing Britannia. Australia. Canada and Mrs Neptune; and behind him there is a motley crew of barbers and policemen. I The first ceremony is to admit me Duchess and her ladies-in-waiting as subjects of King Neptune. This is dene by touching their foreheads with salt water. ’ 1 will close now, but will continue next week. . —Margaret Gibb, age 12 years, 210 Queen street E.

LEARNING TO RIDE A BICYCLE. Dear Chief Kiwi,—This week I am going to tell you about learning to ride a bicyclic. Well I was a long time learning—-so long that I was nearly giving up hope of being able to do so. It seemed such a terrible thing to try to get on too, and when I got on it looked impossible to stop the machine from falling over. This falling over gave me many a tumble, and more than once I asked myself if bicycles were worth while. Still I tried and found that by placing my foot on the step tijid running along 1 could keep the bicycle up, and also steer it. By degrees I remembered to raise myself on to the saddle while the machine was going, and though little success was mot with at first I gradually overcame this difficulty. The next part was dismounting—not that I had much difficulty in that way as it was easy to tumble off—but I felt it was necessary to dismount in a becoming manner. Frequent practice made me know more, so now I can ride along the street with no fear. —Red certificate to Eileen Barrett, age 12 years, 905 Victoria street. @> @> JUNIORS. A HOLIDAY AT ROTORUA. Dear Chief Kiwi,—This week I am going to tell you of a holiday I once spent in Rotorua. We went in the train, and arrived at Rotorua about half-past five on the second night. Wc had friends to meet us, and we went. l to their place in one of the many busses that wait at the station. Next day we all went to Whaka-rewa-Rewa. and saw geysers and boiling mud pools. On the way back we went through a beautiful garden of mostly shrubs. It is called the Government reserve. We also went to Ohinemutu where there is a beautiful Maori church all carved, and more steaming mud pools, and Maori ladies cooking their dinner in Maori kits in the steam. We also visited the Government bath buildings, which arc surrounded with shrubs and lawns where they play bowls and tennis. There is a car drive through the garden, which is called Queen’s Drive. There are six lakes and from a big hill called jNgaongo-taka you can see White Island to the north and Mount Tonganro. The Maori children dive off a bridge for pennies. It is very funny . Every penny they get they put in their mouth till they get it full, and then they bury the pence in the bank. —Pink certificate to Tommie. Robinson, aged 10 years, Park road, Hastings. ® ® ® THE SHOW. Dear Chief Kiwi,—This week I am going to tell you about the day 1 had at the Show. 1 went with some friends and we left their place at about a quarter past ten. We went into town first and did some shopping, and had lunch. It was then a little after twelevc so we started for the Showground. We first of all went to see the flowers, fruit, cakes and butter. 1 thought some of the butter was beautiful because it was made up to resemble wreaths. I then went and saw some mats and baskets that were woven with straw. Then we thought that we had seen enough in the sheds, so I. went outside, where a man was selling dolls with fluff on them, for 3s each. I was going to buy one, but I thought they were too expensive. So we went and saw some men having a competition guessing how much some sheep weighed. Turning back I saw the horses jumping so I went over and watched them for some time until it was time to go, and have afternoon tea. Afterwards I went back and a lady bought we a doll on a walking-stick. There were no sideshows, and no merry-go-round, but 1 hope there will be some next time I go to the Show. 1 did not go to see the dog-trial but I waited in the car until one of our party came back. With best wishes. —Blue certificate to Esther Franklin, age 10, Box 75. Havelock North. & KARAMU ROAD. Our Karamu road is looking very gay at present, the men arc working very hard. They are as far as our place now and when it is finished it will be very nice and no mud for the winter, so every little girl and boy should never miss school. Thanking the borough Council for their good roads. —Red certificate to Joan Robertson, age 9 years, 1107 Karamu road. @> @> ® THE AGRICULTURAL SHOW. Dear Chief Kiwi,—Herp I begin once again, telling you about the Show. We got up about six o’clock and bustled around, got ready and away we went. When we got there we went through the sheds, then went back again and had our lunch. When we had finished our lunch we went and watched the jumping, which was very nice indeed. After that we had afternoon tea. I have not yet told you what 1 saw in the sheds. There was a plate of grapes, about as big as cherries, and a lot bigger, there were plenty of cakes too, and cucumbers, potatoes, beans, carrots, celery and persnips. Well, Chief Kiwi, as I think this is all can tell you, I will close now. —Orange certificate to Florence MeRobbie, aged 7 years. Box 86. Havelock North. Father. Mother, and little Tommy were in a tram-car. Mother and Tommy had secured scats, but poor Father had to stand. Mother. “Tommy, doesn’t it pain you to see your father reaching for a strap?” Tommy: “Only at home, Mum.” —Ruth Honsman, age 9 years, St. Aubyn street.

$ ® COMPETITION RULES. ® ® il) W’ite ia ink on one side of @ @ the paper only; (2) each entry on ($> a separate sheet, with name, age, $ and address beneath it; (3) age s£> must be under fourteen; (4) leave a margin of at least one inch on @> each page; (5) all entries must be your own ideas and not copiedss except the riddles and jokes (don’t send in more than one each of these); (6) stories to range from 100 to 400 words; (7) entries to be @ addressed “The Editor, Kiwi Com- @ petitions, The Tribune, Hastings;” (8) cash prizes are given alternate weeks to Juniors under 11 and @ @ Seniors 11 to 14; (9) cash prizes @ not awarded unless more than one @ @> entry. ® $ COLOURED CERTIFICATES. @ £s> Pink equals 4* marks, blue 3 fty $ marks, red 2 marks, orange 1 @ mark. When yoa have a total of gA 25 marks, send the certificates to @ the Chief Kiwi, care of- Tribune @ Office, marked “Kiwi Cards only.” $ A cash prize of 5/- will be awarded and the cancelled certificates returned as mementoes. ®> ®