Prize Essay

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 209, 21 August 1926, Page 12

Prize Essay

♦®*®*®*®*®*®*®*®*®* JUNIOBB. A TRIP TO ELSTHORPE. Dear Chief Kiwi.—This week I am going to tell you about a trip to Elsthorpe. One Thursday morning I set off with Dad in the lorry for Elsthorpe. After leaving Otane we went on for a few hours and then reached Patangata and went Across the new bridge. It is a lovely concrete bridge, with two places to pass other cars. Then the long pull up the hill is lovely. Toil can look back from the top and see the ranges covered with show, and the Tuki Tuki river. Before you get to the Elsthorpe store it is very pretty with bush each side of the road. We stopped and had some lunch. Then we continued our joyrney up the Valley road as far as Dad had to go. On each side of the road up the Valley there is manuka scrub growing and the fields are all springing up with new grass. In the bush we heard the bellbird calling out, and tiny fantails were flitting round about in the trees. Well. I frill close with love to the Kiwi band and yourself. —Prize of 2/6 to Jean Steven, age 10 years, Otane. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ COINC TO SCHOOL. Dear Chief Kiwi,—l am now going to tell you about what I see on the way to school. It is a long way from our place to school .and we sometimes ride the bike. The first thing I see is a plantation of flowering wattle, with its little balls of fluffy yellow, and the green leaves peering through here and there. I then pass on until I come to the paddocks of green grass, with the sheep contentedly grazing. One morning I saw a lovely little lamb running round with its mother. The next tiling I see is a lot of orchards with their trees covered with rosy apples slid green leaves. After leaving this behind I pass “on until I come to a number of lovely gardens, with Ctvirs of all colours. I soon see the schco.l. where I join my playmates. I wil close now, with love to you and your Kiwis. —Blue Certificate to Dorothy McRobbie, age 10 years, Box 6, Havelock North, ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ THE TIDE. Dear Chief Kiwi.—This week I am going to tell you about the tide. The r sing r :-u ’. lling ol the sea is called the tide- When the water is high up on the shore, we say that it is high tide; when it is far down we call it low tide. When the tide is coming m or rising on the beach, we say that it is flowing and when it is going back, we say that it is ebbing. Some days, perhaps about nine o’clock, it is high water, and the tide is just beginning to ebb. It goes back very slowly, hour by hour, and at three o’clock in the afternoon it is low water. Then the tide turns ,and the water creeps slowly up the beach, and then rolls back again twice every day. I will close now, with love to you and other Kiwis. —Blue Certificate to Hugh Norwell, age 8 years, Havelock North. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ MY BANTAM. Dear Chief Kiwi,—l will tell you about my little bantam. Mv bantam is called a huff, because she is yellowbrown in colour. I call her Mary Pickford, because she is very funny, and she will fly on to my head and stand there while 1 walk along. She is very tame, and will eat out of my hand/ She has feathers on her legs just like a pair of pants. 1 used to have a mate for her, and 1: name was Charlie Chaplin, but he died a little while ago. Every day I have to see that my bantam has plenty fa eat and. some nice clean water to

drink. I sometimes dig the ground in her run, and while I am digging she is always watching to see if 1 dig up any worms. When she sees one she makeg a dart for it, and before she swallows it she runs up and down the run, making a noise, to let me know that she has found one. I think I have told you all about Mary, so will close with love to all the Kiwis and yourself. —Blue Certificate to Elva Gigg, age 10 years, 404 E Southampton street, Hastings. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ AN OUTING WITH THE DRAGON. Dear Chief Kiwi,—One day the Dragon felt very lonely, so he came down to my place, and asked me if I would go out with him. I, of course, said yes ,and he seemed very peased. So 1 gbt ready while the Dragon looked around. When I was ready tie asked me where I would like to go. , 1 didn’t know, so 1 said, “Up town, first.” He said, “Very well, just where you please.’ When we got to town, to my surprise, the Dragon asked me what 1 would like him to buy for me. “Well, I don’t know,” 1 said. “Would you like me to buy you a little motor-car, and some canvas for a tent, and a doublebarrelled gun, and then we’ll go. for a picnic,” he said. “I do feel like a change from that stuffy old ‘Tribune’ office and especially from my food, which is paper and ink. I’m going to the baker’s to get some bread and buns.” After that we went to the shop and got some fish-hooks and lines. Then we jumped into my car and girted off. When we got there, I got out my gun, and we went into the bush, hoping to get a fine catch. Luckily we caught two rabbits and a hare. After that we went back and had something to Sat. Then we decided to go further along. We soon came to a river which we wanted to find to camp by, W'e pitched our tent and started fishing. Suddenly the Dragon said ha felt a tug on his line. I told himrto pull it in; but no sooner had I said so than he fell in himself. I then drew in my line and went to his rescue. After I had pulled him out I got his line out for him, and found he had caught a crab. The poor old fellow was so disgusted that he would not fish any more. Then we cooked his crab and had some bread. It made no difference to fiim without any butter, but it did to me. The next morning I wanted to have some more fishing, but the Dragon said that he was so lonely without Chief Kiwi that he must go back again. So we started off, and soon arrived at my place. 1 asked the Dragon if he would like me to ttake him back to the “Tribune” office, but he said he would rather walk. —Love to all the Kiwis, and some for vourself. —Blue Certificate to Colin Martin, age 8 years, 411 St. Aubyn street, Hastings. ♦♦ ♦ ♦ AN OUTING. Dear Chief Kiwi, —I am going to tell you of my trip to Mr Robson’s place. Mr Robson invited my father and the family to his place for the afternoon. 1 suppose you are wondering who Mr Robson is. He is the father of Tony, one of our Kiwis. We left home at half-past one. a great number of lambs frisking When we were nearly there we saw about. Three of them were black and the rest were all white. When we arrived there we were greeted by Mr Robson and his dog. After reaching the house, Tony showed my brother and me his pony, Mickie. We then played hide-and-go-seek till we were called in. to have afternoon tea. We enjoyed this very much, as we were hot after our game. Then we went and played with a football till it was time to come home. We got snuggled down in the ear and were soon on our way home. We reached home at half-past five. Soon we had tea. and when we had finished we were only too glad to get to bed. 1 must go to bed now, so I must close. With love and best wishes to the Kiwi band.

—Red Certificate to Mollie Hull, age 10 years, Box 76, Hastings,

A RABBIT. Dear Chief Kiwi,—This week I am going to tell you about a rabbit. The rabbit is a small, timid animal. It is built so that when danger is near it can run very quickly to its burrow. It has very long ears’, which it lays on its neck when it is running, but when it is listening it pushes them up to hear more plainly. On the tail underneath is a white tuft. It feeds either in the morning or in the evening, when it is quiet, and the grass has dew on it. It is very pleased if it happens to come across a vegetable garden with some cabbages and lettuces in it; the rabbit would pay visits until the owner of the property catches it. The rabbit likes to have its burrow on the side of a hill, and also to be facing the sun, and when we see a number of burrows together we call it a warren. The trappers wait until winter, and then the fur is much better. The fur is used to trim ladies’ coats, foir mats, and so on, A rabbit is used to make a pie. I will close, now, thanking you for the pink certificate you awarded me. —Red Certificate to Andrew Duncan, age 8 years, Te Mata road, Havelock North. ' * * * * A DAY IN THE BUSH. Dear Chief Kiwi, —This week I am going fo write about a day in the bush. When we woke up in the morning we ran to the window and drew up the blind to see what kind of a day we had for our adventure. You can imagine our delight when we saw the sky clear and the sun rising. We got dressed, had our breakfast, cut our lunches, and then we left. As we were walking along the road we were planning what we were going to do when we arrived there. At last, after a long, hot, dusty walk, we arrived at our destination. We looked for a shady spot to sit down and have some rest. We sat down under a big shady tree and listened to the birds singing. We also heard a tui, and we looked around and saw him on top of the tree under which we were sitting. After we had a rest we went for a walk and saw a great number of ferns, creepers, and wild flowers of all descriptions. We came to a little creek, in which we saw quite a number of little fish and tadpoles. The water looked very cheerful as it babbled over the stones, and we envied those little fish being able to swim about in the water. We then went and bad our lunch and another rest. After lunch we went and gathered some wild primroses and violets, and many beautiful kinds of fern. After a very happy day we anrived home, and after tea we went to bed. With love io yourself and other Kiwis. —Red Certificate to Gladys Kitt, age 10 years, Murdoch road, Hastings. ♦ * ♦ ♦ EXPLORING IN AFRICA. Dear Chief Kiwi,—l am going to imagine that I am an explorer in Africa. After a long sea voyage 1 arrived at Cape Town, where I got into the train, which took me a long journey into Central Africa, where 1 got off at a funny little station where the people were all black. I hired sonje of them as bearers. We went tramping alonv into the jungle, where we pitched camp and had supper from some birds which we had shot on the way. We lit fires all round the camp, so that the wild beasts would not attack us. All night we heard the lions roaring, and the mosquitoes were biting us. In the morning we went out hunting, when we were attached by a fierce leopard, which spring at me. 1 fired my gun at it, but 1 only wounded it. It started to run away, but we followed it up and shot it. Then we carried it to our camp and skinned it, and the skin made me a lovely rug. The next day we went deeper into the jungle. We shot an elephant and took its tusks for ivory. We .would listen to the monkeys chattering in the trees, and there were lots of beautiful birds, and we had a lovely time. Best wishes to all the Kiwis. 1 shall now close. —Orange Certificate to Billr Edwards, age 9 years, 601 Victoria street Hastings,.

f COMPETITION RULES. i> (1) Write In Ink on one side 1 of the paper only; (2) each entry 5 on a eeparate «heet. with name i age, and address beneath it; 1 (3) age must be under fourteen; i (4) leave a margin of at least J one inch on each page; (5) all i entries must be your own Ideas I and not copied — except the i riddles and jokes (don’t send In i more than one each of these); J (6) stories to range from too to i 400 words; (7) entries to be J addressed "The Editor, Kiwi i Competitions, The Tribune Hast, i ings;" (6) cash prizes are given 1 alternate weeks to Juniors under 4 11 and Seniors 11 to 14; (9) cash i prizes not awarded unless more i than one entry. ) 0 COLOURED CERTIFICATES. p Pink equals 4 marks, blue 3 5 marks, red 2 marks, orange 1 ? mark. When you have a total J of 25 marks, send the certificates to the Chief Kiwi, care ot the Tribune Office, marked "Kiwi 5 Cards only." A cash prize of 5/> p will be awarded and the cam » celled certificates returned as mementoes.

BOOKS. Dear Chief Kiwi,—l would like to write about books this week. What a funny old world this would be without books. They tell you all about the children in other countries and of people in the olden times, I best like reading about great ladies when they were children. Poetry and rhymes of pussy cats and doggies are nice to read about too. I like books better than any of my presents. With love to all other Kiwis. —Orange Certificate to Brightie Gray, age 8 feats, 804 Gordon road, Hastings. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ SCHOOL BALL, Dear Chief Kiwi,—This week I am going to tell you what we are having at school on Thursday night We are practising for the school fancy dress ball. We have the grand march and a lot of dances. It will be exciting when we get there on Thursday, with all the children in fancy dress. Some will be disguised and it will be hard to tell who they are. lam going in fancy dress. I will tell you next week what it is. It is a secret just yet. We are all very anxious to know, but Mum will not say just yet. Last year we did not go because it was raining too bard. I hope it is a nice night for it this time. Love to the Kiwi band. —Orange Certificate to Dorothy Stevan, age 9 years, Otane. * * ♦ ♦ KAURI CUM. Dear Chief Wiwi, —This week I am writing to you about the kauri gum. It is wonderful the way the gumdigger works. First of all he gets a spear and pushes it into the ground and when he strikes a piece of gum he gets his spade and digs until he gets it. When he has collected several pieces lie goes home. In the evening he washes it to take off all the dirt. Next day he takes it to the nearest market and gets a large sum of money for it. Thus lie continues; and thousands of men are employed. The price of gum averages from sixty to seventy pounds per ton. Most of the gum is 'found in Auckland, but it is very scarce. Well, 1 must close now. Best love to yourself and other Kiwis. —Orange Certificate to Lewis Clarke, age 9 years, 50OE Avenue road, Hastings. ♦ * ♦ * OUR PETS. Dear Chief Kiwi,—This week I am going to tell you about my sisters and my pets. We have have a cat and two birds. First of nil I will tell you about the cat. We call him Tiger, because he is like a tiger. He is nearly five years old, and he can fight. He won’t let any other cats come near the place. He does not like the cold at all, and as soon as he can get in he sits right by the fire, and if I happen to be sitting there, too, he jumps on my back mid curls round my neck. He does not mind how much the baby pulls him about; he never turns on her. 1 will tell you about the birds. They are canaries. One is a yellow one and the other is a mule, which is a cross between a canary and a goldfinch. The yellow one is mine and the dark one is my sister’s. 'They are such nice little things. At night my mother puts them in the washhouse. In the morning when she goes to put them out in the sun you should hear them chirp and sing. They do seem to pleased. They have to be hung high so the cats can’t get at them. I must thank you for the certificate you awarded me last week. With loro to you and all the Kiwis. —Orange Certificate to Ben Hunter. age 9 years, 208 Lovedale road, Hastings. * ♦ ♦ * OUR SCHOOL BALL, Dear Chief Kiwi,—On the lltli of this month the Mahora School held a plain and fancy dress ball in the Assembly Hall. I was that excited that I was overjoyed with merriment. I did not go in fancy dress, but that did not spoil my fun. The first thing that was held was the grand march. The dresses were beautiful. and made a pretty sight as the children all walked around. After that was over, polkas, barn dances, Sir Rogers, and Lancers took up most of the evening. The orchestra played beautiful music, but it was almost deadened by the noise the children made. After a while 1 began to get a little hungry. 1 went into the supper-room and sat down. The great long tables were decorated with flowers, and the plates were laden with jellies and cream, cakes and sandwiches, and many other things. After supper I fancied a drink, so I had a refreshing drink of raspberry and one of lemonade. The floor was cleared once or twice for the adults to have a dynce. Soon, however, II o’clock came and the. ball broke up. When we were coming home all the lights wont out, and we were left in the dark. When I reached home my sister and 1 just crawled into bed. 1 laid my head on the pullow, and in live minutes 1 was fust asleep. YoUr loving Kiwi. —Orange Certificate to Rosa Dixon, ' 103 Barden street, Jtestings.

PAPER. Dear Chief Kiwi,—This is the first time I have written to you, and I wish to join your happy band of Kiwis. Paper is one of the most useful of articles. If we ahd po paper we wouldn’t be able to write letters to far away countries. We use paper for many things—writing paper, books, newspapers, wrapping paper, and wallpaper, eto. Before people knew how to make paper they had to write on skins, slabs of wood or slates, bark, leaves of trees, or on soft clay, to be burned and hardened afterwards to preserve writing. Paper U made 'from rags straw, grass and wood-pulp and many other thingsThe rags are boiled, washed, bleached and shredded, then turned into paste or pulp. The pulp is pressed and dried, forming blotting paper. It is soaked in very fine glue, then dried and pressed between rollers. Vast quantities of paper are now made from wood-pulp, to make which large forests in certain countries, particularly in Canada, are cut down. There are many paper-mills in New Zealand. I must close now with love t n othe Kiwis and- yourself. Amy Mackay, age 10 years, 206 Lascelles street, Hastings. * ♦ * ♦ MY PONY. Dear Chief Kiwi,—As this is the first time I have written I will tell you about my pony. When we were up at Gisborne I had a pony of my own. We called her Creamy, as her coat was a beautiful cream colour. I and my brother rode four miles every day to school. When we left Gisborne I left my pony with my Uncle. We have only a little way to go- to school down here. I will now close with love to yourself fand all the other Kiwis. —Mavis Johnstone, age 10 years, Mangaterere, Rural Delivery, Hastings. P.S.—I am in Standard 111 at school. * * ♦ ♦ SWALLOWS. Dear Chief Kiwi,—l have not written to you for a .long time. This week I am going io tell you about swallows. Every winter swallows leave England to go to a warmer' country. One day as I was walking through the bush, I saw a swallow sitting on a branch of a tree all by himself. Over in another tree there were a number of his acquaintances. I imagined 1 heard him calling to them and saying “Winter is coming on and it’s about time we flew away to a warmer country.” So the next day they set off for their long journey. When they arrived there they made up their minds to build their homes, so they scattered in all directions to find suitable places to build their nests. After they have found a place, they make a pulpy nest with a substance of of their mouths and then they go into the bush or some warm place until their nests have been hardened, and then they settle down to lay their eggs. Swallows are little birds. They are something like a minah. When the cold weather comes again they fly back to England. - -Nonna Maulder, age 10 years, 1001 I’lunket street, Hastings. ♦ * ♦ ♦ OUR SCHOOL PICNIC. Dear Chief Kiwi,—l am writing about our school picnic. We went to Hakawai river, in the bush, and on our way one of the boys on the top hit Iris nose on a branch, and it bled till we got there. When we arrived we put our lunch down and had a look about. Then we took our shoes and socks off and had a puddle in the river. Two men came ami put planks over the river. Then we had lunch. After that we went oyer to the hills, and all over the hills were thorns. Then we had afternoon tea. When we got home wo were all tired and glad when bedtime came. Love to all the Kiwis. —Elsie Atkins, age 10 years, Meeanee. * ♦ ♦ ♦ OUR SCHOOLMASTER’S SENDOFF. Dear Chief Kiwi,—This week I am going to write about our schoolmuster’s send-off. It was on a Friday night at half-past seven. My father was doorkeeper. When we got in the room was beautiful. It had Chinese lanterns hanging up, also pretty paper. After we had supper they let the paper fall, and when the candles burnt out the lanterns got on fire and fell down on the floor. We had confetti thrown over the people while they were dancing. 1 must tell you that I enjoyed myself very much. We had confetti all over us. We went home at one o’clock. Well, that is all I have to say. Love to yourself and other Kiwis. —Grace Atkins, age 8 years, Meeanee. * * ♦ * A CALF. Dear Chief Kiwi—l would like to join, the Kiwi band. lam writing about a calf. My mother's name is Peggy. When I wa s born they put me into a shed and fed me on milk I had a nice bed of straw to sleep on. My name is D. ir When I grew older I was in a paddock near the house. In this paddock another calf. Its name was Nartcy. Now lam old and am in the paddock with my mother. My horns have grown. Love to all Kiwis. —Richard Atkins, age 8 years, Meeanee. ♦ ♦ ♦ * “Stop!” cried the man in the road. “You are exceeding the speed limit!” “That’s nil nonsense.” retorted Blinks, bringing his car to a standstill. “Thats what they all say,” said the man in the road, climbing into the car. “You can tell your story at Hinktown—just seven miles up the road. Start along, please.” They drove on in silence to Hinktown, where as tlio car drew up in front of the courthouse, the man got out. “Much obliged for the lift,” said he. “You can settle that matter ot speed with the magistrate, if you want to. As a stranger in these part I don’t think my word Would go f much.” ''..■range Certificate to Ronald Norwell, age 12 years, Havelock North.

SENIORS. WHERE OUR FOOD COMES FROM. Dear Chief Kiwi,—My essay this week is about our food and where it comes from. Perhaps few of us realise what exertions people have in obtaining and preparing our food. We in New Zealand are very lucky, for we can procure perfectly fresh meat at any time we wish, while in England many people have to eat meat that is many weeks old. Also, butter and cheese are exported, so we can buy them fresh, too. _ Wheat farming is another flourishing industry, while many farmers grow oats and potatoes. One more progressing industry in New Zealand is orcharding, especially apples and pears. Now that I have told you some of the most important foods grown here I shall tell you what process they go through, as far as I know. For meat, a farmer might take some sheep to Paki Paki freezing works, and have them killed and put in the freezing chamber or sent to a butcher’s shop, from Which we buy the meat. Dairy farming is carried on a good deal in Taranaki. Some people when they have a few cows make their own butter, but a dairy farmer often sends his cream to a butter factory, or has one of his own. In the factory the cream is poured into a churn, which is turned by machinery, and left there till it is made into butter. When a farmer wishes to grow wheat or oats, he ploughs and harrows his ground well and then leaves it until about September, when he sows Iris seed. By harvesting season the wheat is reaped and bound, left in the fields for a while, and then threshed. After having been threshed the wheat is sent to a mill, were it is crushed into flour. ..These farmers often make great profit, for one grain of wheat might produce an ear of sixty grains. Orcharding has a promise of bringing to New Zealand much wealth, especially in the Hawke’s Bay and Nelson districts. This industry is practically the same as wheat-growing, but young trees are planted, and take longer to grow. New Zealand is not altogether independent of other countries for her food.. For instance, tea is not grown here, but in China and India, neither is rice, which is also grown in India. Besides tea anti rice, sugar is not produced in New Zealand, but has to he imported, usually from Fiji and 'Queensland. Many favourite fruits such as bananas and pineapples, do not grow here because the climate is too cold. Well, Chief Kiwi, lam sure you will agree with me that we are lucky to be able to procure all our food so easily, and from the British Empire. With much love. —Blue Certificate to Bcb Brathwaite, age 11 years, Havelock North. ♦ * ♦ ♦ A GUIDE PICNIC. Dear Chief Kiwi, —This week I am writing about a picnic with the Guides. Last Easter a lady asked us out to her home in Okawa for a picnic. Punctually at half-past nine, some other Guides and myself met outside the Post Office, where four large 'buses awaited us. Our company climbed in one of these lorries and occupied the whole space. The driver then started, and we were off on our way to Okawa and to the long looked for picnic. As we jogged merrily along, singing snatches of songs, we noticed and admired the beautiful scenery about us, thinking what a beautiful camping ground some of it would make. By half-past eleven we reached Okawa, and there met other Guides. The Napier Guides and some others arrived after us. Wo all went over to the ones that had arrived earlier, and were told, that we were going to have races. After taking our shoes and stockings off we prepared for thread-the-needle race. This proved to be very exciting, as it is hard to thread a needle when one is in a hurry, isn’t it, Chief Kiwi? The sack race then followed. I did not enter for this, but it was very funny to see a Guide go two or three yards and then topple over, jump up again and resume for another two yards and fall over again. Several other games followed, each equally exciting. We were then told that we could go for a swim in a small stream which flowed near-by. With eager haste we ran down to it, am! hurriedly donned our bathing suits. How cold it was! We soon got used to it. and after following the stream for n quarter of a mile we went back. When we arrived back we dressed, and while doing so we heard the gong (a kerosene tin) for tea and in a few minutes we rushed up the banks to where the other Guides were seated. After tea each was given a paper cracker, and before very long the air was rent with many bangs as the crackers were being pulled. The presents were then given out, aftei' which we sang “For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” and prepared for home. On the way back we sang songs until we reached the Post Office. It was now six o’clock, and after declaring that we had had a lovely day we went home. —Red Certificate to Jean Ebbett, age 14 years, 204 Townshend street, Hastings. ♦ ♦ * * MY VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND. Dear Chief Kiwi, —This is the first time I have written to you, as I have only just arrived in New Zealand. I am writing to you about my pleasant voyage across the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean.. On July 2nd we left Southampton, and at 5 o’clock that evening .(Frißay) we passed Land’s End. The sun was shining on the blue sea, and the clouds formed figures of animals and people. At sunset the west was too poetical for words. At nine o’clock we went to bed. and the lights went out at ten o’clock. We steamed on and on, and for a week the sea was like liquid mud. without ripple on the whole ocean. On Wednesday morning (7th July) we arrived safely at Curacao, an island which is 32 miles long and about six miles across. We entered the harbour and arrived at a very pretty and picturesque place. We landed for two hours after paying 2/-. The place had an evil smell clinging to it. The oil fuel is brought over from the mainland of Venezuela, which is in South America. We came back to the boat, called Rotorua, and we started off again. The vessel arrived at 6.3(1 p.m. at Colon (Panama Canal) on July 17th. We landed the next day at Balboa, which will be described in next week’s essay. 1 must now close with love to yourself and other Kiwis.. —Red Certificate to Violet Taylor, age 12 years, c/o Mrs J. Kitt, Murdoch road, Hastings,

A DAY AT PANAMA CANAL. I Dear Chief Kiwi,—The day dawned ’ bright and sunny, and I was up like a lark. Everyone wag on deck, tak- ( ing a good view of the surround- i ings, and when the eight o’clock breakfast bell went, we did not fee) like muc hbreakfast. As soon as breakfast was over we hurried into our cabins to put our best and lightest clothes on, because it was very hot there, it being in the tropics. We again hurried up on deck and waited for the gangways to be put down. We had some friends off the boat with us, so that we made quite a crowd ,and. hiring a car in which to make an all-round tour of Panama, we set off. We had not gone very far when I saw in an open geld a building very much the same as oui grandstand, sloping upwards, with rows of seats and with no sides, but just a roof. We asked the drivel what it was, and he said it . was a school and that instead of writing on slates the children wrote on pieces of white wood, and wrote with black chalk. We arrived at the town in about ten minutes, and drove slowly through some of the very narrow’, dirty-looking' streets. We' passed a fish shop, the fish being nearly covered with flies, and next to it was a barber's shop, having no front, and everybody had a good look in to see whose hair was being cut. Coming into a cleaner part of the town we went into a refreshment shop and had a glass of lemonade, with lumps of ice floating about in it, and it was delicious. Having quenched our thirst, we again got into the car, and started off. We drove out into the suburbs, passing banana plantations ,and fields of maize, and J tasted the mango fruit, something like an orange only much sweeter, and I did not like them a bit. We were driven up on to a high hill, from which we had a splendid view of the surrounding country, and we could see our steamer lying beside the wharf. I will conclude my story next week. With best love to yourself and all the other Kiwis. —Red Certificate to Winnie Cook, age 13 years 50 St. Aubyn street, Hastings. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ WHAT LAURIEN’S KINDNESS TURNED INTO, Dear Chief Kiwi,—How Laurien’s little heart ached for the poor crippled orphan girl living in the village. Many a time Laurien had seen this girl ill-treated by the village children. Laurien’s parents were very rich, so of course Laurien’s picket money was liberal. Being a kind-hearted girl, she decided to save up her money and buy some clothes and food for this crippled girl. At last the time came when she had enough money, sf going to town one day, Laurien bought some very comfortable clothes and the remainder of the money was spent >n nourishing food. On reaching the cottage where the orphan and her old nurse lived, Laurien presented the articles, much to the gratification of the two inmates “Oh! Laurien, you should not have done such a thing,” exclaimed the cripple, who had known Laurien for some time. “Not at all,” replied Laurien, “I can afford it. I would be selfish to think o fonly myself.” “Ah, well, I suppose go; but only if I had money enbugh to cure my crippled . leg,” sighed Phillipa (for that was her name), and two large tears rolled down her wan, pretty face. “Never mind ” said Laurien, “let’s hope all will turn out air right in the end.” Laurien left the cottage a little while later, and on arriving home he parents demanded to know where she had been, so Laurien modestly told them all about her kind action. Her parents were that impressed with their little girl’s doings that they decided that night to help the cripple girl Pillipa too. So Laurien’s father had Phillipa cured, and he adopted her as well; so Phillipa and her oldnurse went to live with Laurien, and weren’t they happy! Ah. Chief Kiwi, if only every little boy and girl would be kind to the poor and crippled like Laurien was, what a happy world it would be. With best love to yourself and the Kiwis. —Red Certificate to Irene Albiston, age 14 years, 505 Lascelles street, Hastings. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ OUR PAPER-CHASE, Dear Chief Kiwi, —I have not written to you for some time, so this week lam sending an essay. lam sorry that I could not be there to see the printing machine, but I hope Sir Printer will ask us in again before I am fourteen years of age. The reason why I could not go was because all our people had the ’flu, but I hope you did not get it. Well. Chief Kiwi, I shall start on my essay on “Our Paper Chase.” One'Thursday night our teacher told us we were going to have a paper-chase, and that we were to bring a lot of paper to school next day. When we had our lunch the next afternoon, we began cutting and tearing up a lot of paper. As there were not a lot of us. only four could go in the lead and four to follow. Then we started. Two of we elder girls carried a school-bag full of paper. We dropped pieces of paper here and there along the paddocks, sometimes making false tracks. Just as we were going along the side of a hill my 'mate said she heard someone calling, and she said it so loudly that the followers heard, and it gave the show away for a time. But we dodged out of sight again. As we went across a creek and up a hill into a plantation, we ran out of paper. Then our followers came over a hill, and we all went off together to see a large waterfall. After that we went for a walk through the paddocks and saw some more such lovely waterfaflls and creeks. We were going up on to our largest hill, but we were a little frightened of some cattle. Then we started home again by a different track, and we arrived at the school much sooner. After having found what our home-work was we went joyfully home. If the Dragon reads this he may want to have a paper-chase himself with our essays. With best wishes. —Red Certificate to Esther Franklin, age 11 years, Box 75, Havelock North. ♦ * * * PAPER MANUFACTURE. Dear Chief Kiwi,—l think paperi making is a very interesting subject to write about. There are various methods of making paper, one of which is from wood and another from rags. It is the former 1 wish to speak about this week. In the forest the sound of the axe and saw may be beard ringing through the trees. Hard at work, men seem small in comparison to the mighty giants that tower overhead. The logs later on

are then taken down to the river on huge waggons. By the force of the water thev are carried along to the paper mills, where thev are placed on > rollers, going through different processes until they are ground into I pulp. Then, again it goes through i wonderful machinery, where it passes from one condition to another until I it becomes paper. During a certain < wocess the machinery travels so ast that if a minute is lost, caused yards may be wasted. Thus the men >y the paper breaking, hundreds of have to be very alert in case of a breakage. The wood, now turned into paper is rolled on to huge spools afterwards being delivered to the printing offices all over the world. The daily newspaper is then printed on it, but we do not realise what amount of hard labour and thought has been expended before it reaches us. Thank you for correcting my title and also awarding die a certificate. —Orange Certificate to Harley Bates, age 12 years, 2048 Market street, Hastings. ♦ ♦ * ♦ SPRING. Dear Chief Kiwi, —I have chosen Spring for my subject this week. In. New Zealand the Spring months are August, September and October. In spring the days begin to get longer and warmer. The sun moves southwards in the spring-time, and on the 22nd September is overhead at the equator. This makes the days equal to the nights, and then the days begin to increase in length and warmth. What a difference Spring makes to the plant and bird life. The trees sprout, the willows turn a tender green, and the flowers begin to bud. Spring flowers are plentiful, some of them are daffodils, jonquils,' jasmine, magnolias, and narcissi. The Sass begins to get fresh and green, e birds begin to build their nests and to sing more joyously. There are frequent showers, which freshen the plants, and te beautiful lights and shadows of the showery sky light up the earth. The farmers are also busy ploughing and breaking up land and getting the grain ready for root crops. The farmer also has some early shearing to do. Spring is the lambing season. Next week lam writing on Summer. Love to all the Kiwi pack and ypurself. —Orange Certificate to Nola Marshall, age 12 years 403 E Southampton street, Hastings. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ A FOOTBALL MATCH. Dear Chief Kiwi, —As I have not written to you for a long time. I thought I would write about the above title; At ten o’clock my friend called round for me to see the Hawke’s Bay versus Wellington football match at Napier. As soon aa ■ we reached the bus stand there was a great crowd of people waiting for the bus to come in. As soon as it came in there was a great rush for seats. Mv friend and I were lucky enough to get one. Very soon the bus started off, and we were on our way to Napier. After going along the Parade for some time, the bus stopped, and we got out and walked to the football grounds. After reaching there we procured our seats, and sat there to wait for the curtainraisers to start, the first being Tuadale versus Marists, Taradale being the winners, the next being Napier versus East Coast, of which East Coast won. . At last half-past-two. ' came, and the two teams lined up to cheer each other. Very soon the game began, and it was very hard and fast. One of Wellington’s men getting offside in the front of Hawke’s Bay’s goal, Nepia put over a penalty kick, which counted three points. At half-time the score was 24 t onil. After some very exciting play the game ended, the score being 58 to 8. After the match was finished I returned home, glad that Hawke’s Bay had won. —Orange Certificate to Mickie Hull, age 11 years Box 76, Hastings. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ AHOLIDAY ON MY UNCLE'S FARM. Dear Chief Kiwi,—lt was the day before the beginning of the Christmas holidays when I hurried home from school with a bag of books. To my surprise there was an invitation for me. It was from my cousin, who asked me to spend the holidays. Early next morning when everything was ready, I started off. After having bought a ticket and a book to read on my journey, I took m.v seat in the train. Having arrived at the nearest station. I was met by my cousin. From here to her house was seven miles, which we rode on horseback. As I was not used to riding, I could not ride very fast. We arrived at the house at three o’clock. After having afternoon tea 1 went to watch my uncle shearing. It was very interesting to me to see the men sorting out the wool and also how they sheared diem. At half-past four 1 went to watch my cousins milking the cows. After this I saw my uncle separating, and then went with him to feed the pigs. He was up at 1 half-past three in the mornings, and about eight every morning my cousin ’ and I left for town. Every night I would take the pony down to the well to get a drink, and whenever ' I went into the paddock it would run after me. We also had much fun in 1 looking for fowls’ nests and getting : the eggs from under the wood neaps. : We used to follow’ my uncle when he was reaping, and have races with him. One day I watched him kill a > pig, which he cured, and then ate it 1 as bacon. When the time came for ’ me to go home I did not feel like I parting with them. I must close now, with love to your--1 self and other Kiwis. I —Elsie Kitt, age 13 years. Murf doch road, Hastings. ♦ ♦ ♦ * i SUNRISE. J Dear Chief Kiwi,—The world is j wrapped in silence when the herald , of the day breaks forth into a loud 5 crowing, which tells us that night is graddally breaking into day. When ] there has been a frost during the r night we find dawn bringing a white world to greet us, with the sun’s first ray’s golden tints glistening on ’ it. Away to the east there is to be seen a beautiful sky, tinted with gold and red and blue hues. In the fields we see the little lambs frisking around with the sun chang- ’ ing their fleeces with the beautiful 1 colour of gold. The meh and Women are soon starting their day’s work, and the world is awake. The birds are singing their morning songs, and the wild beasts arc roaming through the forest. As the sun journevs across the sky it becomes stronger - . and brighter. After their work is t done the people go indoors to rest, t The sun’s work is also done, and it f slowly sinks to rest in its bed behind 1 the western hills. The birds stop > singing, and silence once more reirns t over the land. t I will now close, thanking you for the certificates, which I received safe < and sound on Thursday. t —lnez Holdsworth, age 12 years, i Lyndon road, Hastings,

DANGERS OF THE ROAD. Dear Chief Kiwi,—This week I will * write on the dangers of the road. When the roads of New Zealand were first made, only slow vehicles, such as the coach and people on horseback were meant to travel on them, as the roads were narrow and dangerous,, for they wound in and out the many hills and mountains in New Zealand. If was when ears had been invented that people began to realise that accidents were more frequent, and that the lives of the pedestrians were in danger, not only in the big cities, but also in the country, as cars travel about thirty or forty miles an hour. Much danger also lies on the railway crossing, and, in spite of bells and signals, many lives are Jost by cars crashing into a train, the car getting the worst of it. There are rules which say that a car must keep to the left side of the road, so that when a foot passenger wishes to cross the road to the opposite side, it is wise to look to the right first, as that is the way they are coming on your side; then to the left, as that is* the way they are coming on the opposite side. Then, instead of walking diagonally across it is safer to walk straight, so that you are not on the road so long, and therefore in lees danger. Many dogs are run over, but it is mostly their own fault, as they chase the oars everywhere. However, we should all try to avoid accidents, and - believe the motto “Safety First.” 7 With love to the Kiwi Nest, —Max Littlejohn, age 13 years, 816 Dufferin street, Hastings. * * * * A JOURNEY. BY NIGHT. Dear Chief Kiwi,—One Sunday last summer we went with some friends for a picnic to Poureru beach. After spending an enjoyable day we left for home. After we had been motoring for a while we came to Patangata, where we got out for some fresh air. When we left Patangata we went up some very steep hills, and before we were very far we were amidst tike darkness. When we looked out of the windows of the car down into the gullies, we saw the sheep’s eyes, which looked like small electric lights. Going round the bends we did not know whether the road continued to the left or right until tlie lights of the car reflected on the ground. We were glad to come out of the hills on to the level road again. When we came to Havelock we began to feel we were getting near home. About ten o'clock we turned into the street where we live, and in a few minutes we were saying “good-bye” to our friends. Almost as soon as my head touched the pillow I was fast asleep after the fiftty-mile journey each way. —Rose Gallien, age 12 years, 608 Brunswick road, Hastings. ♦ ♦ ♦ * A STORM, Dear Chief Kiwi,—My subject for this week is about a storm. One fine day my father and I went out to sea in a small boat to fish. After we had a quantity of fish in the boat the sky becaqie black with clouds. When ire saw this blackness we starUA forthome as quickly as we could, but Before we were half-way the rain came down in torrents, and the sea became dirty. Knowing that a storm had started, we pulled harder and harder at the oars, but all in vain. Although we had »o mariner’s compass, we found out later that we had drifted towards Wellington instead of Napier. We were blown all over the place in the sen. We never knew when we might hit a rock, our boat split into pieces and leave us on the rock to perish. However ,after we ware battling for many hours with the rough sea, we were blown ashore, and landed on the beach with a crash. When we were wandering about, we found out that we were in the south of Hawke’s Bay. Although we did not land at Napier, we were very pleased to land where we did. We went as soon as 1 we could, and sent a telegram to ' my mother, telling her what had happened. Without delay, my father and 1 went to a station and took the first train home. When we arrived home mv mother was very glad to see us .and gave us a good dinner. After we bad been talking for some time my mother became angry because we had no fish for tea. The next time we wept out we had good luck. I will close now, with best wishes : to you and the other Kiwis. 1 —Ronald Norwell, age 12 years, ■ Havelock North. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ CONVERSATION BETWEEN A BEE AND AN ELEPHANT. i ' Dear Chief Kiwi,—This week I am 1 going to tell you about a Bee and ’ an Elephant having a conversation. Well, one morning a Mr Elephant was 1 having his breakfast when Mr Bee ‘ settled on his ear. ; “Hey, get off that!” said the Elephant. 1 “Wait a moment,” said the Bee\ 1 “I have something to tell you.” ’ “Buzz off, then.” “I’m glad to see you, and if you 1 can’t see me, you had better buy 1 glasses.” 1 “I’ve got some. Had to buy them 5 to see the last lot of honey you sent ■ me.” 9 “What was the matter with itP” “It was a very small lot for its ' a g e ” “I sent you a small lot on pnr- ’ pose.” “You dare to admit it?” “Yes. You've grumbled so much about my honey that I seilt you a small lot" to give you less to grumble s about.” I “And is that why you sent nine I pounds instead of ten?” t “No that was to do you a favour.” a “Funny sort of favour. Explain a yourself.” e “Well, one of the ten pounds was s bad. so 1 threw it away for you.” a “Bah! You’re getting unpopular e in this town.” II “Really! How is that?’’ n “You’ve been puttingon too many s ‘airs’ since you got your new buzzer.” “1 bought that to amuse myself. So I good-bye!” a —W. Maxwell Miller, age 12 years, ;, Duart road, Havelock North, d ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ II s “Why did you strike the tele, r graph operator?” the judge asked the s negro. “Well, yo’ honah,” said the culprit, t “it was just like this. 1 hands him 1 a telegram for mail girl, an’ he starts p in reftdin 1 it ; so I just nachurally s ups an’ hands him one.” -Red Certificate to Miriam Junes, r agb 11 years, Orchard road. Has* e tings.