From the Kiwi’s Nest

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 206, 15 August 1927, Page 8

From the Kiwi’s Nest

COMPETITIONS FOR OUR YOUNG FOLKS

The following Kiwi Essays were unavoidably held over from Saturday’s issue:—

beau geste. Dear Chief Kiwi,—Thank vou very much for the certificate vou awarded me. This week lam going to tell you about the picture I went to see called Beau Gesje. Three brothers. Beau. Digbv and John Geste. lived with their cousin Isobel and their Aunt Patricia in an old house in England. The brothers were very fond of each other. «nd their cousin and they often plaved at soldiers and sailors around the lake. One clay ns Digby was wading into the lake to get one of the ships, he ent his knee, and as ho did not when his brothers cut the stone out. thev called him “Stout Fella” The boys’ aunt had a precious blue water diamond, which she sells to an 'lndian prince so ns to have monev to educate the children Fifteen years later, when the bovs are grown up. their uncle writes to say he must sell the blue water (he does not know his wife has already sold it). Love to the Kiwi band. (To be continued.) —Joan Carlton, age 10 years. GO" Charles street. Hastings. F F * F A FIRE AT SEA. Dear Chief Kiwi, —This time I am going to tell you about a lire at sea. One calm afternoon, while on a voyage to Australia, 1 heard a man shouting, and on ray going on deck to see what was the matter. 1 was astonished to see the deck in flames. It was of no use to try to attempt to put the fire out, because it had too good a hold. What we were going to do nobody knew, so the captain ordered the lifeboats to he lowered and all who could to get into them. There were about 200 passengers on the boat but only half of them could get in the lifeboats 1 wondered if 1 were to be drowned in the sea or perish in the flames, because 1 was one of the ones left behind. I was about to give up hope, when I heard someone calling out, and coming towards me I could see a big steamer. We were all on board, when — Crash 1 Had we been a minute later we would have perished. The burning vessel broke into a thousand pieces, and was left to its fate. Love to yourself and all the other Kiwis. P.S. I forgot to thank you for the 2/6 you awarded me. —Olive Cosgrove, nge 13 -ears. 1004 Outram road. Hastings * * * * A DREAM ABOUT OUR BALL Dear Chief Kiwi,—l am going to tell you about a dream I had one night. Unfortunately on the night of the Hastings Central School hall I was ill. I soon got tired of reading a book, so in a little while I fell asleep. When asleen I could see all the excited children running about in the hall. At 7.45 the children got in their places for the grand march. I could see the bovs and girls dancing round in. their fancy dresses. Soon followed Sir Roger, which, it seemed. wa s liked ugst of all. I saw prizes given for the best fancy dresses. The next scene was th© Maypole ft looked beautiful as the ribbons of many different colours crossed the other, while the children gaily skipped around. There was the fox trot, polka, and barn dance. , Soon I woke, feelmg ns happy ns if I had been to the ball. I will now draw to a close. With best love. —Mollie Hull, age 11 years. Box 76, Hastings. ♦ * ♦ ♦ AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN OLD COWSHED. 1 — Dear Chief Kiwi, —I am an old cowshed. For many years my master used me for milking sixteen cows in, but in a few veal's he found that the dairy farm was too much of a tie. So he bought some more land and went in for sheep farming. Then 1 had to look after myself. Soon the wind blew a board off the side of me and blew it up against th© fence Things went on all right for a little while until the latch blew off the door The strong gale blew the door back and forward until the hinges blew off, and then it fell into the mud. Then two or three more boards came off. One day two naughty little bovs came with an axe and chopped a hole in my side. Then I was rocked back and forward in the wind. I suddenly blew into a gully, and was left there to rot One morning my master came to see me. hut all he found were a few old piles and a cement floor. Thank vou for the 1/- vou forwarded to me last week. —Dawn Lammas, age 10 rears, G.P.0.. Dannevirke ♦ MY MUSIC. Dear Chief Kiwi, —This is the first time I have written to you. I am going to tell you about mv music lesson. Igo twice a week—on Mondays and Thursdays It is very nice learning music. I also learn theory, but 1 do not like it much. The names of my books are Whitney’s, and there are about seven pieces in them. The other is a Smallwood book. Sometimes I go on Saturday at 2 o’clock. Love to all the Kiwis. —Eileen Keys, age 11 years. 1004 Outram road. Hastings. # # » Peter: “Do you think this medicine will do me good?” Pan: “Yes, if you follow directions; ‘Keep bottle tightly corked.’ ” —Orange Certificate to Manrice Smyth, age 6 years, R.D., Mangateretere, Hastings.

A WALK ON A WET DAY. Dear Chief Kiwi, —What can be more delightful than a walk in the rain? Last Saturday my sister and I donned our raincoats and set out to explore the creek which runs past our house. Owing to the heavy rain it was in flood, and was rushing along at a fine rate. We paddled along the edge for a long way. but as we could not see where the deep places were, we bad to be very cairjful. We saw many pretty waterfalls tumbling down the sides of the gully into the creek One especially reminded me of a picture I hal seen of the Niagara Falls of America. Bv this time we were rather wet. so after playing about for a while we started off for home, arriving there feeling very refreshed after our walk. Well. Chief Kiwi. I must close now, with love to all. Thank vou for the certificate vou awarded me. —lris White, age 11 years. Box 129, Havelock North.

* ♦ ♦ * OUT IN A FLOOD. (Imaginary.) Dear Chief Kiwi,—This week 1 am writing about a storm. The sun was shining in the sky. but there were dark clouds overhead. Mother sent me to town to do th© messages. When I was about to leave the town great drops of water began to fall. I thought 1 would wait a while in town. 1 waited two hours The people were getting fewer and fewer, until there were about six or seven people walking up and down the streets. The water began to rise, and so I thought 1 would go home. As I went the water reached up to my ankles. 1 saw an empty house close by. so I went and stood on the verandah Soon the water rose until it was up to the verandah As luck happened, th© door was unlocked, so I opened it and ran up the stairs. I waited for a while, and then I thought the house might be swept awav as it was an old one I clambered downstairs and out into the cold. As soon as I reached 1 the gate the house was swept along at a terrific pace. I scrambled up a tree, and was quite safe, and a boat came along anti took me home. I must close now. Love to yourself and other Kiwis —Gladys Kitt, age 11 years. Murdoch road. Hastings. * * * * HOW JACK AND JILL FOUND A NEW HOME. (Imaginary.)

Dear Chief Kiwi,—Once upon a time there lived in a cosy house. Jack and Jill and their mother. Jack and Jill used to do the garden while their mother did the house. One stormy night, while Jack. Jill and their mother were all sitting around a cosy fire they heard one. two. and three knocks. Of course, they all wondered who it was. Jack went to the door, and opened it. and in came an old woman, drenched to the skin. She said that she had brought a sad message to them. Then she told them that within a week they had to get out of their house. When she was going out of the door she called Jack, and she put in his hand an old bean. Une morning when Jack and Jill were going home with a bucket of water they stumbled and fell down the hill, and then Jack lost his bean The next morning Jack looked out the windok, and saw a huge tree. He woke Jill, and showed her the tree. She said that it must be magic. So they went outside and started to climb the tree. (To be continued.) —lris Harding, age 12 years. 410 E Queen street, Hastings. ♦ ♦ * ♦ MY KITTEN. Dear Chief Kiwi,—l have not written to you for a long time. This week I am going to tell you about iny kitten. I call him Tippy. Every morning when we wake up he hears us talking and he jumps up on the window and calls out. because he wants to get in. I have to get up and let him in. and when Dad comes in with the milk I give him a drink. He comes every night and sits on my knee, but when he goes to sleep I put him outside. When we are in bed he jumps up on the window and sleeps there. He is a grey and black kitten with green eyes. —Dorothy Steven, age 10 years. °tane. * ♦ * * THE TRAIN ACCIDENT. Dear Chief Kiwi, —Thank vou for the certificate you awarded me. This week I am gong to tell you about the accident. My father has been up to Ngaio and Khandallaji transhipping mails all day, He goes away very early and get home very late a night. It was a terrible train accident, and it was lovely that the little girls were saved I: intended to tell vou this week about the silver paper, but as the other little Kiwi has told you, 1 will stop. I have a little siuver paper, which I will send to you . I sent the rest to Fairiel, I will save up for you both. I think it is lovely it can be used for such a good cause. My sister and I have been saving all the silver paper we could get for the last 12 months, to see who could get the prettiest lot. We had a nice lot. and I am glad it has come in useful. With love to you and the Kiwis. _ —Doris Golding, age 10 years. 165 Wadestown road. Wellington. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Smith: “Your wife—er—if I may say so, was a perfect picture in church this morning.” Brown: H’m, well the frame cost me just forty-five pounds.” —Orange Certificate to Fred Harrison, age 8 years, Fitzroy Avenue, Hastings.

A RAMBLE IN THE BUSH. Dear Chief Kiwi,—One fine morning at half-past six some friends and I started out for a ramble in the bush. When we were nearing the forest the faint sound of distant bells was heard among the trees. We at once said that the sound came from the bell-bird. My friends wanting to see this interesting bird, ran forward and began to look inquiringly into the leafy crests of the giant kauris. After a few minutes searching I convinced them that the bird had gpne. We then resumed our journey looking interestedly at the enormous giant of the forest and then at the creepers and ferns growing amongst the carpets of moss. Gay-plumaged birds darted here and there or nestled on a branch of a tree. Soon afterwards my friends said that they were tired, so we returned home to tell our mates what we had seen. I shall now close with best wishes to all the Kiwi band. —Orange Certificate to I.eighton Patmore, age 11 years, 911 Albert street, Hastings. ♦ * ♦ ♦ A SHIP WRECK. Dear Chief Kiwi,—Thank you for the red certificate you awarded me last week. 1 will uow continue my

essay. All at once the little boat was lifted up on a huge wave and the little, crew was carried towards the clifl at a great speed. The dashing breakers kept on washing over the deck, so that they had to leave the Water Lily stranded on the shore. Martin then began to scale the cliff. Taking a rope with him, he tied it to the trunk of a tree, and then lowered it to the crew below. “Well 1 1 think we were lucky to get out of that so well,” said Peter, as they stood in safety on top of the cliff. “I think the best thing we can do now, is to find some shelter where we can pass the night.” After a while they found, about a hundred yards away, a clump of trees which would make a cosy nook for them to sleep. They made themselves as comfort, able as thev could, and it was not long before all fell asleep, tired out with the adventures of the day. Well, I will close now with love and best wishes to you and all the Kiwis. - Orange Certificate to Edna Mor-

A STUDY IN NATURE. Dear Chief Kiwi,—Thank you for the red certificate you awarded me last week. Isn’t Nature wonderful, when you think of it? One sunny morning as I sat on the verndah, 1 listened to eveiy little murmur. Just after the dew had fallen on the spider webs I watched them glisten in the sunlight. 1 was feeling so hot when a little breeze began to blow- Little buds are peeping out on the fruit trees. One day when 1 looked at the peach trees they were not quite in bloom. Two or three days after 1 looked at them again. Behold, they were all out in flower! Nature study is what 1 like to learn about. Love to yourself and all. —Red Certificate to Joan Wilson, age 10 years, Pakowhai road, Hastings. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ IN BED WITH THE MUMPS.

Dear Chief Kiwi,—Thank you for the blue certificate you awarded me a fortnight ago. inis week t Have chosen, “In Bed with the Mumps.” When J woke up on Saturday my face was very stiff and sore. 1 went to my mother and she said 1 had the mumps, so back to bed I had to go- It was very miserable in bed but I had my library book to read so 1 settled down to tnat. After 1 had eaten a little bit of breakfast, 1 diu some sewing, but 1 could not stay very long at that because 1 was getting tired of sitting up so 1 lay down to rest. When dinner time came 1 was very hungry, but 1 could not eat much. Un Sunday a friend of mine came to see me so 1 was kept occupied for a while. After my friend went 1 did some raffia work, but 1 run out of raffia, and Daduy said he wouiu get me some on Monday. Arter tin., 1 was wondering what to do when one of my sisters suggested a game of shops. We pulled a table close to my bed and my sisters gathered a lot of things that w© could sell in the shop. 1 was shopkeeper and we spent an enjoyable evening. Well, Chief Kiwi, 1 must close now as my essay is getting too long. —Reu Certificate to Mary O’Neill, age 10 years, 710 Avenue road, Eastings.

♦ » ♦ * THE LAMBS. Dear Chief Kiwi, —I have not written to you for a long time, but here lam again. This week lam going to tell you about the little lambs In a paddock next to our place tiiere are a lot of little lambs. Thev like running up and down the bank, chasing one another. The weather has been wet and cold for them, but it has been line this last few davs. They run away from their mother and then they call out, and their mother answers them, and back thev run again They are lovely little woollv things. I like them, and hope I have one this year. —Red Certificate to Douglas Steven, age 9 vears. Otane. ♦ ♦ » ♦ FISHING,

ton. age 12 years, 3011 V Frederick street, Hastings. * * ♦ * OUR GEESE. Dear Chief Kiwi,—May I join your happy hand of Kiwis ? 1 am going to tell you about our geese. We have eight of thenr We had ten but one day when we were trying to catch them two flew away and then have not come back. They swinj in the creek that'flows past our house, and go for a fly nearly every day. Only seven of them can fly for the other is too old. Soon they will start to lay and have little goslings which I will tell you about. 1 will close now, Chief Kiwi, with love to yourself and the other Kiwis. —Orange Certificate to Kitty Oliver, age 12 years, Awa Awanui, P. 8., Hastings. * * * ♦ MY PET ANIMALS. Dear Chief Kiwi, —May I become one of your many happy Kiwis? This will be the first time 1 have written. My pet animals are a cat, a dog, and a parrot. My cat, which is black, came in a box at the back of a motor car from Waipawa. 1 did not know what to call it, so my little brother called him Putty, as he could not say Pussy properly. The dog, 1 had given to me by a friend of mine. I rave called him Ruff- The parrot is green and yellow. He sings and calls everyone in the family. He cries just like a child, and caws like a crow. The cat and dog like to play together. The cat likes to get round Jockos cage to play with him. Well, Chief Kiwi, 1 will close now with lots of love to your Kiwi band. —Blue Certificate to Ruth Symons, age 8 years, 1105 Louie street, Hastings. » * ♦ » THE EDUCATIONAL MATINEE. (Continued). Dear Chief Kiwi, —First of all 1 must thank you for the blue certificate. After Mr. Hill told us this story we saw many street scenes until we came back to Auckland. In amongst the scenes we saw the fastest train. Then came “With Cobham to the Cape.” This was a very exciting moment for us allCobham was packing petrol and all necessaries for the trip. Soon he started off and away swept the ’plane. On the way we saw prairie fires and £|pck bush. The part I liked best was the natives. In one place two little black boys swung on the propeller, but they were lifted off. Another crept into the driver’s seat and had tn be tickled before he would get out. In South Africa we were shown diamonds worth £500,000. We were also shown the Victoria Falls, which were very beautiful. Well, Chief Kiwi, 1 must close with best love to you and other Kiwis. —Blue Certificate to Lewis Clarke, age 10 years, 500 E Avenue road, Hastings. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Diner: “Waiter, is this chicken soup?” Waiter: “Yes, sir.” “Well, 1 can’t find any chicken in it.” “Well, really, sir, you wouldn’t expect to find horses in horse-radish would you?” —Red Certificate to Ada. Harrison, age 7 years, Fitzroy Avenue, Hastings.

1 will close now. with love to vou and al] the Kiwi band. —Jack Harrison, age 10 years. 708 Fitzrov avenue. Hastings. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Dear Chief Kiwi.—This week I am going to write about fishing. One day we went to Pakowhai river to trv and catch some fish. We did not get any for some time. Then 1 threw out my line, and I got a bite at last, and it was a herring I took it home and my mother baked it for my dinner the next day. —Orange Certificate to Bertie Borrie. age 7 vears. 417 Brunswick street, Hastings. ♦ * ♦ ♦ MY DOLLS Dear Chief Kiwi, —I am going to join your hajjpy band. 1 have three dolls, and I have given them eacfi a name. One ha_s fair hair, and I call her Violet. Another has no hair, and I call this one Babv. because it is like a baby. The other one I carl Jimmy. lam very fond of them. I play with them a lot. —Orange Certificate to Ada Harrison. age 7 years. Fitzrov avenue. Hastings. * ♦ ♦ * OUR PIGEONS Dear Chief Kiwi,—l have decided to join your Kiwi band, and tell vou about our pigeons. One of our friends gave us three pigeons, which we have had for about four months. They fly about every dav. and go on other people’s roofs and we have to clean out their cagNevery week. We had three, but now \e have only one. because the other two have gone. Love to you all. —Orange Certificate to Fred Harrison. age 8 vears. 708 Fitzrov avenue, Hastings. ♦ * * ♦ A DAY IN THE BUSH. Dear Chief Kiwi, —One dav I was walking in the bush at mv auntie and uncle’s place. Auntie had a little pug dog. which we used to take into the bush. The ferns were lovely. The bidi-bidis lay thick upon the ground. In places there were some deer, which my uncle shot. One day some men came to poison rabbitg and got the skins and sold them. Over the hills the bush is thicker. My uncle shot five rabbits. He nut them on wires. —Grange Certificate to Douglas Wilson, age 7 years Pakowhai road. Hastings. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ MY HUT. Dear Chief Kiwi,—This is the first time I have written to vou. and l am going to tell you about my hut First of all. I dug a hole, so as to make it higher. Then I built the walls and fixed the roof on it I light fires in it on cold days, and we get. very warm.

We were talking about the pictures and thinking we would go and see Lon Chaney in “Tell it to the Marines,” when little Mary said, "Oh! Mother, can 1 go and see Long Janey too?” —Orange Certificate to Ruth Symons, age 8 years, 1105 Louie street, Hastings.