Essay Competition

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 198, 4 August 1928, Page 13

Essay Competition

A THRUSH THAT BUILT IT’S NEST IN THE RAMBLER ROSE.

Dear Chief Kiwi,—l am sure you would like to hear of a thrush that built her nest in the rambler roses last year. She worked very hard until she had built her nest, and then she laid four blue eggs with black speckles on them, and sat on them until they were hatched. One wet day she stood in the nest with her wings spread over the sides to keep the wet out. We watched the father bringing food. Each time he came ’.o the nest the mother bird stood on the edge while he put part of the food in her mouth then she fed two babies while he fed the other two. We watched them a long time from the window. I do not know what became of the thrush. We think a cat has taken her.

Thank you very much for the certificates you awarded me. Well Chief Kiwi I will close now»as it is bedtime. With love to all.

Prize of 2/6 to Frank G. A. Pocock, age 7 years, Bradfield, Southland road, Hastings.

A FIRE Dear Chief Kiwi, —This week I nm going to tell you about a fire. A ilrc is one of the few things I hate, to tell you the truth when I hear the fire bell ring at night I am very frightened and often cannot go to sleep thinking about it. When the boli rings the men belonging to the fire brigade put on their red coats and helmets, and run down as fast as they can to the station and get on the engine. When the engine starts the sireen begins screeching until the engine stops at the place of the fire. The men put the hose on and the flames are soon put out. Sometimes the place is nearly burnt down before any of them awake; then they have no time to save anything, but rush out of danger. I think one of the saddest things is to see a home destroyed by fire. People nearly always lose all their belongings and have to start afresh. Well Chief Kiwi this is all I can tell you about a fire. Thanking you for the red certificate you awarded me last time. Love to Love to yourself and the Kiwi band. —Pink certificate to Valda Sutton, age 8 years, 113 Gascoigne street, Hastings.

MY SURPRISES Dear Chief Kiwi, —I am going to tell you this week about “My Surprises.” First of all I received your nice album, and ss, which I must thank you 'so much for and I must thank you very much for promising me your trade, and please don’t worry about the buttons and dome fastenings as I mean to keep to the latest fashions, and probably by the time I start, such things won’t be needed, but I do hope you won’t be too old to like pretty frocks. Now my next surprise was not so pleasing, alalthough at first I thought it wonderful. I was playing down at my grandma’s when I found a nest with 22 eggs in it, really it looked like a 100 eggs. I ran to get my grandma and she said, “I will give you half to take home,” but what do you think! They were all bad. Wasn’t it a pity it was not April Ist. I did not tell you what kind of a nest, but it was a hen’s nest, and rather a naughty bon to make her nest so far from homo when eggs were so scarce. My next surprise was an invitation to a birth day party. So you can guess how delighted I was at that. I will now say my surprises have come to an end although I am still looking for more as I think they are lovely. —Pink certificate to Peggy Flanders. age 10 years, R.D. Mangateretere, Hastings. ♦ * * ♦ AT THE PICTURES

Dear Chief Kiwi—Last Friday week I went to the picture entitled, “The Wonderland of North West Aus tralia. ” Five men left Auckland to see if there were any places suitable for settlement. Mr Wylie, one of these men was present and lectured on the subject as it was screened. First they went by steamer to Sydney where they admired the beautiful harbour. From there they travelled by train to Melbourne, thence to Adelaide and then a long train journey to Perth. From there a steamer carried them to Droorae, the most northern town on the coast. The explorers then went in a smaller boat to try and find a habour. They found a beautiful one with inlets and shel tered bays, similar to the Sydney Harbour. Unfortunately there is no water in that part of the country, so settlement is impossible. They landed again farther north where they found hundreds of-tuftles. In the sea they saw many strange and wonderful fish—the dugong being one of the strangest. The explorers then travelled across country by mo tor and aeroplane and finally by Camel team to a large whaling station. From there they returned to Perth by steamer.

—Pink certificate to Max Green, 10 years, care Mr F. Cook, Box IT<), Hastings,

OUR BANTAMS

Dear Chief Kiwi—This is the first time I have written to you. We have five bantams and three of them arc roosters and the other two are hens. One little hen lays an egg each day, when we have three eggs Mummy cooks one each for June, Keith, and myself, and, oh, they are lovely. Sometimes we’ let them out to pick in the grass for worms, and grubs and they enjoy it. I would like you to hear the noise and see them run if a stray cat comes around. Daddy made a little house, and yard to keep our bantams warm and dry, and away from stray cats.

Well, Chief Kiwi, I must close with love to yourself and all the other Kiwis.

—Pink certificate to Colin Breuer, age 7 years, 102 Townshend street’, Hastings. ♦ ♦ * ♦ A KINGFISHER

Dear Chief Kiwi —A Kingfisher is a very pretty bird, because of its brightly coloured feathers of green, blue, red and white. It has a long sharp bill, and short legs, while its large eyes add more beauty to tho bird. Sometimes the bird is spied sitting on a stump, or on the branch of a tree, which is hanging over a river. It is generally sitting there waiting its chance to catch some small fish or insects. The Kingfisher is a very clever fisherman. It chiefly lives on fish, grubs, worms andmice. Its nest may be found at the end of a hole in a bank or a decayed tree. They lay five or six eggs watch are a glossy white, and often use the same nest year after year. I am very fond of Kingfishers, and often see a very brilliant-feathered one, when I am going to school in the morning. I will now close with fond wishes, also many thanks for a certificate received a few days ago. —Pink certificate to Sybil Reynolds, age 8 years, Baupare, Hastings. ♦ ♦ * ♦ OUR SCHOOL SHOP

Dear Chief Kiwi, —Thank you ver/ much for the prize you awarded mo This week I am going to tell you you about our School Shop. It was held in Heretaunga street at Mr Bones shop. We all got ready at 19 a.m., and arrived there at half-past 10 o’clock. They had a bran tub and and I got a motor car. My two brothers had a dip too. One got a bed and the other a box of crayons. I bought some cakes for 3d. (There wore heaps of cakes, jams, preserves pick les, sauces, cream, biscuits, lollies, and fruit. We had one or two guesses at the weight of a cake and a pig, but were not successful. I met some of my school mates outside the shop. After staying there a while and admiring everything, we had some lunch. Chief Kiwi, I quite forgot to toll you the name of the school shop It was in aid of Twyford School where I attend every day. We enjoyed the outing very much. and went home quite happy, and contented. With love to you and your happy band of Kiwis.

—Blue certificate to Dick Hicks-,n, ago 8 years, care P. 0., Hastings.

♦ * ♦ * MY TRIP TO THE HOSPITAL

Dear Chief Kiwi,—One morning I was not well so Mummy called the doctor to see me. He took out his watch and caught hold of my hand and then took my temperature. Afterwards he looked at my tongue and said. “A trip up the hill for you tny young lady.’’ Daddy asked him what was wrong with me and he said, “Scarlet fever,” and Daddy got his car out and took me to the Napier Hospital. I did not like it for the first day or two but soon got used to it. There were a lot of other little girls up there and we had good fun. The nurse used to wake us up very early and wash us and make our beds. We had breakfast about 8 o'clock. We had porridge and bread and butter and a cup or cocoa. At 10 o'clock we had a cup of lovely soup. We had dinner at 12 o’clock. We had pudding first and then potatoes (at home I have my pudding last). For tea we had bread and milk, bread and butter, and sometimes sausages, and a cun of cocoa. After tea we sometimes had a concert and had great fun. When I had been up there three weeks I was able to get up and help the nurse. Daddy and Mummv used to come to see me twice a week and bring me parcels of lollies, oranges, apples,, and toys, and comics to look at. I was in the hospital four weeks and then Daddy brought me home, but I could not bring any of my toys home. Love to you and all the Kiwis.

Blue Certificate to Mavis Mardon age 7 years, Heretaunga street, Hastings. * W ♦ ♦

MY TRIP TO THE HOSPITAL Dear Chief Kiwi,—Thank you for the Certificate you gave me. This time I am going to write on my trip to the hospital. I went in on Saturday morning. The nurse took me upstairs to the bedroom m which my little bed was ready. I watched the children playing on the beach from my window. A little while after the nurse came up to take me for a ride on a trolley to the operating room. The doctor gave me some funny stuff to put me to sleep, while they took my tonsils out. When I woke Up 1 was in my little bed again. I began to cry because I wanted my Mummy and Daddy Dad came in after a while and brought me a sewing basket and a doll. He Had to go to the shop then. Mum came in and brought me a doll's bed. 1 was very glad when Sunday came and all came from home to see me. They brought me a lovely bunch ot roses and violets. Well Chief Kiwi. I will continue next week. With love. —Blue Gertificate to Joan Thornton, ago 7 years, Box 15, Clive.

A TRIP TO MASTERTON

Dear Chief Kiwi,—Thank you very much for the Certificate you awarded me last week. This week lam going to write about a journey to Masterton by car. It was on a Good Friday morning that we decicred to go, so we were all up very early and were busy till nine o’clock when we set out for our long journey, '/he sun was shining brightly and not one cloud was to be seen. Before we had gone far we saw many sheen and cows in the fields. At several places along the road we met motor-cyclists who were having a race from Palmerston to Waikare. We crossed a bridge which is used for both trains and motor-cars. Soon after, we stopped beside a small stream and had lunch. We got in the car and after going a little wav we ran out of benzine, but fortunately we were able to get some. About two miles after this we reached our destination after a pleasant ride. Well I must close now. with love to you and the other Kiwis. —Blue Certificate to Geoff Tate, age 8 years, 80.3 Frederick street, Hastings.

♦ * ♦ ♦ A TRIP TO THE NAPIER HOSPITAL

Dear Chief Kiwi,.—This week I will try and write and tell you of a day I spent at Napier Hospital. One Sunday my Dad and I caught the one o’clock hospital bus. We had to go round some very sharp bends, but it was a pretty sight when we got to the hospital. We could see the sea, and some ships on the water, but I was in a hurry to see my little brother. They would not allow us in the ward, so we had to speak to him from the window, but I was glad to see him, and he was also very pleased to see me. We also saw a lot of other little children in bed, but they all looked very happy.

I must close now with love to the Kiwi band.

—Red Certificate to Dudley Ashford, age 8 years, 717 Seddon street, Hastings.

♦ ♦ * * A FLOWER GARDEN

Dear Chief Kiwi,—This is the first time I have written to you. A house without a flower garden is very rare, and is likened to a snail without a shell. In fact a house devoid of a garden is considered not complete. The garden surrounding cur house has everything an experienced landscape gardener can construct. A circular lawn occupies the centre with a rose bed gracing it at the western end. A neat pansy plot constructed with great care stands prominently in the lawn centre. A bubbling fountain throws out in dazzling splendour a shower of drops. Further down our gaze is greeted by an array of wild roses which scent the air with perfume.

1 must close now with love to you and all the other Kiwis. —Red Certificate to Theresa Andrew, age 10 years, 14 Nelson Crescent, Napier.

* » * * OUR SCHOOL

Dear Chief Kiwi, —As I have not written to you for a long time I decided to write again on the above subject. Our school is called “Parkvale School,” of which the children are very proud. It has many beautiful gardens and basketball courts. I am in Standard 4 and I like the class very much There are four pergolars and two glorious lawns, one for the girls and the other for the boys. In the spring, -there are many pretty flowers out. with their very sweet perfumes. The flowers look lovely in their beautiful colours of red, blue, orange, pink, amongst a very prettygreen. Now I must close, with love. —Orange Certificate to Norma Gosling, age 10 years, 301 Collinge road, Hastings.

♦ » ♦ HASTINGS SHOW

Dear Chief Kiwi,—First I must thank you for tho Certificate you awarded me. This week I will tell you about the Poultry Show held a fortnight ago in Hastings. On Saturday I went and saw all the birds. There were canaries, pigeons, fantails, bantams, and all the big fowls, as well as cats. I did not think there were such a lot of different kinds of fowls. We looked round everv row. The ones I like best are the black bantams and Indian game fowls. When I grow up I will be able to keep some fowls. I have three bantams now but they are not good enough to show. Some day you will see my name in the “Tribune” for show fowls. Do you like fowls or birds best. Chief Kiwi? With love to the Kiwi band. —Orange Certificate to Douglas Steven, age 9 years. Otana.

# # ♦ SPRING

Dear Chief Kiwi,—l have not written to you before bpt I would like to write to you about springtime. As I walk to school I like to look ever the fences and see the violets and bulbs ('rowing in the gardens. We have a few violets in our own gardens. In the paddock near our house are some little lambs which are a sure sign of spring. Love to all the Kiwis. —Orange Certificate to Jean Pedersen, age 9 years, Otane.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ A PICNIC AT THE SEASIDE Dear Chief Kiwi,—One day while we were staying at Tokomaru we went to the Levin beach for a picnic. When we arrived at our destination my cousins and I went for a bathe in the sea. After our hathe we played on some sand hills which were close by. Soon after dinner my elder cousins an<l sisters walked three miles to see a wrecked ship, while we younger children built sand castles and picked up pipies. About four o’clock a Maori man and his son brought a little boat on the beach after fisliing. He had caught four medium-sized fish and one shark. It was half-past seven when we began to journey home. On our wav home another car nearly collided with us. It was nine o’clock when we reached home. —Orange Certificate to Jean Burge age 10 years, Twyford,

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO BE WHEN I GROW UP,

Dear Chief Kiwi,—-I would like to be a nurse when I grow up, because I think I would be a great success. I should just like to attend to babies, not to patients in hospitals. We are more likely to get a, job if we are in the town, as if the town people see an advertisement in the paper they rush it before the country people have a chance. Ido not think nurses have a very hard job, and they get good pay for the work they do. I think the nurses are like a servant and a nurse too. I would not like to be a nurse in a big hospital. —Orange Certificate to Joyce Bateman, age 10 years, Paki Paki.

♦ ♦ * ♦ OUR SCHOOL

Dear Chief Kiwi,—This is my very first letter to you all. I am going to tell you about our school. We have to walk two miles to our school. It is built on a hill and there aj-e only two rooms and we have a basketball and football field. We have flower and vegetable gardens, and have certain days weeding every week. We have fountains with beautiful artesian water. Now I must close, with love to you and all the other Kiwis. —Orange Certificate to Vera Venables. a£e 7 years, Haumoana.

SENIORS.

* * ♦ ♦ AN ANTIQUE SHOR

Dear Chief Kiwi,—Thank you very much for the blue certificate you awarded me last week. It was quite an ordinary road, winding through the great city of Creutwater, but the little shop it hid away in one of its many curves and twists made it a road to be set apart from all others. This shop was very old, very dark, and very small. I felt quite tiny myself as, for the first time, I explored its corners and unexpected recesses, which were tilled with a beautiful jumble of varied articles.

The proprietor was a wizened, white haired old man, with a long beard, and stooped shoulders. But to get back to the shop. In one of its many recesses I found a beautiful crystal chandelier, an old Chippendale chair, a bias's incense stand, and a grinning Chinese god. In another was a gorgeous piece of Norman tapestry and a priceless Grecian statue. A beautiful curtain of Oriental design covered an unpretentious doorway, hiding its ugliness by a glorious riot of colour. A cleverly carved cabinet was filled with china, some of it valuable, some merely interesting. One of the articles in this cabinet was a blue plate, some two or three hupdred years old. It was a large dinner-plate, with a pattern of Valen ciennes lace on it, with an old-fash-ioned coach and four in the middle. It was one of a dinner-set designed for an inn in England. I love the old shop ad often visit it, to go back in spirit to the“days of yore.” With love. —Pink Certificate to Florence Quinlivan, age 13 years, ‘ Shortlands,” Gordon road, Hastings. * * * Y OUR NATIVE BIRDS

Dear Chief Kiwi,—Thank you very much for the certificate you last awarded me. This week I«m going to write about our native birds. When the first white men came to New Zealand they were delighted with the songs of the charming little birds which were in the forests. Many of our little songsters have gone through the destruction of their homes. The fantail is one of our prettiest little native birds. It is so called because of its fan-shaped tail. it is a useful bird to the orchardists, because it eats the codlin-moth off the fruit, while often it comes inside and eats the insects on the window f lanes. They are now protected byaw, so that their, nests and eggs are not to be touched. The warbler is heard among the branches of trees. It is sometimes called the bottle-tit. The bird about four inches long and ,rey in colour. Its nest is hung from the branch of a tree, and the entrance is made through a hole in the side. The eggs are laid, and the young are reared, and then sometimes a cuckoo is to be found among these chicks wanting to lay her egg. The baby cuckoo soon grows, and pushes the young warblers out of the nest to die. The warbler parents feed this chick as if it were one of their own chicks, and attend to it until it is abla to fly. There are two kinds of cuckoo—tailed cuckoo. The shining cuckoo is a very pretty bird, with its green back and its goden breast. The long-tailed cuckoo is never seen away from the bush, but his long whistle may be heard in spring and summer. Then we have the morepork, the night bird. As soon as it is dark this bird hunts for rats and mice. Its nest is to be found in the hollow parts of trees. There are many other kinds of birds which are just as interesting as these. Well. Chief Kiwi, I must close now, with love. —Pink Certificate to Phyllis McKeown. age 12 years, R.D. Managateretere, Hastings.

♦ * « ♦ MT. EGMONT

Dear Chief Kiwi,—This week I am writing about Alt. Egmont. During our holiday m January we went all around it. It is a conoshaped mountain, rising to a great height above sea level. . It is the principal attraction, and with its snow-capped peak can he seen from almost every part of Taranaki. The ascent of the mountain can be made from several directions— New Plymouth in the north ( Startford in tho east, and Eltham, by way of Dawsou Falls in the southeast. On one side is the North Egmont Mountain House, which is fitted up with many conveniences such as eleetrio light, hot and cold baths, and a post and telephone office. There is another house at Dawson Falls. During the summer, service ears take passengers to tho mountain. The road passes through Egmolit Village, and there is a toll

gate at the Radius Line, which Is the boundary of Egmont National Falk. . . The road is steep, and winds through pretty native bush. People climbing the mountain stay all night at the house and depart next morning. The best months for climbing are January, February, and March. It is usual to have a guide and climb when the mountain is free of fog. The distance from the house to the summit is 2) miles. The native bush is beautiful, including rimu. totara, rata, fuchsia, pepper and koromiko trees. Best love. —Pink Certificate to Mollie Hull, age 12 years, Box 76 Hastings.

♦ ♦ * ♦ A THUNDER STORM

Dear Chief Kiwi, —The wild, rugged peaks or the hills far in the distance showed like islands in a sea ol mist. Somewhere hidden in their depths lay a wonueriul valley, where the sun shone brightly and a little stream, like a silver streak, went singing through a green laud, and wme-eyed nowers siur-spangied the grass. Suddenly those peaks changed to a black colour, wuich gave me on eerie feeling. The weatuer had now become oppressive, and black clouds hung like a pall in the sky. Then, like Judgment Day, a flash of ligutnmg cut across the sky, and a great clap of thunder ecuoed arm reechoed among the hills. People began to run to their various hopies for shelter as the great white .hailstones fell pattering noisily upon the roofs of the houses, making the little children tremble with terror.

Lightning was rifting the clouds overhead, and great peals of thunder came crashing through the hills. All night long a blustering, raging nor’-wester had driven across the plain, whirling down the road like a cloud, roaring through the pines and sweeping over the tussocks. Towards morning it died down, and then a brooding peace lay over everything. In the garden the flowers were bruised and withered, delicate roses broken and scattered; the scent of the jasmine was hot and heavv, like the day, and the pansies rested their wistful purple faces against the hot earth, I must close now with love and best regards to you and the other Kiwis.

—Blue Certificate to Joyce Burge, age 13 years, Twyford. ♦ * * * THORNS AND PRICKLES

Dear Chief Kiwi, —This week I am going to write about thorns and prickles. When we go blackberrying and briar gathering, we know about prickles. We hear somebody cry out, “Oh! I have a thorn in my finger.” It is not a thorn, but a prickle. Thorns ar spikes on the hand are changed leaves Or parts of leaves, or they are hardened shoots. They may be seen on £ hawthorn bush. Often a leaf or two grows out of the side of the thorn, showing that it is really a shoot of a plant. The gorse bush has two kinds of spiky thorns. _ The leaves are altogether turned into flat, green thorns, and there is a second kind of thorn, thicker, stronger, and branched, which is a changed shoot. (To be continued.) With love to you and the Kiwi band. —Blue Certificate to Jean Steven, age 12 years, Otane.

♦ * * * AN ENJOYABLE LESSON AT SCHOOL Dear Chief Kiwi, —I have decided to tell you a little about the above subject, but first of al I will thank you for your kind birthday greetings and the certificate you awarded me last. A very enjoyable lesson at school is sewing. We have a sewing lesson every Friday, and I am always glad when that day comes. Our class is making a dress, a petticoat, or fancy work. Do you like hewing, Chief Kiwi? I think it is lovely. I am making a dress and a Dolly Vaiden apron. These I find very interesting to do, especially on wet winter evenings. Every Friday we have an hour and between that time we have to do a certain amount of sewing. If we want to know how to do a certain stitch or to know how to start without a knot, we just need to go up to our sewing teacher and ask her how to do it. She always shows us how to do it neatly. Did you ever have sewing at school? I have nearly imshed my Dolly Varden apron, and Will soon be making another one. Every piece of fancy work that I make I give away to my friends for Christmas presents. Well, Chief Kiwi, I must close with love to you and all your Kiwi band. —Blue Certificate to Violet Butt, age 12 years, 400 Lascelles street, Hastings. * ♦ * * GLIMPSES OF NEW ZEALAND

Dear Chief Kiwi,—This is the first time I have written to you and I wish to join your Happy Kiwi Band. The valley into which I gazed was fair with the early promise offspring, having sheltere from the wind and taking all the sunshine. The willow bushes over the stream hung as if they were angling with tasseled floats of gold and silver bursting like a beanpod. Between them came the water laughing like a maid at her own dancing. On either bank the meadows ruffled as the breeze came by, opening through new tufts of green daisy-buds or celadines. The proud poppies raised up a brilliant blazon of scarlet heraldy. Three blue butterflies were fluttering about in a flowery corner. In a meadow not far from a house ran a shallow but clear streamlet arched with willows. The rainbow held a beauteous lecture in the clouds, showing the sweet division of hues. I passed the fragrant garden and groves of strange fruit and long beds of whispering reeds. The stones of the streamlet’s bed could be clearly seen through the diamond like waters. The sun filtered through the trees forming dappled shadows on the water, and on the fern-grown banks. 1 must close now, with lots of love. — Blue Certificate t u Trixie Bell, sge 11 years, Clive,

PROGRESS OF TRAVEL (Continued.)

Dear Chief Kiwi,—l will now continue my essay but first of all I will thank you for jhe 5/- and the Album. Next one was the Elizabethan Coach, whoch was always very elaborate but it had no springs. They were generally drawn by a pair of horses. The Royal Coach, however, was drawn by eight milk-white steeds. The State Coach in England is of the same design as the one of Elizabeth’s time, but I think it has springs. During the Stuart Period horses were the most commonly used. At the end of the eighteenth century if one wanted to travel a great distance one went in a stage coach. Generally these were open and you can imagine how it must have been in the wet and snowy weather. Some of the roads were little more than sheep tracks and were covered with holes. The horses would sometimes slip in the mud and slush or put their feet in a hole and break their legs when you were miles from anywhere. In the same period, for local travelling the Sedan Chair was used and in some countries it is still used. It was a boxlike arrangement carried by two men. In Canada and South Africa the ox waggon was used. In the former country it was called “The Prairie Schooner.” When attacked the men would draw the waggons in a circle and the animals and everything were brought inside, so the attackers generally had to retreat. One New Zealand pioneer when he saw these waggons clapped his hands and danced about, saying: “Good little wee wheel beat great big wheel every time.” Now I must close, with best wishes.

—Blue Certificate to Marjory Edwards, age 13 years, 604 Victoria street, Hastings.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ THE ESPLANADE AT PALMERSTON NORTH

Dear Chief Kiwi, —I have not been in Hastings long, but since I have been here J have read the Kiwis’ page every vMurday evening, and enjoyed it very much. May I become one of the many other Kiwis? This week I am going to tell you about the above subject. Close by the Esplanade runs the swift Manawatu river. Bordering its banks is beautiful, dense native bush, stretching about a quarter of a mile in, through which many tracks have been forced. Then one comes to the beautiful gardens, and con crete paths and lawns, and many other attractions. The paths wind in and out through the gardens, and overhead beautiful native trees form a canopy. Here and there, scattered along the paths, are archways, up which climbing creepers are slowly winding their way. In the springtime everything is beautiful. The lawns are green and fresh-looking; all the spring flowers, such as bulbs, swet-peas, freezias, and many others are blossoming; but above all this, if one is strolling leisurely along, one is attracted by the twittering of the birds among the trees. This gives a finishing touch to the beauty of everything. These, however, are not everything which attract tourists. There is a camping ground, in which many a tourist spends an enjoyable week-end among the beauties of Nature. Well, Chief Kiwi, as I have exceeded the word limit, I will close with love to all.

—Blue Certificate to Alice Jenkins, age 13 years, 1021 Waipuna street, Hastings..

LORD ALFRED TENNYSON Dear Chief Kiwi.—Before I begin my essay I must thank you for the Blue Certificate you awarded me last week, and also for the article on William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway. . I read it through twice, it was so interesting. This week I am writing on another prominent poet, Lord Alfred Tennyson. He was born long ago in the eighteenth century, and was one of the world’s greatest men. The place he was born at was Somersby. a quaint little village in Lincolnshire, of which his father was rector. Often and often in his poems, he recalls the beauty of the scenes surrounding his home in his childhood. When he was seven years old. he was sent to the Louth Grammar School. After a few years of private education, he and his brother Charles wrote a book called “Poems” by “two brothers.” It was published in 1827. In 1828 the two brothers entered Trmivj College where Alfred gained Chancellor’s gold medal, for the poem “Timuctoo.” In 1830 he published his “Poems.” Later on in his life, he wrote “The Brook,” in which he describes the peace and solitude of a brook, which begins its career far up in the mountains, and slowly ebbs its Way over stones, and through crevices, till it reaches the river. He wrote many more poems describing beauty, joy, happiness, sadness, and even a lonely sadness, which he describes in “The Lady of Shallot.” In 1892, at the age of 84, an old man with white hair, could be seen in place of the brisk young man of former years. He was buried in Westminster Abbey in 1892.

With love. —Blue Certificate to Eileen Young, ago 13 years, Chambers road, Havelock North.

* ♦ * * CANADA

Dear Chief Kiwi,—This week I am writing about Canada. Canada is the largest undivided portion of the British Empire. As far as the eye can see there is prairie and grassland. Her population is seven and a-half millions and it is increasing yearly. Canada has a climate suited for Hie growing of grain crops. The winters are cold and long but clear and invigorating, and the summers warm and bright and grain crops flourish in the sunshine. Her principal industries are wheatgrowing, forestry or lumbering and cod and salmon fishing, and her products are wheat, timber, cod and salmon. Her commercial position is one to be unv.eu. She stretches, from the Atlantic to the Pacific and she can trade readily by sea, rail, lake and river. Her capital is Ottawa and other important cities are Montreal, Quebec (the old and historic capital), Toronto, and Halifax. Well Chief Kiwi, I must close, thanking you for the Certificate. —Blue Certificate to Mary O'Neill, age 11 years, 711) Avenue road, Hastings.

A SPRING MORNING Dear Chief Kiwi, —This is the first time I have written to you and I wish to join your happy Kiwi band. My first subject is qntitled “A Spring Morning.” It was early spring. The weather was exceptionally mild; blackbirds and thrushes were swelling their little throats in wild, melodious trills in the green-budding woods. The garden borders were gay; the old almond was flushing in delicate bloom, whose delicious fragrance mingled with the scent of the violets just peeping from their mossy Coverts. The sky overhead was opalescent blue; the sun shone overhead; the busy hum of insects made music in my ears. AU the birds sang sweetly; the small stream meandered through the star-spangled grass. Everything was alive and merry with saund. I shall write again next week, Chief Kiwi. —Blue Certificate to Grace Sparworth, age 13 years, Post Office, Clive,

* ♦ ♦ * A VISIT TO KERURU BUSH

Dear Chief Kiwi, —Thank you very much for the certificate you awarded me last week.

We walked on for a good way, and then, as the dogs had gone off on a ramble of their own, we said we would hide from them and see what they would do so we went over the slope and lay down in the grass. Presently one of them ran along the bottom of the hill and went right past us, while on the top came the other who “spotted” us, and as soon as the other one heard our voices, ho came along and joined us too. It then began to get dull, and as we wanted to get some photos, we went back. We had just arrived when it began to rain, which, of course, prevented us from getting our photos, so we packed up and took to the car, and started off. It was now a thick mist, and the hills were soon enveloped in the white woolly mass. It was dusk when we reached Maraekakaho. and as it seemed foolish to try. and light a fire to boil the billy, I w’ent into a house and asked if I could have some boiling water, which I was given. We then drove' under the trees and had tea. When we had finished we left for home after a most enjoyable day. Well, Chief Kiwi, I will close now with best love to yourself and the Kiwi band. —Blue certificate to Lewis Clarke, age 11 years, 500 E Avenue road. Hastings. ♦ ♦ ♦ * A DAY’S OUTING

Dear Chief Ktw!,—l was pleaqed to see I had received a Certificate for my joke. Thank you very much.. On Saturday I went to the last hunt of the season. It was held at Maraekakaho. The hounds and horses started off, so we followed on the road, in the car. Most cars drove up the hills, but we did not venture as it looked too muddy. We walked up a hill qnd when we came to the top, there was no sign of the horses, so after crossing a desolate paddock we came to some very boggy and' wet patches. And there, why! a large Studebaker car was bogged. My cousin, sister and I immediately ran to see if we could help. Soon we were collecting branches of pine trees to push under the wheels. It took a long time to pull out , for the wheels had sunk very deep into the soft ground, but at. last ,we were successful, and it was driven into firm ground. We then saw the horses galloping across a paddock nearby, so we hurriedly gave chase, he could see the hare for some distance but then it darted away. They did not have a very successful day but it was very enjoyable. Goodbye Chief Kiwi. My love to the other Kiwis. Red Certificate to Zoe Fryer, age 13 years, Box 377, Hastings. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S SPEECH

Dear Chief Kiwi,—Abraham Lincoln, though not an orator, made a wonderful speech at a ceremony at Gettysburg on November 18, 1863. Everett, a great orator, spoke for two hours before Lincoln, while Lincoln only spoke for three minutes. After Everett’s speech there was much applause, but after Lincoln had spoken not a hand was raised, for the people were stricken dumb at his wonderful speech. After the ceremony Everett came up to Lincoln and said, “Mr. President, if I had come as near the central occasion in two hours as you did in three minutes, I could wish for nothing more.” Lincoln’s speech had turned out a great success where he had expected it to be a failure. A few days after the ceremony Lincoln was out for a stroll and, on turning a corner, ran into a youth called Blair. Blair explained that he wanted a lawyer to write his dying brother’s will, so Lincoln said he would come. When he arrived there young Blair read Lincoln’s speech out of the paper unaware that Lincoln was standing beside him. To shake bands with Lincoln was the dying man’s last wish and it was fulfilled. —Red Certificate to Robert Cooney, age 13 years, 1018 Heretaunga street, Hastings.

* ♦ ♦ ♦ FROM WELLINGTON TO NAPIER BY CAR Dear Chief Kiwi,—One sunny morning at 9.45 my father, another man and I started for Napier by car. After a little while we branched in to see the Atlantic Oil Company, which was a very good place. We then came back to the mian road. We eoon reached the summit of Paikakariki where a lovely view of the sea and Kapiti Island is obtained. When we reached Levin we had lunch which consisted of a pie, a piece of bread and a cup of tea. We continued to Palmerston where we stopped for a while. I also saw my Aunt there for about a minute, as we had to continue. The next thing of importance was the gorge. I think it is a wonderful place, Chief Kiwi. The riverlets entering the gorge were so pretty. I had the experience of seeing the train entering the tunnel the other side of the gorge. At Waipukurau we had some refreshments. A few hours later we reached Nanier nt 7 p.m. Goodbye. Chief Kiwi, with love to you and all the other Kiwis. —Red Certificate to Bernard Andrew. ago 11 years, 14 Nelson Lane, Napier,