GOOD RESOLUTIONS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 16, 30 December 1932, Page 11

GOOD RESOLUTIONS

“Our Good Resolutions we really must make,” laid the shoelace, “Fo r my part. I’ll try not to break.” ‘And I resolve never to prick,” vowed the pin; “And I,” said the pencil, ‘‘will keep my lead in.” “And I,’’ sigher the pen, “will not drop a great blot “Of ink on a place where I clearly should not.” But they went—all these Good Resolutions—to waste; for Betty came down; tied her shoe* lace in haste. And snapped it in two as she jerked up her shoe. She jabbed the pin carelessly into her, too; She pressed on her pencil and snapped off its lead; She shook her pen till all its ink had shed In blots on the paper. “Oh, dear,” cried the pen, "It’s time to make Good Resolutions again!” Dear Kiwis —A very happy New Year to you all! I wish it very heartily indeed, and I send my warm thanks to all Kiwis who sent me Christmas and New Year greetings. i New Year is the time for good resolutions —for turning over new leaves. 1 hope you will tell me of all the leaves you have turned over, and I should enjoy, too, hearing of your Christmas festivities. I hope it was a happy tune for all of you. I We welcome a new Kiwi, Thelma Luttrell. I am sorry, Thelma, that your Christmas essay did not reach me in time for its appearance in the Christmas page. Molly Flanders’s essay, too. was a week late. I was sorry about it, Molly, for it was written in true Christmas spirit. You see, if an essay or letter for me does not reach the office in strict time, J do not get it until the following week. John Overend, Charlie Moroney and Airini Smale, sent essays with no »go attached, and their entries are on file. Airini’s was particularly interesting. and I hope the omission of age will bo rectified without delay, so that the letter may be published. R. Nelson has written that he is not contributing further to the Kiwi page, and asks for recognition of the 15 marks which he holds. I am sorry, “R,” but no award may be given on an* marks under 25. This is the last letter that I shall w;ite you in 1932. Despite lack of anaee, we Kiwi folk have had a happy time together, and many charming and interesting letters have filled the space available. I hope you will enjoy the page more than ever in 1933. With much love to you ail. CHIEF KIWI. NEW YEAR IN JAPAN The Japanese New Year festival is • very gay and joyous occasion. No matter how poor a Japanese man may be. he provides himself with new clothes and takes three days off from work to visit or entertain most of his friends. Every gate-post is adorned with dark green pines and feathery light green bamboos, while over the doorways hang vivid red lobsters and crabs, and ■carlet, tangerine-like fruits, symbolical of long life and happiness. The afreets are thronged with happy children playing battledore and shuttle, cock the whole day long, and everyone beams with joy, bowing and wishing the compliments of the season even to perfect strangers. Throughout the rest of the Orient, too, the opening of the new year is celebrated with elaborate festivals that correspond to the western countries. In some European nations, also, especially France qnd Scotland, New Year’s Day is a more important holiday than Christmas. If you were a French peasant child you might put your sabot, or wooden shoe, on the hearth for a gift at Christmas, but grown-ups in France exchange gifts at the New Year festival, at which time there are family parties, with much merrymaking and a general exchange of visits. Scotland celebrates New Year’s Eve with a heartiness nowhere surpassed. The old-time tradition, that to be ‘‘first foot” in a house, brings luck for the whole year, sends throngs of midnight revellers into the streets of Scottish cities on New Year’s Eye, each with his box of cakes and his spiced ale, for, in order to ensure his host a bounteous year, he must not enter •mpy-handed. • EMA YB—SENIORS. A HEDGEHOG’S NEST. Dear Chief Kiwi,—Last Sunday Father and I went for a walk over our farm. As we were walking round the creek Dad noticed in one of the cracks some dirt and grass which had been carried there by a hedgehog. I saw a hole which Dad began to dig at with his knite. Wh«n we had broken the earth we came to some old straw and grass. We found three baby hedgehogs in the nest and not very far away from the nest we found another on its way back, so I picked it up and took it back to the others. They all rolled up into tiny balls when they heard us coming. Their mother was away when we .were there so we did not see her. They were a long way from our fowlhouse so we left them in peace. With love to all the Kiwis. —Prise of 2/6 to Judith Struthers, age 12 years. (It was interesting to find a nest, Judith, and to see the wee hedgehogs. —C.K.) A TRIP TO AUCKLAND. Dear Chief Kiwi.—Thank you for the certificate. A year ago next Thursday our headmaster at Tongariro decided to take the school children to Auckland for a day. Some of the Maoris had never seen a train before, so yon may be sure that it was a treat for them.

We caught the eleven o’clock night express at National Park, and soon we were speeding for Auckland. We were all too excited to get much sleep, and early in the morning we had our first view of the beautiful Waikato River, which has its source near the place we came from. The land too had changed. The grass was green and fresh, whereas we had been used to brown, tussocky grass. As we neared Auckland 1 noticed some coal-mines near some large hills, and soon we caught our first glimpse of the sea. (To be Continued.) —Pink Certificate to Earl Richardson ,age 11 years, 920 Willow Park road N. Hastings. (I look forward to hearing of further incidents of your trip to Auckland, Earl, and I hope you will write soon again.—.C.K.) BEES. Dear Clief Kiwi,—Thank ypu for the certificate and the badge. About a week ago a large swarm of bees settled on the hedge in our garden. They stayed there for two days, then they decided to move into a warmer place, so they settled in the walls of our house. There were so many bees that it took from noon till some time in the night for them all to get in. They are very busy now, and it is quite interesting to watch them, as they go into their home on top of the verandah and come out underneath the iron. Mother says they are a pest, because they have made a hole through the wallpaper and come out into her bedroom, so she will have to climb up and block it up again. I am glad they don’t come into my room. 1 would be afraid of being stung. —Pink Certificate to Maisie Willison, age 11 years, Opapa. (Once bees decide to make a home m a roof, it -seems difficult to evict them.—C.K.) SLIDING ON THE HILL. Dear Chief Kiwi, —Last year when my cousin came up here we decided to make light little sledges so that we could slide 6a the brittle grass on the hillsides. First we found two old battens for the runners, the top of a benzine box for the seat, a piece to rest our feet on and some old electric light wire to hang on to. We next had to nail these pieces together and plane the bottom of the runners to make them smooth. They are light and easy to drag up the hill after we have gone for a long slide. It is great fun to go sliding down at a great speed, but the worst of it is having to drag them up again. My sledge broadsides a lot ana I have some nasty falls and I often graze my knee. Love to all. .—Pink Certificate to Audrey Tod, age 11 years, “HoHycombe,” Otane. (I think that you and your cousins were clever to make the sledges. J hope you will not come to any further hurt than grazed knees, Audrey.— C.K.) PARENTS’ DAY. Dear Chief Kiwi, —On Thursday oui parents came to visit Parkvale School to see what progress we were making, At two o’clock we all marched on to the lawn where our parents were asgambled. Speeches were made by various people, and then the boxing medals were presented by Mr Maddison. The certificates were presented, and the people went to the infants' room for afternoon tea, as they were hungry after their afternoon’s entertainment. Every primer pupil received a present from Santa Claus. —Blue Certificate to Elsie Leipst, age 11 years, 1020 Jellicoe street, Hastings. (The parents would enjoy looking at the result of the children’s work and I expect everyone spent a happy afternoon.—C.K.) FISHING. (Continued.) Dear Chief Kiwi, —Lunch was finished and *we went again to our fishing spot. This time we were not so careful, and the log rocked as we walked along it. In our eagerness t» catch more trout, we both leaned too far, and fell into the rtream. With our plothes heavy with water we found it difficult to wade to the bank, and soon became very cold. Once on the bank we thought it wisest to wring out our clothes and leave for ' home, especially as our rods had been carried away down the stream. Although we had not been able to finish our day’s fishing, we both said we had enjoyed ourselves and next time we had a day’s holiday, we would go fishing again. Love. —Blue Certificate to Hilda Bioknell, age 11 years, 1011 Fitzroy Avenue, Hastings. (I wonder if you have been fishing since, Hilda, and I hope you have not had further disaster with loose logs.— C.K.) A DISOBEDIENT BAND OF CHICKS Dear Chief Kiwi, —A mother hen is very intelligent in her ways. She told her chicks they weren’t to stray far because a cat might creep near or perhaps a dog. The chicks obeyed their mother for two days, and then they decided to take a longer walk. When the mother saw this she called them all together and told them that they were to go to bed without any tea. She started eating some maize, which was too big for the little ones to eat. They all clustered round her waiting for their little bit, but she didn’t give them any. Next day, she took them for a walk because they were sorry for being disobedient, and she was glad to go herself. Sorry I forgot to give the necessary assurance that the essays ara' my own work. May I please have a Kiwi badge? With love to yourself and all the Kiwi band. —Red Certificate to Noalene T * l !M na8 > 11 years, Te Kura. Otane. (Essays must not have more than 150 words, Noalene.—C.K.)

ESSAYS—JUNIORS.

THE MASON FLY. Dear Chief Kiwi,—Thank you for the certificate. One day we were playing in Dad’s tool shed, when we heard something making a buzzing noise. We hunted round and found a mason fly making a nest in a hole that Dad had bored in a pieee of timber. The Mason fly is about twice as big as the house fly, and has white stripes on its body. It had some clay in its front legs, and all the time it was making the buzzing noise it was lining the back of the hole with the clay. When that was made smooth, it filled the hole with dead spiders, and sealed the outside with more clay. It took nearly all day to fill four holes. Love to all. —Pink Certificate to Phyllis Porsen, age 9 years, Omahu road, Hastings. (I think that the spiders which the mason flies carry to their nests are stunned, Phyllis, but not dead. —C.K.). A NEST. Dear Chief Kiwi,—Thank you for the certificate you awarded me. I am going to tell you about a thrush’s nest. We have three lemon trees growing beside the house. In ope of them is a thrush’s nest. It was interesting to watch her build it. She would go and gather pieces of stick, straw, and all kinds of rubbish to make the nest. When she had finished building it she laid three eggs, which were blue with black spots on them. Last Wednesday I had a peep in her nest, and there were three baby birds. How lovely it is to see the father bird bring a worm in his mouth for the mother to feed her babies with. I suppose they will soon be big enough to fly away. Love to all the Kiwis —Pink Certificate to Rex Bennett, age 9 years, 601W St. Aubyn street, Hastings. (I can imagine, Rex, how you loved watching the making of that nest, and the appearance of the nestlings. I hope they will sing to you when they are old enough.—C.K.). OUR ROSES. Dear Chief Kiwi, —At the side of our shed there is a big trellis work. There are three rambler roses growing up over it. First there are the red, then the deep cream and then the pink. We pruned them in spring, and they look lovely now they are in bloom. The red one is single, but the other two are double roses. Some days we are allowed to pick them and put them in a vase but Mummy says they look much nicer where they are, as they do not last long in the house. I like flowers but I like roses best of all because they have such a sweet scent. Thank you for the certificate you awarded me. Love to all the other Kiwis. —Pink Certificate to Nancy Garrick, age 6 years, 802 Queen street west, Hastings. (If you were to place the roses in hot water, Nancy, leaving them till the water is cold before arranging them in the vases, they would keep fresh, for a longer period.—C.K.). A PARTY. Dear Chief Kiwi, —Thank you for the certificate. Last Tuesday, after school, I went to a little girl’s party. Her name was Gloria, and she was seven years old. We had to play inside, because it came on to rain. After having a few games we had tea. There were all kinds of nice things to have. After we had finished tea we had more games. Gloria received some nice presents, and the fairies left her a bangle. After having a good time we all went home. Chief Kiwi, may I have a Kiwi badge? Love to all your Kiwis. —Pink Certificate to Gwen Bennett, age 6 years, 601W St. Aubyn street, Hastings. (How sweet of the fairies to leave a bangle for little Gloria. I shall love to send you a badge, dear, so soon as I have your assurance that your work is entirely your own. It is not that I have any doubt about it, but the rule must be kept.—C.K.). OUR TENT. Dear Chief Kiwi, —This week I am going to tell you about our tent. One morning Daddy cut a big piece of wood into six pieces, and made a frame for the tent. When he had finished he got two pieces of leather and joined it together. He set the tent up at our back door, and we thought it was lovely. Then we got a big box and placed it in the centre of the tent for a table. After that we got some little boxes and put them around the big one for our chairs. My sister, brother and I have our breakfast in it, and on Sunday mornings Mummy has her breakfast with us. When we are away at school our kitten sleeps in the tent. She likes sleeping there. Thank you for the certificate. Love. —Pink Certificate to Robert Garrick, age 7 years, 802 Queen street W., Hastings. (I expect you look forward to Sunday mornings, Robert, when Mummie has breakfast with you.—C.K.) THE CARNIVAL. Dear Chief Kiwi, —Last Thursday week was carnival fete day. We wont to the racecourse and saw all the different cars going round the course. Then wo went round the side-shows, and watched the people try to win boxes of chocolates. Daddy had ago at one of the stalls and he won two boxes for us. After that we went and watched the horses, and aeroplanes and tilt-a-whirl go round, but I did not like to go on any of them. We stood by a lorry and saw some children singing songs and doing the actions. 1 liked

the Canoe Song best. Next I saw the little Scotch girls dancing. After a happy afternoon we all went home for our tea. Love to all. —Pink Certificate to Eva Burfield, age 7 years, 803 Queen street, Hastings. (Which did you best love, Eva, Carnival or Christmas time?—C.K.) OUR CONCERT. Dear Chief Kiwi—On Wednesday night we held a concert in our school, We all sang a number of songs and some of us recited. The Maori girls also gave two ppi dances. After the concert was over a Christmas Tree was uncovered, and we were all given a present from it. I got a printing outfit, and Maisie got a big book. Later on we had a good supper and the people danced till about one o’clock, then we all came home feeling very tired. Love. —Blue certificate to Graeme Willison aged 9 years, Opapa. (What a happy time you had, Graeme. Do you not think the poi dances are clever? —C.K.-) FIRE. Dear Chief Kiwi,—This morning I was playing with my playmates when all of a sudden clang! clang! I heard the flrebell. I listened for the siren. Soon I heard the engine coming along the main road, so I rushed in and told Mum, and then through the paddock to the corner, but I was too late to see the engine go by. 1 was sorry because I do like fire-engines. I hope Father Xmas will bring me one. My playmates and I did not see the fire, but we were told it was a haystack on fire. Love to all Kiwis. —Pink Certificate to Roy Burfield, age 6 years, 803 Queen street, Hastings. (Do tell me, Roy, whether Father Xmas remembered to bring you a fire engine. I hope he did. —C.K.). GOING ROUND THE SHEEP. Dear Chief Kiwi,—On Sunday I wont round the sheep with my cousin lan. As we were riding along the top of a ridge we saw a hare. It was sitting down, but when I made a noise it ran away. On our way home Digger the dog caught a hedge-hog and killed it, but I don’t think he could have eaten it because it was so prickly. We were very hungry after our ride in the wind and did enjoy our lunch. We had new potatoes for the first time. With love. —Blue Certificate to Lorna Butt, age 8 years, Sherenden. (That was quite an eventful ride, Lorna dear, and I expect you found the new potatoes very good indeed. —C.K.;

OUR PET LAMBS.

Dear Chief Kiwi, —We have three pet lambs, Betty, Billy, and Mary. Betty and Billy were given to us when they were small. Mary was our own — we found her mother stuck in the mud. John and I pulled her out but she could not walk. The lamb had nothing to drink, so we carried it home. Mum said we had better feed it as it was starving. It was a good job too, as when we went back the mother was dead. —Blue Certificate to Leslie Hicks, age 8 years, Opapa. (I am glad you were able to rescue the little lamb, and I imagine Betty, Billy and Mary to be a happy trio.— C.K.). THE GAS WORKS. Dear Chief Kiwi, —Dad took me one day to look round the gas works. We saw a man pumping tar from a well. Next we went upstairs where the retorts are. It is here where the gas is made. They shovel coal into the retorts then shut the doors. It is like a large oven. The coal is roasted by a fire underneath. After a while the retorts are ready to draw; the stoker, opens the door, gets a long poker, and pulls out all the hot coke. Some is put into the fire below by means of a shoot, the rest is dropped down below then it is crushed ready for use. —Blue Certificate to Tommy Leipst, age 9 years, 1020 Jellicoe street, Hastings. (You would be interested, Tom, in seeing gas made, and Kiwis will be interested in your description of your visit to the gas works. —C.K.). THE CARNIVAL. Dear Chief Kiwi, —Thank you for the certificate you awarded me. I went to the carnival with my mother, father, and sister. I went every night and saw all the pretty decorated cars in the procession. The first night I got a sample of tea and many streamers. On Thursday afternoon I was with three others boys. We went first of all to look for a sweet shop. We went all over the racecourse. When we came back I told my mother that there was no sweet shop on the grounds so I got a candy-floss and shared it with my sister. Afterwards we went home for tea. After having tea we went back to the racecourse and watched the boxing contest. Last night when I had a look at all the things got from the carnival. I found that I had many souvenirs. —Red Certificate to Raymond Rudman, age 9 years, 8(M Fitzroy Avenue, Hastings. (Were you very tired, Raymond, when the excitement of the carnival was over? —C.K.) OUR SCHOOLROOM. Dear Chief Kiwi,—Would you like to know about our schoolroom? There are charts on the wall. We have a drawing of bananas on the board. In one corner is our stove. Along the left side we have heaters. When we drew on the board bv the heaters, sometimes the ehalk would fall behind them. Some men put a board along so it couldn’t fall down behind them. In the winter we have the stove and heaters on. On the wall we have a picture of a mother lion with four baby lions. Father lion is looking to see if any enemies are coming. On the right

is a clock that never goes. We always have pretty flowers on the table and shelves. Thank you for the certificate and badge. —Red Certificate to Ngaire Thompson, age 8 years, 801 road, Hastings. (There is probably a reason for your school clock not going. Perhaps the pupils’ attention would wander to it too frequently especially at comingout time. —C.K.) SHEARING. Dear Chief Kiwi,---One day I went to watch Dad shear our last year’s pet lambs. He did the biggest one, Bunty, first. She struggled and bit, but Dad held on to her and started to shear her. When he had finished there lay on the ground a snow-white fleece which looked like a shawl, and shone like silk in the sun. Dad weighed the fleece and it weighed 161 b. He did the same to the other one whose name was Billy. His fleece only weighed 81bs, I am sure they felt cooler when they were finished. Those two poor lambs have been sold to the butcher. —Red Certificate to Louie Kitt, age 10 years, Murdock road, Hastings. (Bunty should have felt proud of her lovely fleece You would be sorry to have to part with the lambs, and to know of their destination.—C.K.) A VISIT TO NAPIER. Dear Chief Kiwi, —On Saturday 1 went to Napier to spend the day with my little cousin. We played in her playhouse and in the afternoon we had a tea party. Then we played hospitals and took turns in being the patients. When it was my turn to be sick I had a sore hand. After having a happy time 1 went home. Thank you for the certificate you awarded me. Love to all the Kiwis. —Red Certificate to Mary Moroney, age 9 years, Kenilworth, Tomoana. (I hope that during the holidays you will be able to have another lovely day in Napier,—C.K.) MY GARDEN. Dear Chief Kiwi, —This week 1 am going to tell you about my garden. J have a lovely little garden with lots of flowers. It has Christmas lilies, roses and bunnies. Every night when I go home from school 1 water it. Love to all the Kiwis. —Orange Certificate to Gabrielle Archibald, age 9 years, Tomoana road, Hastings. (Your garden will have had a nice drink during the recent rain, Gabrielle. —C.K.) MY BANTAM. Dear Chief Kiwi,—My bantam lays one egg a day. Now she is sitting on seven eggs. Before she was sitting on seven bad ones. We have a cat with two baby kittens which chase her around the house. We have just found our bantam. She has been in next door among the trees. We found seven eggs under her and we are waiting for the seven little baby chickens to come. Please may I have a badge ? It is my own work and not copied. —Orange Certificate to Norma Rudman, age 7 years, 801 Fitzroy Avenue, Hastings. (I will post you a badge next week, Norma dear.—C.K.) WRECKED ON AN ISLAND. Dear Chief Kiwi, —My mate and 1 went for a cruise in a yacht. Suddenly a wind arose and blew us out of our course. We were dashed against huge rocks, and my mate was drowned. The first thing to do was to make a hut to live in. When it was completed I started to look for some food. I could not find any, however, but, luckily, I had a fishing line and I caught some fish. (To be Continued.) With love. —Orange Certificate to Ken Stewart, age 10 years, 406 Whitehead road, Hastings. (What a tragic cruise, Ken. It was a mercy you saved your fishing line from the wreck.—O.K.) OUR CANARIES. Dear Chief Kiwi, —This week I am going to tell you about our canaries. We have a yellow hen and a green and yellow cock bird. They have a little nest with six eggs in it, and I hope to have some young ones soon, and 1 hope to get some more- yellow ones. Love to all Kiwis. —Orange Certificate to Roy Wilkins, age 8 years, 905 Eaton road, Hastings. (Have you some little yellow canaries now, Roy ? —C.K.) A PICNIC. Dear Chief Kiwi,—One fine Saturday Mother decided to go to Dartmoor for the day. We went by the nine o’clock ’bus and arrived there at half-past nine. When we got there we all went in for a swim till twelve and Mother called us for lunch. After lunch we got into a taxi and went to Napier where we had afternoon tea. It began to get dark and we walked up to the ’bus stand. When we arrived there we got into the ’bus and went home after spending a happy day. With love. —Orange Certificate to Rae Reid, age 10 years, 1029 Konini street, Hastings. (You would feel tired after your long day, Rae.—C.K.) THE CARNIVAL. Dear Chief Kiwi, —1 was very excited when Tuesday came as I was going on a lorry that night. I hurried home from school and did my lessons, then watched for the aeroplane. At five o’clock they started circling over the town. Don’t you think Mrs Adamson was lucky? I ran after some of the tickets thrown down but didn’t get a lucky one. After that I went up town I found the lorry I was going on. We were given streamers and trumpets. I think the big white swan was the best. I also liked the Scotch band. After the procession was over Dad took us round by the merry-go-round. I had a ride on one of the horses and then we went to look at the shops. One of Roach’s windows was lovely. It was just like a beach with the little children building a sand castle. After we had seen the windows we went home. We went out every night, and on Thursday afternoon we went to the racecourse. With lots of love. —Kathleen Giffney, age 9 years, 808 Hastings street, Hastings. (Too many words’ Kathleen; ISO is the limit.—C.K.)