The Kiwi’s Nest

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 77, 13 March 1933, Page 10

The Kiwi’s Nest

IT CAN BE DONE!

homebody said that it couldn’t be done. But he with a chuckle replied That maybe it couldn’t, But he would be one who would not say so till he tried!

8c he buckled right m With a bit of a gnu on his face. If he worried, he hid it! , Just start in to sing As you tackle the thing That cannot be done, and you’ll do it. Somebody scoffed—Oh. you’ll never do that— At least no one ever has done it! But he took off his hat and he took off his coat. And the first thing we knew he'd begun it. So just buckle in, With a trace of a grin on your face. Just start in to sing. As you tackle the thing jhat cannot be done —and you’ll do it. Dear Kiwis,—During the past week •r so, I wonder how many of you have been thinking of swimming and the aborts at Nelson Park. I did enjoy the awirnmmg s|K>rts, watching the swimming and the diving. What a number went in for the novices’ race, across the baths, a few of the bravest at the deep end, while the shallow end was | •omewhat overcrowded. Now 1 was particularly interested in that race, oae reason being that 1 believe in •veryone trying. It is more honoursale to lose a race while doing one’s best than never to try. What a funny world it would be if we were all afraid to try I I ]ove watching baby trying to walk—just think, if be never tried! And then he tries to talk, and only fond relatives can tell what he is saying. I wonder what you will say when I tell you I have never dived! We did not have swimming baths at school when I was young, and there is no time like childhood for learning. So “just buckle in” and learn to swim all you can! The swimming and diving of the primary school children was well worth watching; there are some fine swimmers amongst them—and you beginners remember they were all beginners once, also! As for Thursday’s sports—while I am writing, it is too soon to »sy anything about them; but those afraid to try this time, take heart, and I try your best next time. Most people, young and old, like to be called a “sport”—l expect you do. 1 would not like it said that I am not a sport! Now, what does being “a sport” mean to you ? Does it merely mean able to »wim and run. and, perhaps, play football or cricket? or does it mean being brave, honest and true, one whose ward can be depended on. and who will not cheat? You can be a sport in school and at homo as well as when at play. This week we have no new Kiwis to welcome, and we have no Birthday Greetings to send! That does not often happen, does it? We have one page of a letter headed “My Books”—perhaps the second page, with name and other particulars will arrive in a few days. We have Keith Gibb's letter still awaiting his age? Nancy and Robert Garrick have both been very busy this week—there are two letters from each of them. One • week is sufficient! A Kiwi badge is being sent to Harry Medcalf. Best Jove to all the Kiwis. CHIEF KIWI. ESSAYS—SENIORS. BIRDS. Dear Chief Kiwi, —This has been a particularly interesting bird year hereabouts. In our shrubs wc have had birds building that we have never seen before. We watched a particularly friendly thrush from the time it built Sts nest in the honeysuckle till the young ones flew away. It began its nest on December 13. Five days after, the nest was complete, with one egg in it. In three more days the mother bird had finished laying. Ten days la'er young ones appeared. Then began a busy time for the old birds, from very early morning till late at night they were hunting all over the garden for grubs and worms. Twentytwo days after the young ones were hatched they flew away. In another nest with only two youug ones they were able to fly three davs sooner With love. —Prize of 2/6 to Marjorie Black, age 12 years, Te Kura, Otane. (Birds arc very interesting to watch and listen to. The parent birds evidently trusted you, Marjorie). OUB CHICKS. Dear Chief Kiwi, —Thank you lor th r certificate you awarded me last week. When our chicks were about , three weeks old, the mother started laying and didn’t want her chicks. Every time they went near her she I wculd chase them over to the paddock nett door and run away and hide. This ■ soon made the chicks keep away from | her. The other day I went outside and one of them was in the bathroom, scratching round looking for something ' to eat. They are so funny to watch wten two stand up straight and fight. , When Roy, the dog. is having his dinner the chicks come along and jump * forward and snatch a bit and then 1 jump back again. Seeing Roy is fourteen years old he cannot run very fast so they arc not very frightened. With love to the Kiwi Band. —Pink Certificate to Noalene ' Thomas, age 12, Tekura, Otane. ; (There is a lot of fun in just watch- < ing animals together. I expect you - have had Roy a long time Noalene. —C.K. THE GIRL GLIDE PICNIC. ’Dear Chief Kiwi, —Leaving at half past one, we went to the golf links I in rars, where we were to have the pie- : nie. with the W.nipawa Guides. i On arrival we found the Waipawa < Guides in their bathing costumes ready : for a swim, for there is a river running i by. Quickly we undressed and ran i for a swim, too. When the whistle

blew we had to come out. Having races was great fun. Some of them were shoe race, potato race, . knot race, three-legged race and whistling race. For this last we had to run , to the people at the other end when the starter said “Go ’’ and whistle the tune “God Save the King.” There were patrol races, too. Then I came afternoon tea, alter which the I prizes were given out. We left, with , | the Waipawa Guides, at six o’clock. I With love, I Pink crtilicate to Edna Clark, age II 1 years, Otane. (That was an enjoyable Girl Guide picnic, Edna, and a happy way of getting to know other Guides.—C.K.) THE MAKING OF A BUTTERFLY WING PICTURE. Dear Chief Kiwi,—One day mother went to town to do some shopping and left me home to mind my little brother. As he was asleep and I had nothing i to do, I set to work to make a butterfly wing ■picture. On a piece of glass, I traced with black enamel a dainty picture of a fairy dancing with a goblin. When this was dry, I fitted suitable coloured tinsel paper inside the outline. Having given I this time to stick, I pasted brown paper to the back of the picture. Then I placed a piece of cardboard on the back and bound round the edges with passe-par-tout. When finished this was a very effective little picture, and having hung it up in the kitchen I waited for mother to return. She was surprised and pleased to see this, and insisted upon its being hung in the dining-room. With love to you all. —Pink Certificate to Jay Warren, age 14 years, 814 Ellison road, Hastings. (Butterfly pictures can be very effective, Joy, and it made a nice surpise for your mother.—C.K.) HELPING TO PICK FRUIT. Dear Chief Kiwi, —Thank you verymuch for the prize you awarded me last week. This week I am going to -.11 you about helping to pick fruit. At home we have a good many apple trees. I often help to pick the fruit and weigh the apples. At present the wind is blowing a lot of them down on the ground. The trees have to be sprayed regularly to prevent codlin moth and fungus diseases. The birds also help to make the fruit disappear. Lots of cases of apples from the Hastings district are exported to London. With love to all the Kiwis. —Blue Certificate to Charlie Moroney, age 11 years, Kenilworth, Tomoana. (There is muc to be done in an orchard, Charlie, and you are evidently very useful.—C.K.) A DAY AT CLIFTON. Dear Chief Kiwi, —Thank you for the certificate you awarded me. During my holidays I spent a day at Clifton with a friend. When we arrived at the beach we made straight for the hills. We climbed and climbed till our legs ached, but still we went on. Ou reaching the top we saw a mass of scrub, and sheep tracks were here and there. We wandered along the tracks and played chasing for a while. Coming down was much easier, as we slid all the way. After pinner we went for a swim and played about on the sand. We then want for a walk around the cliffs and we strolled back just in time for afternoon tea. Tea over, we packed up and returned home With 'ove to all. —Blue Certificate to George Cooper, age 11 years, 806 Eaton road, Hastings. A HOT DAY. Dear Chief Kiwi, —Thank you very much for the live s.’iilluigs aw the eetificate. On Sunday it was very hot, so I asked Dad if he would aPow us to hose each other down. He said “Yes,” but he would hose the three of us while we stood on the leeks, and we were kept cool as well as watering the leeks. We rushed inside and put on our bathing gowns. Soon we were standing beside the leeks being sprayed with water. At first the water felt cold, but it soon became warmer. After we were all wet Mother came out and asked us if we would like our photis taken. Barb, went in and got her camera and , we were snapped. When we had had enough we lay iu the sun to get brown, for about a quarter of an hour. —Blue Certificate to Audrey Tod, age 12 years, “ Hollycombe, ” Otane. (At first, Audrey, I thought there were “leaks” in your hose, then I , gathered you meant “oniony” leeks! Getting cool that way was a very fine idea.—C.K.) A HOLIDAY. (Continued.) Dear Chief Kiwi, —We saw the “Twin Geyser.” Before it was going to play a rock rose out of the water ns a warning to move away. There was a pool called the “Blue Pond.” The guide said that it would be clear if it hadn’t any silica in the bottom. There were a poodle and a monkey made from rock. 1 thought the minature pink terraces ;

were the prettiest. When we cait back from Wairakei we went to have bathe in Lake Taupo. There wet | many speed-boats on the lake. Tin evening we went for a swim in the ho baths, down in a valley, which wer i very hot, almost, unbearable. When w came out we were nearly as red as 10l sters. (To be continued.) ‘ With love to all the Kiwis. ■ Blue Certificate to Marie Robin, age 12 years, 403 Collinge road, Has tings. (Yours was a wonderful holiday 1 Marie, so many interesting places am things to see.—C.K.) SCHOOL DAYS. Dear Chief Kiwi, —Thank you for thi certificate you awarded me. Mother says school days are our hup piest days. When she went to schoo there were no swimming baths, n< sports, just plain lessons. Now wi have so many useful things taught us and she says wc have much bettei times in and out of school. What di you think, Chief Kiwi? With love. —lied Certificate to Airini Smale, agr 12 years, Napier road, Havelock North (les, Airini, the children nowadays have many advantages at school that their elders laekid, and wc oldn. people think you very fortunate.— v.m... AN EVENING AT THE TL’KI TUKI Dear Chief Kiwi, —Arriving at the river at six o'clock on Tuesday evening, we decided to have our tea and then go fishing by the side of the bank. Tea over, we tvcut down to catch a few herrings, and in about five minutes we had caught enough for a night’s fishing. Back again at our tent, we made the two beds, and then we went for a swim in the clear, cool, spring waters. Thank you for the certificate you awarded me. You told me to put in my age last time. lam twelve years. —Red Certificate to Harry Medcalf, a ge 12 years, 502 French street, Hastings. (You would enjoy your fish for supper or breakfast, Harry, and were fortunate to catch so many.—C.K.) ESSAYS—JUNIORS. MY BIRTHDAY. Dear Chief Kiwi, —My birthday was yesterday. I got up in the morning and found I had a few presents. When I had helped Mummy with some of the work 1 heard the postman’s whistle and I can out to see if there were any letters but there was a parcel for me. In it was a blue dress and a handkerchief and a three-penny-piece. 1 received quite a number of presents. We had a party in the morning. Then Mummy took us to the pictures in the afternoon. We liked the pictures very much, and it was about Janet Gaynor who was very pretty. Then Mummy treated us to an ice-cream. Love. —Pink Certificate to Nancy Garrick, age 7 years, 802 Queen street west, Hastings. (What a busy and happy birthday you had, Nancy.—C.K.) AN AFTERNOON AT HAUMOANA. Dear Chief Kiwi, —This week I am going to tell you about an afternoon at Haumoana. One afternoon some of our cousins took us down to Haumoana beach. We ha 4 always wished to go there and we enjoyed it very much. Wc saw some sea-gulls, some terns and at the other side of the beach we saw the life-saving reel. I watched a man swim out a good distance; then two other men swam out with the belt on. Then three men let the rope out with them. When they reached the man they were to rescue, they put the belt around him and then started to swim for the shore. They laid him down and pressed him on the back to pump the water out of him. Love to all the Kiwis. —Pink Certificate to Robert Garrick, age 8 years, 802 Queen street west, Hastings. (The life-saving is very interesting to watch, Robert. Altogether, you had a very pleasant afternoon at the beach. —C.K.). FIVE PACKING CASES. Dear Chief Kiwi, —This week I am going to tell you about five packing cases. Mummy bought them in town and we got a man to bring them up. When I saw them on the path I came quickly and all my little playmates came and played on the boxes. There were ten who came. We rolled the cases inside and played hide and seek. Then the rain began, and so we made a little hut, and got a piece of canvas and placed this over the top of the boxes. After tea we had a concert in the hut. until dark. On Saturday my brother and I pulled the nails out of three of the boxes and piled the wood up readv for Daddy to build a chicken coop out of it. Love to all the Kiwis. —Pink Certificate to Robert Garrick, age 8 years, 802 Queen street W, Hastings. (You had some fun with the boxes, Robert, before your Daddy needed them. —C.K.). A STATELY POPLAR. Dear Chief Kiwi,—l will try and tell yon what thoughts go through my mind about a tine big poplar tree near here. All its life has been spent in one spot, planted there many years ago by a Mauri to mark hit share of w math

e I land. It clings to the ground with a I a tenacity which lias resisted many e ’quakes and winds. At one time it t must have been very straight and have t felt very important; but now old age e is creeping on and it is getting stout e and full of knots. It always reminds • me of an old person with rheumatism. Each year when the new leaves come on it, it must feel like a great-grand-mother nursing the babies. I often , think what tales it would tell if only it could speak. 1 must close with love to you all. , —Pink Ceritficate to Kathleen Grif1 fiths, age 9 years, Fernhill P.O. (Yes, Kathleen, what a lot trees see and hear, and sometimes they must want to laugh! What tales they could tell’—U.K.). MY NEW NIECE. Dear Chief Kiwi, —Thank you for the 5/-. My sister has got such a darling wee baby girl, with, blue eyes and black hair. On Saturday mornings I hurry and finish my work so that I may go round to watch her being bathed. When she cries, her mother allows me to wheel her but she is a good baby anil does not cry much. I often wish she would cry all day while J am there. My other niece who is just three years old thinks the world of her baby sister, but sometimes gets into mischief by waking the baby when their mother is busy. Baby has uot been named yet, but my sister is thinking of calling her Margaret. —Pink Certilicatc to Louie Kitt, age 10 years, Murdoch road. Hastings. (I am surprised you like a “crying” baby, Louie. Most people love them best when happy.—G.K.). WHERE COWS WEAR NUMBER-

PLATES. Dear Chief Kiwi,—lf you go over thr high level bridge at Cambridge, yot will come to the Leamington district and farther on, to Roto-o-rangi. This is a district of fierce gales and thunder storms, where the cold winds even

stunt the,trees, and spring is mans weeks later than in the more sheltered districts nearby. It was while driving in this district that J noticed cows quietly gracing on the roads. Nice, orderly cows they were, that did not try to rush across the road at the approach ot every car, as they seem to do here, and 1 noticed that each cow wore around its neck a leather collar. 1 asked my cousin, who lived in the district, about the cows. “Well,” she said, ‘‘the owners of those cows pay a fee to the council for permission to graze on the road, and those collars are their number-plates.” —Pink Certificate to Ngaire Wheeler, age 10 years, 201 Gallien street, Hastings. (What a good idea lor the council to allow cows to graze on the road like that, Ngaire.—C.K.) KEEPING HOUSE WHILE MUMMY WAS AWAY. Dear Chief Kiwi, —I am going to tell you about keeping house while Mummy was at Gisborne. She left here about seven o’clock in the morning. Dad and my brother and 1 had breakfast and afterwards washed up. Then we swept the floors and macle the beds It was then nearly dinnertime, so we had our dinner. In the afternoon Dad gave us sixpence each and we went to the pictures with a little friend of ours. It was a beautiful sunny day. The picture house was crowded, and we enjoyed the pictures very much. When we got home we fed the fowls and gathered the eggs. We found thirteen eggs. Then we had our tea and washed the dishes, and Dad said W’e could play outside for half an hour before going to bed. Love. —Blue Certificate to Nancy Garrick, age 7 years, 802 Queen street W., Hastings. (You managed very well for that one day without your mother, but I am sure you would be glad when she was back! —C.K.) OUR GARDEN. Dear Chief Kiwi, —I am going to tell you about our garden. 1 have a small flower garden, and also a vegetable garden. I am going to tell you about iny vegetables this week. I have to ripen twelve tomatoes before I get a penny. I have some potatoes too, but I am afraid they have not come on very well. I have some carrots and some parsley too. With love to all the Kiwis. —Blue Certificate to John Mackersey, a ge 8 years, Box 51, Hastings. (You are quite a gardener. John, and I expect you enjoy being in your garden.—C.K.) BACK TO SCHOOL Dear Chief Kiwi,—On Wednesday, February 1, we went back to school after six weeks’ holiday. Oh! how lovely it is to be back and to see our friends again. The first day we were put in our classes, but we did not do much work as we did not have our new' books, and everything was disordered. So we helped our new teacher to clean the cupboards out and hang pictures on the wall. With love to all. —Blue Certificate to Gwen Couper, age 9 years, 806 Eaton road, Hastings. (It is grand to get back to school again, Gwen; even holidays can be too long sometimes. —C.K.) PUKEHOU’S SCHOOL PICNIC. Dear Chief Kiwi, —1 am going to tell you about the picnic. One day the “Cubs” were invited to a picnic. W hen we arrived we saw many people there. lie had racing and the winners received a fountain pen. I did not go in the races because I was not allowed to run. After that we had a game of bar. | got through a few times. A little while later we had afternoon tea. Then some other boys played with me. After this they gave out the Sunday school prizes, and the boys and girls who did not get a prize were given a bag of lollies. Some boys got more than one bag. Then we went home with our bag of lollies and prizes. Love io all the Kiwi band. —Red Certificate to Douglas Clark, age 8 years, Box 7, Otane. (Picnics are great fun Douglas, and you evidently had quite a jolly time.—