21st COMPETITIONS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 127, 2 May 1925, Page 9

21st COMPETITIONS.

(Closing date, Wednesday, 13th May, 1925). Each envelope and entry must be marked “21st Competitions.” “WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE A MILLIONAIRE?”

Give you - ideas in the form of a letter or an essay (net more than 3CO words). Senior division: 12 years and up to 17 years; Ist prize 4s, 2nd prize 2s. Junior division: Under 12 yeur6; Ist urize 4s, 2nd prize 2s. " HUMOROUS BLACK AND WHITE SKETCH, Illustrating “Thirty all” (Tennis). Senior and junior division —and prizes as above. ILLUSTRATED GEOGRAPHICAL PUZZLE (No. 3). Senior and junior division, and a prije each of 3s.

The above illustration represents five towns or suburbs of New Zealand. RESULTS OF 17TH COMPETITIONS. BLACK AND WHITE SKETCH OF “AUNT ROBERTA.” The drawing that gains first prize has great originality (although it is a libel on poor “Aunt Roberta” :), and is by Maja Petersen, Hospital road, Waipukurau (15 years). \ , Second prize (2s 6d): Lancelot Borreson, 60 Alexandra street, Palmerston North (16 years), whose “idea” of “Aunt Roberta” is altogether different from Maja Petersen’s.

Both drawings will bo reproduced. There were many other very excellent sketches submitted, but they lacked in originality, were not well drawn, or were too much like “fashion plate’! figures or men advertising suits* Highly commended: Bessie Cross, box 3, Orepuki (15 years); lan Campbell 97 College street, PaHmersljon North (143); Zena B. Chenneils, 49 Derby street, Christchurch (13); John Malcolm, 30 Latham street, Napier (15), two sketches; May Needham, 288 Church street. Palmerston North (14); Grace Tnylor, 16 Stanley Avenue, Palmerston North (10 years); Noolino Barnard, 15 Worcester street, Palmerston North (15), two sketches; Mary Richards, Lumsden (134); Sid Jolly. 18 Bourke street, Palmerston North (15). Commended: Rose Cummings, 71 Herbert street, Gladstone, Invercargill (15); Frederick C. Keeler, Inglewood, Invercargill (15); Tom Maxwell, Nantwich street, Otautau (11). Winifred Stevenson, £6l Yarrow street, Lindisfarne, Invercargill (13J); Duncan McFarlane, 134 Esk street, Invercargill (10 years); Ralph Holmes) 8 Knowles street. Palmerston North (9), two sketches); Douglas Rutherford, Fairviow, Otano, Hawke’s Bay (10); Jean Cochrane, Rdeeeourse Road, Waipukurau (14J); Douglas Rees, Maraekakoho, Hawke’s Bay (10); Rose Coghlan, Willowflat, Napier (14). HANDWRITING CONTEST. Senior Division. First Prize (4s): Annie Bahout, 22 Cuba treet, Palmerston North (16 years). Second Prize (2s): Margaret O. Robson, Kabul street, Wairoa, Hawke’6 Bay (14 years). Junior Division : First Prize (4s): Gipey Gunn, caro Mrs Donald, Box 111, Waipukurau (8 years) (present address). Second Prize (2s): Annie Thompson, Roslyn Bush (10J years). “26 Puzzle.” I was astounded at the number of entries, for it is not an easy task by any means to arrange the numbers [1 to 12)

so that they total 26 in all directions. I could not manage it myself. The prize of 5s has been awarded to the youngest competitor, who is only 10 years of uge:—Marcia Barnett, Centro street, Invercargill. ILLUSTRATED GEOGRAPHICAL PUZZLE (No. 1). So many entries were wrong in the third, which is Kingsland, a suburb of Auckland. (1) Nightcaps, (2) Taihape, (3) Kingslarid, (4) Bulls, (5) Arrowtown. Senior division, Prize (3): Alf de Vantier, 21 Wood street, Palmerston North (15). This boy went to a great deal of trouble with his entry, as also did Margaret C. Robson Wairoa, Hawke’s Bay, who gains 2nd prize in the Handwriting contest (senr. division). 3 marks to Margaret. Junior division, prize 3s): Joyce Davies, 102 Ritchie street, Invercargill (11), whose entry is beautifully neat. COMPETITION RULES. Cash prizes will be .awarded each week. Boys and girls up to 17 years of age may compete. The work will be judged according to quality. Due consideration will be given to the question of age of the competitor. Marks will be awarded as follow: To the winner of any competition, a rot for the one who sends in the best joke, riddle, catch, etc 4 To the boy or girl who gains second plaoe 3 Highly commended 2 Commended 1 A record will be kept of the marks gained, and at the end of tho year the following prizes will be given: A handsome gold medal to the one who gains the highest number of marks, A silver medal to the one who gains the second highest number of marks. These medals will bo in addition to the cash prizes awarded each week of 'the year. Write in ink on one side of paper only. Neatness, good writing and punctuation will count. Each entry must be on a separate sheet, with name, age, date of birth, and address underneath it. All entries must be your own unaided effort, exoept jokes,, riddles, catches, etc. Drawings must be done in black ink, unless otherwise stated. Address all entries, letters, etc., to — “Aunt Roboita,” C/of "Manawatu Evening Standard." Palmerston North. SHORT STORY—I6th COMPETITIONS.

In judging the short story entries I have been very critical, and nothing has beep forgiven. Under “Our Mail Bay” I have briefly criticised each story, with the exception of the three prize winners. This may help competitors to do better next time.

First prize, 10s: Genevievo Brereton, 49 Botanical road, West End (i.ged 16 years). A delightful fairy story! The stylo is polished and flow of language is easy. Second prize, 7s 6d: Isabel Kgerton, box 49, Winton (15 years). As usual, Isabel tells her story very, very simply und charmingly. Third prize, ss: E. Webber, Bunnythorpe (15 years). A striking contrast to the Ist and 2nd prize stories. It is realistically told. ‘ ?'

Highly commended: Helen Shaw, Slack’s road, Palmerston North (14); Marjorie Forrest, 44 Grey street, Palmerston North (144) I Aisla Varooe, 84 Union street, Palmerston North (15); Nancy Hobson la Clyde load, Napier (1.4); Joan King, box 111, Hastings (16); Jean Monteith, Porangulluu road, Waipukurau (13); Norma Wells, Whakuronga, Palmerston North (12); Enici Nathan, 46 Linton street, Palmerston North ;14); Marie Murphy, 4 Millar street, Terrace End, Palmerston North (15); Reg. Knight, Rongotea siding (1.6); Bren Trow, 118 Ruahine street, _ Palmerston North (16); Millicent Broadbent, 4 Compton road, Invercargill (133); AT. do Vantier, 21 Wood street, Palmerston North (IE); Betty King, box 111, Hastings (13); Mavis Wesnev, 10 Thomson sseet, North Invercargill (15); Mlary Rooney, 25 Tyne street, Invercargill (15); Cathie Stevenson, 254 Ettrick street, Invercargill (15). Commended: Murgaret C. Robson, Kabul street, Wairoa, H.B. (14); Gwen Murphy, 4 Millar . street, Palmerston North (13) Frunces Knowler, Happy Valley, Tuatapiere (124); Gladys Simpson, 11 Sydney street, Invercargill (13); Nancy Rae, box 56 Orepuki (12): Winnie Rue (15); Bessie Cross, box 3, Irepuki (15); Winnie Belshaiin, Lumsden (14) ; Margaret Allen, 4 Herbert street, Gladstone, Invercargill (14) Jack Hasloch, Tiritea, Palmerston North (15|); Mollie Robb, Ruataniv.hu, Waipawa (13).

FIRST PRIZE STORY. “WHAT PIXIE SAW.” (By Genevieve Brereton, 16 years). Do you know that, if you go on Midsummer Night to a clear pluce in a wood and wait there, still as still, until 12 o’clock, you will see fairies? You will. You sec, on Midsummer Night the fa:rics have no work to do, so they come to the wood at 12 o’clock and dance and dance.- I know it’s true because Pixio .saw them and told me. Pi vie is a little boy. Don’t you think Pixie is a funny name for a boy? But if you saw him- —he is little and brown with a small elfish face, and his brown hair goes to a point on top of his head like a Kewpie’s—you would knbw why everyone calls him that., Well, somebody had been talking to Pixie about fairies, on Midsummer Day, and he began to think very hard. At 7 o’clock he trotted off to bed and when mother came in a long time after, he was sound uslcep—at least it looked like it. But after she had gone to bed and the big houee was all quiet and still. Pixie sat up in bed and listened very hard. Then he tumbled out gently. 110 was humming a little tune to himself and his big brown eyes sparkled as the moonlight fell on his little brown face. As quietly as a mouse he stole out of the back door, and a few seconds later ho was scampering over the back garden in the direction of the wood. Such an odd little figure he looked, too! His little brown hands held his pyjamas, all bunched lip in front of him, and his tassels were trailing behind him in the wet grass. His big eyes looked a wee bit frightened and his topknot seemed more ]>ointcd and elfish than ever. There was an open, green space just inside the edge of tho wood —a cool, mossy doll where Pi vis had often gathered mush-, rooms for his mother—and here ho stopped to look around a little fearfully. It was very dark under the trees and the moon cast mysterious, moving shadows all around him, but the thought of the fairies made Pixio fee! brave, so he sat down on tho moss, curled his chubby toes under him and leaned, against a big tree to await tlfcm. Buo he was a scared little boy. Once a big; owl hooted at him and almost frightened him to death. Then, just as he was wishing ho was back in his cosy little bed, something moved under him and'a squeaky little voice cried:

“Get off! You’re sitting on my head!” Pixio moved quickly, you may be sure, and saw. a big, white bulgy thing which was coming up out’ of the j ground. He was more surprised than ever when the thing turned out to be a big mushroom, and when he looked rojnd, Pixie saw mushrooms popping up everywhere in the most surprising way, until there were seven big rings on the moss. (fleven is the perfect mngio number, you know). Then, from under each pinky-white mushroom, there came a little elf—all in brown, with a peaky cap and big brown eyes like Pixie’s eyes—and each little- brown man climbed on to his mushroom and stared very solomnly at the little boy until he began to feel a very little boy indeed. “He’s like us!" said one elf, staring hard at Pixio.

“Yes. he is. But he’d better get out of -

* - t tthe 'way op he'll get trodden on,” said a bigger elf with a sulky face;,' ,7" When Pixio heard this he wriggled away until they could not see him and began to wish he had not come. The grumpy elf was just opening his mouth to make some more nasty remarks, when there was a little tinkling sound like bells and the beat, beat of drums, so ho shut it again. And all the little elves stopped, trying.to see Pixie and sat up ever so quietly on their mushrooms. The tinkling of the .belli! came nearer and the beat, beat of the fairy drums‘got louder; and now Pixie could hear' fairy voices singing as sweetly us ever anyone sang, and he could . see little dancing lights corning towards the doll. And then a lovely carriage., like a big silvery apple with soft white stuff blowing, round it. came into the mossy place, pulled by four shiny black mice more beautiful than any horses Pixie had ever seen. In the lovely little carriage sat the King and the Queen of Fairyland laughing as merrily as the fairies themselves. And behind came elves in green, playing upon sdver pipes, and then short, tubby little fairy boys beating the drums; and then came the fairies. They .were bo beautiful! Their cheeks were pink and their blue eyes shone with happiness. Their hair was like fine gold with dewdrops shining in it and ',heir laughter was sweet-, est music. Their dresses were soft and floating—of every colour in the rainbow — and their wings were wide and big, but light, too. flashing with erystul and gold. And round this gay throng flew tiny fairies swinging flowers, each of which held, a firefly in tne centre, so there was light everywhere. Then the King and the Queen, the elves and the fairies danced. How they danced ! They danced 'n the mushroom rings and sang and sang until the birds woke up to listen. They swayed and swung to their own music until Pixie longed to dance, too, but was afraid, lest they should be angry. And the fireflies danced too, till the dell blazed with golden light and the flowers began to open because they thought it ,was day. And then 'he music died—the gay lights faded and the dell wa3 dark again. And Pixie-boy ran home to bed, telling his mother the next morning and showing her the seven mushroom rings—but she said it was a dream. I wonder !

( SECOND PRIZE STORY. , “THE PRINCESS WHO LOVED THE HILLS.” ' (By Isabel Egerton, 15 years.) 1 The Princess Faya sat high up on a balcony of her father's palace gazing with wistful eyes at the dreamy blueness of the 1 far-away hills. Always she had loved the distant hills—in the early dawn when the world was flushed with soft red, in the evening when the shadows chased tlio sunrays on the dusky purple of their diin mysterious outlines, and at night, when the moonlight shone lustrous and wonderful above them, her eyes sought the distant hills and her heart held mystic communion with them. They had been her beloved friends since childhood, for,, although young and beautiful, the princess was of a quiet and dreamy disposition, and had nb particular friends. Her mother had died when she was u baby, and her father, an ambitious man, was totally indifferent to her because she was u girl and he had wished for a son to rule his kingdom after him. But now be was about to wed a proud, haughty woman who would be Faya’s step mother —and Faya had heard that step-mothers were always cruel. So this day she felt very sad and lonely as she sat in the balcony where beautiful red roses climbed to fill her favourite nook with sweetest perfume. As she sat there, musing witn far-away eyes, she heard the clatter of horses’ feet, and saw, approaching the palace, a small cavalcade of men, with one, who seemed to be their leader, riding at their head on a prancing black stced. The Princess had never seep such a handsome Prince, and she gazed with interest at the slender, gallant youth, with his long, black curl? and shining, dark eyes; and he, chancing to look up, saw her sitting, beautiful and still, licside the roses. For mi instant his shining eyes met here, and then, smiling slightly and checking his chargor, he held out his hand, and the Princess dropped into it a beautiful red rose. The Prince made a graceful acknowledgment, and, witli a long, backward glance, rode on, while the Princess learned from her attendant that lie was called Prince Shilling-Eyes, and that his kingdom lay on the oilier side of the hills. A few days after this her father was married with, great pomp and splendour, and from that day the Princess was neglected more than ever, and treated harshly. Then one day her father told her-that lie had accepted an offer of marriage for her,, hind that she must shortly wed this middleaged suitor, who was. :n the Princess Faya’s opinion, altogether unsuitable for

a husband. But her pleadings wore in vain, and she retired to her balcony, where .she wept sorrowfully. Then suddenly she lifted her face, alight with a new hope. Why should she stay where no on® cared for her? Why should she not answer the alluring hills that had beckoned to her in the sunshiny days, and called- to her through tho starry nights 7 She lifted her eyes to the hills. ‘‘l will come,” she whispered softly, and tho wandering breeze bore her words toware.s the waiting hillls.

That night, when all was quiet, .she let. Ijprself down from her balcony and turned tier face to the hills A big, white moon tbed its soft light over ‘he.sleeping earth us-the Princes 3 set out for the hills. At last, tired, but witli undaunted courage, she reached the forest-clad foot of the bills. All was still, except for the drowsy chirp of an occasional bird, as she wandered along beneath the leafy branches where wonderful flowers poured their perfume on i;he moonlit air. High up on a motionless twig, she caught a glimpse o:: shining, blue feathers and bright, open eyes. “Oh,” she breathed, “Greetings! my bluebird of liapoiness”; and joyfully journeyed on. But’ by the time the moon was at its zenith, her footsteps wore j&ltering and ?ho began to realise how tired she was. Looking round for a suitable resting place, she spied a smooth stretch of daisy-dotted green moss with a gentle slope that would serve as, a pillow. ishe lay down to sleep on her soft bed, and in tier dreams the little white daisies changed into fairy folk who moved lightly around her, gazed at her and whispered to each other, and joining hands danced noiselessly and gracefully aroui>_d her. Anil the Princess smiled in her sleep, for she felt secure in their' company. She was awakened by the 'most wonder- • fnl music she had ever beard. Thousands of birds’ silver voices, trilling songs of rapture to welcome the sweet summer morn, while tho sunrays danced among the green leaves and the joy of youth and adventure gre a- in her heart. She arose and resumed her journey, awure of a sense of freedom and happiness as she climbed up and up, till a swift summer shower surprised her. Hastening her steps in search of shelter she came ujK'.n a small hut, where she knocked, timillv on the door, which to her astonishment and 1 pleasure, was opened by no loss a person than Prince Shining-Eyes. “Welcome, my. Princess.” he said, ond his eyes rhorie like star.? as he bent on one knee to kiss her hand. And on her lover’? a<m she leant.

And round her waist she felt it fold. And far across the hills they went, In that now world which is the old, Across the hills and for- away, Beyond their utmost purple rim. And deep into the dying day The happy Princess followed him. The third prize story will be published next week. SHORT STORY CRITICISMS: Enid Nathan: Uncommon idea, shows promise. Incorrectly punctuated. Gwen Murphy: Incorrectly punctuated. Clumsily expressed in places, for instance, “1 must, climb the cliff and receive help.” On the whole, e. decent little story for or? of your years. Shows promise Norma Wells: ‘Very good for a 12-ycar-old girl. A few trifling mistakes “1 amgoing up t- the lake and watch the moon shine on it.” “The lake was a beautiful place’su around.' it with wonderful birds.’’ Aisla Varcoo: To begin with, “Little Zillah” is easily 1000 words over the limit. You are to be complimented upon an exceptionally we l written story, but it is coo long for publication. Few trifling mistakes in spelling, for instance, “conjeuror” (conqueror), “allyways” (alleyways), etc. Is there such a wortj ag intentively ?”

Helen Shaw Very sweet story, indeed! Wilt publish. You cannot all win a prize. Marjorie Forrest: “Faith” was amongst tho last seven and just niissed a prize. May publish—it all depends on space available.

Jack Ilaslock: Well constructed story but badly expressed all through “showed up in tho position of the boy” . . “thus saving the inspector of his fate” . . “also a grievance to mark of with the inspsetor” . . . ‘grievance’ was also spelt incorrectly;. Bad punctuation. Alt de Vantier: Good boys’ story. You are improving. Will publish if space permits. This is how you spelt “Jubilliation.” Bren Trow: Good story, but clumsily handled. Mare oare 'needed. Meaning 2nd par. not clear. Reg. Knight: Good idea, but you lack in expression. Story is an improvement, -however, on you' other prose entries, so cheer up. May publish. Marie Murphy : Not a story but a very beautiful description of a country scene. Hope to publish later on.