FROM THE HUB

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6844, 23 February 1929, Page 14

FROM THE HUB

Dear Cogs, What nice sunny, days- we have been having! Let's hope they will continue. I received a nice letter from Jack Searle, who has been to Wanganui for a holiday. lam so sorry the trams made you sick Jack. That is perhaps because you aro not used to them. Your cousin was kind to lend you his pony. Be good to her- ,won't you? Remember, always be kind to animals, you must be an awfully good sprinter, Jack, to win s-o many nice prizes.

Joy writes that at her Auntie s in RaetaM, she had two dear little pot lambs, “Wopsy,” and “Algy.” And now her Aunt has written to say that “Algy” has died. lam sorry for that, "joy, but I think I would rebel against life if I had a name like ''Algy. ” I hope, dear, that you have some luck at the Rangiwahia Show with your other pets. This week we have a dear little new Cog member. A little Maori maiden. She has written such a nice letter, I only wish you could all see her writing, it is so beautiful, but you may read her letter. I want to hear soon, when she goes to the new school, that she ■has made some very tine friends with the pakeha children. Huia, is the first Maori 'Cog” member, and you must wish her every happiness, and added happiness in the Cog membership. Children have a look again at the tiny verse on the top of '-this page. It nay interest you all to know that that ;s original, and was composed by a friend of mine in Palmerston North, the Rev. Mr. J. E. Parsons. Ho has done a much more wonderful’thing thaD that. He has written two beautiful books for children, and any of you who have not already read them, ask mother or some on who loves books to get you a copy. The titles are “The Lost Santa Claus” and short stories, and the other “The Mouse That held up the Train.” Can you imagine what ou earth childre nwould do without a Santa Claus each year? I am sure I couldn’t. “The Lost Santa Claus” edition has short stories in it as well and they are all delightful. Several Cogs have asked me to tell them something • about myself. I thought I would begin next Saturday, arid tell you the different places I have been.- ;-

You will be interested in the new nkilltcst. Yes Joseph,; Sammy enjoyed his holiday tremendously, he has. developed an enormous appetite. You have not come to see mo yet, I have been hearing all sorts of nice' things about you and I want to really meet you. This week I am going to give 2.6 d for the Cog who sends in the most interesting letter to bo written •on one side of the paper only. You may write about anything, you wish. Well, dear Cogs, best wishes to you all. “THE HUB.”

Dear Hub I want to be a Cog and join your happy family. My little sister Hera wants to be a Cog too, but she cannot write yet, so Mummie says she must wait until she is able to. You will bo sorry to know that wc haven’t got a school, but the few people who live up here are trying hard to get one. Theio are twelve children so they think it will be started by the end of March. I passed the first Standard last year, so I am anxious to see what Standard 11. is like. My sister and I are the only two * Maori children on the Ridge Road, and since we came here we'have not made friends with the pakeha children, but we hope to do so when school begins. We have a dear little doggie and a cat to play with. The Sun is very hot and it makes us browner than ever. I am sending the threepence in stamps for the badge. My birthday is October 15, 1918, and I am now 10 years and four months. My love to you and all the Cogs. Huria Wirihana (Julia Wilson.) ' “Awawaro” Ridge Road, R.D. Apiti.

Dear Hub Time seems to have gone so quickly lately, and with the excitement of getting back to school, Sunday scliool, cubs and music, I really have not found the time to puzzle over the skilltests or even write about my holiday which I enjoyed very much. The weather was not very nice whilst we were at the beach but I loved the swimming and the playing vj the sand. I hope you had a. good holiday, and I am suro Sammy has told you all about the good times wo had 'together. I c-m in Standard V. this year, and wo arc learning French, and wc go towoodwork once a fortnight. I hope I will bo able to make something useful. My Granny gave me a saw and I have been practising sawing straight. Our school picnic was hold on "Wednesday and we all had a lovely time. Well, dear hub, I must go to bed nqw. Lots cf love from your loving Cog, Joseph.

1 SKILLTESTS. NEW SERIES. The first puzzle of the now skilltests series is published on this page, Cogs, so see what you can do with it. I

think it is a lovely puzzle, myself, and you must write and say what you think of it. I shall look forward to your next letters. The prize is as usual 55., so see who will win the first of Skilltest series No. 3.

SONG- AND STORY. If all the earth’s songs, wherever sung Were drowned within: the sea Yet would remain the music raro Of breeze and whispering tree. And were the stories all forgot, Still one would live again: “To you this day is Christ the Lord, Pca-cc and goodwill to men!” Frances Crosbv Hamlet.

The Admiralty Hydrographic Department of the British Navy sells annually to foreign governments charts to the value of about £50,000. A recent United States Navy memorandum stated that there were 1200 points of the globe to which American vessels could navigate only by means of British charts.

O BEAUTIFUL, OUR COUNTRY. O Beautiful, our country! Be thine a nobler care Than all thy wealth of commerce, Thy harvests waving fair: Bo it thy pride to cherish The manhood of tho poor: Be thou to the oppressed Fair freedom’s open door! For thee our fathers suffered, For thee they toiled and prayed; Upon thy holy altar Their willing lives they laid. Thou hast no common birthright, Grand memories on then shine; Tho blood of noble races Commingled flows in thine.

O Beautiful, our country! Round theo in love we draw; Thine is the grace of freedom, Tho majesty of law Be righteousness thy sceptre, Justice thy diadcin; And on thy shining forehead Be peace the crowning gem. Frederick Lucian Hosmer.