COMPETITIONS

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6841, 23 April 1932, Page 15

COMPETITIONS

SKILLTEST RESULTS,

Th,c Skilltcst winners this week are: Noel Samlbrook Maggie Thompson Eea Thompson Leslie Small Isobel Mountfort. The correct answers were: Ehodes, Cook, Pitt, Nelson, Nightingale, Raleigh, Scott, Wolfe, Peel, Wellington.

PeUding. Doar Hub, —'May 1 join your happy band of Cogs? I am eleven years old, and my birthday is on July 22. May I take I'Toribel as a pen name? I am enclosing three penny stamps for a badge. Would you ploaso send one one? I have been in bed with chickon-pox for three weeks, but I went buck to school .last Tuesday. We will be starting out school examination soon and I am going to try very hard to c-cmio first, I am sending in some jokes for this week, too. lam the oldest in the family and have four brothers but no sisters. Well, Hub, I will have to close now, hoping you are well. Lovo to you and all the Cogs, Mario Mutch. A wmrm welcome awaits you in the big family, my doar, and you may be Floribel. Being the eldest of the family is a big responsibility, isn't it? Thank you for the jokes. Apltl. Dear Hub,—l did not write last week because I did not work out the Skilltcst, but I am sending it in this w'cck. Prom tho house hero wo can hear the stags roaring. They are more than a mile away, yet some days they are like bulls in the next paddock. One day when Dad was mustering sheep he saw >a stag out in one of our open paddocks. Somo of our flowers must think it is spring, because wo have some tiny mauve violets, some auriculas and somo odd primroses out. Well, as it is bed timo I think I had better close, Much love from Mountain Maid. How thrilling it must bo to hear tho stags roaring! They are beautiful and stately animals, aren't they? lour flowers arc certainly early.

Apiti. Dear Hub, —Mummy found a hen's nest to-day and another hen is laying and we get three eggs a day. Our bantams should soon be laying as they have all their new feathers and look nice. We have two black and brown, and two black bantam hens and the rooster is a buff bantam. Mummy says it is time all little girls were in bed, so I will say o-ood-night, with love from H Eae. You will soon bo able to have a nice little bantam’s egg for breakfast, won’t you.

Haloombo. Dear Hub,— It is such a long time since I last wrote to you, but I have not forgotten you altogether. We had lovely rain last week and the grass Is coming on well and there are plenty of mushrooms about.’ I hope you have had plenty. We have had two or throe food meals of them. This week I am sending in the Skilltest and I hope it is correct. It was fairly hard, especially No. 7. We are milking 36 cows by hand and I milk ten every day. I am in Std V. and I will be twelve on the King’s birthday. I must close now with lots of love from Grey Wolf. You have been missing from the page too long, Grey Wolf. You must bo a very handy man on the farm.

Woodville. Doar Hub, —What a nice warm rain wo are having. It will do a lot of good to the gardens. I w-ont out mushrooming this afternoon and gathered ever so many. I wms surprised to see that no one had solved the Skilltcst last week. Well, Hub, I am sending in tho Skilltest this week and hope it is correct. There is very little news, so I will close now with best lovo to all from Captain. It is raining very steadily over here and the gardens in the Square are all looking refreshed. Mushrooms have been very plentiful over here, too.

Palmerston N. Dear Hub, —Just a line or two to let you know the nows, which is not very much as the news-bag is nearly empty. I am the proud owner of! a New Hudson bicycle. It is such a beauty. I go all the messages on it and like it very much. Wc had our school sports on April 6. There wero numerous races and I came third in one race. There were icc-crcams, fruit, sweets and lots of good things there, One boy in. our room won two cups and they have been put in a prominent position. T came home from tho sports feeling very tired but glad that there was night as well as day. Thero has been quite a lot of rain hasn't, there, ITub? But it will no doubt, be good for tho gardens. It is very pleasant at night to sit by the fire snuggled in a cosy armchair with a storybook. -But. you fcl it when you have to go out in tho cold. Wasn’t, it a pity about Phar Dap? He was such a lovely horse. My grandad is much better, lie can sit up in bed and likes his old smoko. I have a beautiful garden. I have spinach, cabbages, cauliflowers, and to set it oft I have a plum tree. Last, year was the first year it bore fruit, and it had quite a number of plums. LaLst week at. school wo had a. test and I was one of the six best ones. Wo were let. off our homework and given a lovely prize each. My uncle went away on Friday, and it was sad to have to part with him after having him with us for two weeks. Well, Hub, I must close with lots of love to you and all my little Cog friends. The Ludo King. Your letters arc improving, Ludo King, and I was very delighted to hear all your news about tho good time you had on sports day.

Dannevirkc. Doar Hub—The Skilltcst this week puzzled many of tho Cogs I should say. It puzzled me, especially “A helmet”, which wc could not get. We have only started football at school to-day, and when the ball was brought out there was one wild rush for it. Yesterday and to-day it has been slightly wet, with show'ers coming down now and then. Yesterday I caught two white butterflies, and another one I chased with the not, but I thought- I had missed it, and then I saw it fly straight out of the net. Well, Hub, as this is all the news at present, I will close now w-ith love from Bulldog. You footballers arc not sad to say good-bye to summer, are jou?

STORY OF A WISE TERRIER

This is a story about a terrier pet. who belonged to an English girl. Here is hor account of what he used to do. One day he was run over and had to have one of his front feet amputated. He wore a leather pad. My parents lived at one end of the town and my father’s old home was at the other end. Bill much enjoyed going off by himself to visit his master’s old home, but he preferred to go by tram, perhaps because of his lame foot. The trams passed his home, and he would run up the stairs and take a scat on top. In the town the tramline branched off, and if by mistake ho was on the wrong car he would get off at the stop and cross the road, and wait for one that would take him straight up the hill. Tho conductors all knew him, and ho enjoyed his rides, which he seemed to tako ns a matter of course. On Sundays my mother and father went to church in tho -middle of tho town, and afterwards they would sometimes go to dinner at ray father’s old home. Bill went with them, and as soon as he heard the church bells he would look at my father, who would say either "Home, B'ill,’’ or ‘'Ashly Hoad, Bill.” Ashly Hoad was his old home, and if Bill arrived t-hero on a Sunday morning the maid laid for two extra, and if he did not appear she knew my parents would not be there for lunch. Bill never made a mistake.

AUTUMN IS HEBE

(By Mavis.) Autumn has come with a flutter and twirl, spreading her golden and scarlet wings over tho trees. The autumn flowers are all blooming, and yellow-tinted leaves flutter silenty down to the earth below. A drivo next to our place is flanked on both sides with stately poplars, which send numerous golden and brown leaves to the ground with eae.h puff of wind. The willows send crowds of delicate yellow-tinted leaves to mingle with those of the poplars. Autumn is a season of mellow fruitfulness. The oak and ornamental shrubs arc russet and flaming gold tinted with orange, red and green. It is indeed a pretty sight!

A USEFUL TREE,

At one time the willow was regarded as a sad tree, but now it is honoured by all true Englishmen as "King Willow,” for it is from the willow tree that cricket bats arc made. There arc at least 250 kinds of willow in England, and as there is odlj one true crickctbat willow, tho right one is sometimes very hard to distinguish. A good cricket-bat. tree is between 12 to 15 years old and must have no branches on at- least. 9ft or 10ft of the stem, measuring from the ground; this is so there shall be no knots on the face of the bat. Just one cricket-bat willow, if it is well grown, is worth £lO, so that is why nr good bat is so expensive.

What is it that goes up the chimney down, down the chimney down, but won’t go up the chimney up or down the chimney; up?—An umbrella.

Colyton. Boar Hub, —Just a short letter before I go to school. Wo arc having beautiful weather at. present. Our cosmeas arc well out now and look very pretty. The dahlias and chrysanthemums are out too, and they make such a lovely show. All the leaves on the pear and apple trees arc changing colour now, and look beautiful in their coats of yellow, red and brown. The stately poplars with their golden branches and the sun shining on them add to the beauty of the countryside. Wo have had a-wonderful lot of mushrooms lately and wo quito enjoy ourselves when we run over tho paddocks looking for thorn. We still have some hens laying, although some arc moulting. Last night my sister and I had great fun trying to get a benzine tin off a calf’s head, but wc wero half frightened because it could not see where it was going and it. kept careering about. Now I must close with best wishes from Buffalo Bill. The autumn colouring is all very charming just now, but it appears as if the golden glow will not last very long.

Euahinc. Dear Hub,—l have not written for a long time and I thought it was time I did. Would you mind giving me my pen friend’s name and address, as it only had Farid. My sister and I have been having music lessons for over four months now, and it is becoming more interesting as wo are now having tunes. As wo arc musical, Mother says we will not bo hard to teach. Ido like music and I could sit for hours listening to it. My cat is quite big and fat. now, but. my brothers do not like cats because when Stanley was in the hospital, a girl there had an awful cold through a. eat, but nevertheless I like them. If the back door is shut the cat goes round all the windows and it jumps through the first open window and lies on the mat by the fire in the kitchen. I am doing algebra at school, but I. do not quite understand it. Sonic sums you get aro like this: It two men were walking along, and one took 2.16 ft. in a step and tho other took 1.65 ft and they started off in step, how' far would they go before they were in stop again? I don’t understand that sort of sum. Wo will soon be having our first term holidays, and the other children will soon bo having their examinations. lonly wish I could leave school, but Mother says I am too young as I am only twelve. But Douglas says after you have left school a while school life seems tho best. I must close now with love to you and all the Cogs, Euatara. Quite suddenly your algebra problems w'iil seem quite clear to you. Yes, my dear, you will find that school days are tho best after all. Poor old pussy is blamed for many things, isn’t he?

Bulls. Dear Hub, —I am ashamed because I have not written before this. Our dahlias are very pretty this year. The colours arc white, pink, red and yellow. I have to go to the dentist very soon, as I have to havo five tcot-h out. The Skilltest I won before Christmas w T as useful, as I bought Alum a Christmas present of a nico little clothes brush, with the prize money. I have a darling little kitten which is lovely and black. Wc are milking 65 cows now. My father has some lovely ginger pigs, which aro growing very big. I got a very nice prize at our school picnic. It is a book called "Tho Girls’ Adventure Annual,” and I will take great care of it. Mother and I made some peach, plum, pear and rhubarb jam this year. Mother heard over the wireless about Phar Lap's death. It will soon be my birthday, which is on May 26. My mother went away on Good Friday and came back on the Sunday. I kept house while she was away. I have a cat which will sit up and beg when you give it meat. The months scorn to be flying along. As it is bedtime I will close with love from your loving Cog, Mother’s Mate. You arc a very good Mother’s Mate. I am sure your garden must be very gay. That prizo would surely give you great pleasure and the Skilltest prize too

Linton. Dear Hub—l am sending in. the Skilltest this week. I am not quite sure of the first, question, but hope they are all correct. We are having plenty of rain just no-w and it is making the garden look beautiful. There are quite a lot of dahlias and marigolds of various kinds. I made a -little garden beside a hedge and planted somo bulbs in it some time ago, and I can see tiny green shoots coming up now. I am taking millinery at school now. I have pretty little nightdress sachet which I gave to my grandma for her birthday. Now I am making a lampshade of gold silk. I think my sister and I are going to Packakariki for tho holidays. Wo-n’t that be great fun? We have never been there before, so wo are looking forward to it very much. But the May holidays are a long way off, aren’t they? When my father came home from Wellington, he brought my mother a pretty little vase, all handpainted, for her birthday. I made her a big cake, at school and .iced it for her. Wo also gave her a.shopping basket, and a bread knife. Well, I must close now as it is dinner time, so cheerio for the present. I remain your loving Cog, Moss Rose. A very pleasing letter, Moss Rose, and I do like to hear what my 00-gs arc doing. Isn’t it nico to be able to mako pretty things? You will love that holiday at Packakariki. Your mother must have loved her birthday surprises.

Kairanga. Dear Hub,—l am sending in the Skilltest answers this week. My letter must have been a little bit too late for the mailman last week. We are having great fun gathering mushrooms. Do you like mushrooms, Hub? If you are fond of them I will try and find some if I can and will bring them in to you next time I come into town. The garden is showing its autumn colours. I like reading the Cogs’ letters every Saturday morning. We do look forward to the paper. Goodbye, Hub, with love from - Sun Maid. That is a kindly thought. I do like mushrooms very much.

Rang! emu. Dear Hub, —I am sorry I have not written to you for such a long time. If I have timo in the holidays I will como and sccV°u. I hope you. are quite well. In ten days’ time wo aro to have our examinations. After that rain wo had tho other day wo found buckets and buckets of mushrooms. Do you like them, Hub? If so I might bo able to bring you some. About two weeks ago our toachc.r took us to the junction of tho Oroua and Manawatu rivers. It was quite a thrilling trip and w r e did not get back till 2.30 p.m.. Well, Hub, I must close now with love to you and all the other Cogs, Silver Moon. I like mushrooms very much, my dear but I expect the season will soon bo over. I shall look forward to that visit.

Mangaw.hata. Dear Hub, —It is ever so long since I last wrote, but I have not had much time. One of the Cogs growled at mo for not writing, so I hope she reads this. My sister is sending in the Skilltest but hits no time to write. She said she would write next week. Next Saturday it will be three years since I joined the Cog family. To-day our father was bucked from a horse, but landed on his feet, and our uncle, brother and friend nearly fell over with laughing. Every time we mention tho horse everyone laughs. It will be Anzac Day next. Monday, so wc will bo reading about it nearly all day. I think this is all the news so I will close, hoping you and all the Cogs arc well. Your loving Cog, Pale Moon. Poor Dad! That was adding insult to injury to laugh at his upset. You must be very busy people, but our older members have to show' the new ones the wav, haven’t they?

Woodville. Dear Hub, —It is a long timo since I last wrote, but this timo I have managed to solve, the Skilltest. To-day my mate and I wont to sec a largo lagoon. There were somo w<ild ducks on it and the men wall soon bo able to go and shoot there. The trees are shedding their leaves as winter is ahead. We are having some frosts now, and it is cold getting up in the mornings w r ith all the ground mantled with ice. Wc will soon be having our examinations and wc will have to try very hard. This is all tho news I can think of at present. Your loving Cog, Shining Star. Poor ducks! Don’t you fool sad when tho shooting season opens? We havo had cold weather in the. city but I have not seen any frosts yet.

Woodville. Dear Hub, —As I have not written for a few weeks I thought I would send you a few lines to accompany the Skilltest, which I hope is correct. It is lovely to have a letter from Mr and Mrs Puz. sometimes —they have such cheery news. I suppose it is Mrs Puz’s turn to write next. What a lot of tun General Tex must have had with tho riddle he Rave Mr Puz. —Tic was tricked properly that time. My little sister went to her friend’s birthday party on Saturday and she brought back a darling little pink kewpio which came off the cake. What do you think of these frosts, Hub? They are killing all our tomatoes and the green ones are rotting. T think the farmers enjoyed tho rain because everything looked so fresh and green afterwards, but we coula Still do with a bit more yet. We havo had such a lot of mushrooms growing around hero this year, and several children about have been selling them by the bucketful. We have a lovely show of pale mauve and white cosmeas out at present, and wo also have a lot of dark red and yellow chrysanthemums starting to flower. This is the first voar our walnut tree has had nuts, and a.s there were only six we picked them green in case our brothers got them. But when they ripened they were not ifit to cat because they had gone all musty. We have been having a dreadful time with our vegetables —a tiny butterfly has been eating them away, but wc have only seen one white butterfly here. Have you seen any, Hub? They have them everywhere up in Napier, and my Uncle Wally swats them because they are too cunning to catch. My sister and I arc hoping to sec “Trader Horn,” when it comes. Have you seen it, Hub? We aro milking over 50 cows now and are feeding over 30 pigs and piglets. I suppose I am one of your bad Gogs too, then, for not putting my full name on the bottom of my letter, but will do so in future. My brother has a new little pup. He is a funny boar-colour and such a little rolv-polv, and they call him Hover. Wc also had a little black Persian kitten which wc called Smoky, but one day it followed the others mushrooming and wo have not seen it since. Well, as my news has run out I will close, hoping you and our big Cog family arc quite well. Your ever loving Cog, Ocean Spray. A nice long letter, dear, and you have made up for your long neglect of the page. J. have not seen Jack Frost yet, but have felt liis icy breath. That butterfly is a great pest and gardeners don’t seem to know what to do about if. “Trader Horn” is certainly a wonderful picture.

Mangawliata. Dear Hub—This must just be a short note to accompany the Skilltcst. We are beginning to have slight frosts out here. It is cold sometimes when wo get out of bed. The Skilltcst this week was very interesting. There is one I cannot manage to puzzle out. Well, dear Hub, it is time I closed down or I shall miss the mail. It might be along any time now. I remain your loving Cog, Do.ro toy. Such a tiny letter, dear! I hope you can find it on the page. RIDDLES. (Sent- in by Mavis.) Wka.t is a. canary?—A sparrow that has joined the Mustard Club. Why did the lobster turn red?—Becaausc he saw the salad dressing. What made the kitchen stare?—Seeing the scullery sink. Spell hungry horse with four lettens. —M.T.G.Ct.

Bainessc. Dear Hub, —I was very pleased on opening the paper to see that I had been given the place of honour for the best letter. I think it would be lovely if we could have an autumn page, ns there is so ranch one could write about this particular season and its beauties. Our dog, Roy, hurt one of his legs, and he looks so peculiar, as now he is compelled to run on three legs. However, we hope that the injured leg will soon get better. The sun is shining once again after all the rain we have had. We have had several frosts lately. Everywhere the country looks fresh and bright now and the paddocks are beautifully green again. The flower garden has benefited greatly by the recent rain and some of the flowers, including the dahlias and marigolds, have taken a new lease of life. The chrysanthemums are just opening their buds. I like gardening very much and lately I have spent a great deal of time in the garden. A photographer visited ■our school about a fortnight ago and took a photo of the whole school, which came- out very clearly. An present we are playing a cricket match at school and when that concludes we are going to start playing football. The Hkilltcst was most interesting, but I found the seventh question rather puzzling. I enjoyed reading Mr Puzzleman's cheerful letter. Ho must have had some very exciting adventures during his holidays. I must close now as I have my homework to prepare. Your loving Cog, Rufus. Another nice letter, Rufus. There is a wonderful satisfaction in gardening when one really loves flowers, I think. Do send something special for an autumn page and I will ask Mr Printcnnan what he can do about it.

Palmerston N. Dear Hub.—l would be very pleased if you would accept me as one of your Cogs. I am sending in the Skilltest and hope it is correct. Do you like swimming. Hub? T have just learned this season and I have joined tho Specdo Club. 1 would like Leandcr for my pen name ns he was a great swimmer. Yours faithfully, Robert Holmes Welcome to the page, Leander. Send three pennies for a badge and you will be a Teal member. Once you have learned to swim you don’t very easily forget

Askhurst. Dear Hub, —I am so sorry I deserted you for two weeks running, but in each of tho Skilltosts there were cither one or two answers I could not get. Anyway, Hub, I am sending it in this week. Hub, wc have a lovely tui singing in tho trees every morning and early in the afternoons. Not very far from the house are some bluegum trees and quite often wo hear magpies chattering away at the top. The pet lamb we used to have must have gone down to the river-flat, or down to the freezing works, for I have not seen it for ages in the paddock it was usually in. Mum is taking us all for an outing to see Mrs Whitehead this afternoon. Aren't wo having lovely weather now, Hub? I am hoping to come in to tho competitions on May 16, to hear my cousin recite and Beryl play the piano, so I shall try and como and see you then. With much love from > Bluebell. Tho little paragraph at tho beginning of tho letter concerned you and me, and might mean giving away soorets, mightn’t it? Your ears should have tingled that night. I shall look forward to seeing you in May. The tuis and magpies in tho Polmngina Valley wkistlo very beautifully I think. Eeilding. Dear Hub, —We arc having a lot of sunny weather. I am in Std I. at school, and my big brother John is in Std. AH. Wc are having examinations next week. I thank you for the badge. Now, Hub, I will close, for it is bed time. Curlylocks. There is a big difference between Std. I. and Std. VI., isn’t there? But you will bo there before you know where you arc. Palmerston North. Dear Hub, —Here wo are once again to let you know a bit of news. W’c did got a surprise on Sunday when Mum camo in and told us that our dog, Flossy, had a little puppy. It is such a darling, and being the only boy at home I put in. first claim for ownership. He is a browny shade and my sisters and I have agreed to call him Flash. Do you think that is a nice name for him? I am looking forward to the time When ho will bo able to follow us about the yard. My Dad has been kept busy lately cutting all his hedges, and they look smart. I have to cart in all the leaves in and it made me think of tho farmers carting in their Lay. Yesterday being such a gloriously sunny clay, I took the opportunity of lying in the hammock with a book about trains for a companion. There are a lot of those whito butterflies about, Hub, and they are a nuisance as they eat all the cabbages. Well, dear Hub, I must close now as Mum tells me it is time to give Floss another drink and I am also dying to havo another peep at our littlo pet. Love to you and all tho Cogs. I remain your loving Cog, The Ludo King. I feel just as excited as you do about your new pet and hope you will let mo sec it some time. I can picture you bringing in the autumn harvest of leaves. AVhat a lot there arc this year! Those butterflies are certainly very worrying. Palmerston North. Dear Hub, —I am just writing a short note to accompany the Skilltest. I forgot about sending it in till to-day and as we aro starting term examinations to-morrow, I am in a bit of a rush. The question in the Skilltest, “a tax—famous explorer” is a bit of a puzzler. Air Puzzleman must have had a bad night to have thought of such a hard one, or else Mrs Puz must havo been making him Tun errands or something. AVo are having hockey practices every day after school now and I havo got over being stiff at last. It is a pity that more of the girls don’t play hockey ■as wo have not quite enough for three teams. The weather has been rather agreoablo lately, hasn’t it? AVell, I suppose I must close for I have to dive in to the regions of geography and English. Lovo to yourself and best wishes to all fellow Cogs from Qona. I know very well, what that rush of examinations means and I appreciate your taking time to write. Don’t I know what it is to be stiff after a first game of hockey! Are most of the girls playing basketball. Colyton. Dear Hub,—You sent me a badge some three weeks ago and I sent you three penny stamps for it, so I am sending back the ono which came on Friday. AVc arc learning to play pingpong now so we have games every night. Once I told you that wc had two goldfinches, and now we have a canary as well and it can ising very nicely. Love from Beatrice. Thank von for returning tho badge, Beatrice. Ping-pong is a splendid winter game I think. How nice to have a singing canary!

Euahlne. Dear Hub, —I enclose the Skiiltest, ivhieli I found very simple and it did not take long- to solve. It was my brother’s birthday last Saturday and ho was quite proud to be eight. Wc have been having some very heavy frosts here lately. AVe do not feel like getting up in the morning. Autumn is beginning to show itself now. The loaves are turning a lovely golden brown colour and the trees look beautiful in their new gowns. We had a drawing at school about autumn to-day and wo had to rnako it np ourselves. Wc have a new Agriculture Inspector, and we like him. Ho explains everything in full. I must close or I won’t catch the mail. Love to you and the Cogs, Eea. .Tack Frost has arrived much too early and I am afraid lie will spoil our lovely autumn season. PRINCESS ELIZABETH’S DOG. Princess Elizabeth now has an inseparable companion in Dougal, the Scottish terrier given her by the Duke of Gloucester a short, time ago. Dougal sits patiently on the nursery rug while the Princess does her hour’s lesson each morning and then races off with her to play in the garden behind 145 Piccadilly. Ho has just learned to sit up and beg for his royal mistress; a few days ago he attempted to demolish her favourite doll, apparently because he considered it was receiving undue attention .

Awawaru. Dear Hub, —I am sending the Skilltest. Julia is on the sick list and did not go to school to-day. I want her to got well soon. It is two weeks since our cousin Tilly and the twins went back to their own home in Kimbolton. They were hero for four months, and oh, we do miss them now! Soon we hope to go over and see them. Tilly wrote to say that they wore quite well and happy. Our little brother Mami is well and happy, too, but Mummy says ho won’t he when his teeth come. Margaret is full of mischief. She hates her hair being combed. It is very curly and, of course, gets very much tangled. Mr Puzzleman’s letter was very amusing. Perhaps when he knows that lam a little woman, ho will save me the apples and have the cores himself. However, I’vo often enjoyed the cores, especially when apples are scarce. I am afraid Mr Puz. will have to puzzle Out All BlaelvJs riddle himself because I can not help him this time. AVell, Hub, I am very sleepy so I must bid you good-night'-and sweet dreams. Much love to all tho Cogs and you. Also to Mr and Mrs Puz, Aunt Helen, Uncle Bob and Mr Printerman, from your loving Cog, Tuppence. You would miss those little people very much I know, but they are not very far away, arc they? I like to hear about the members of the family, and hope that Julia is quite well again.

Tokomaru. Dear Hub, —I havo tried to do tho Skilltest again and I hope I get them all right this time. A\ r e start our examinations next ■ week. I suppose you remember what a worry that means. Mother tells me that if I paid attention to my teacher, examinations would not be a worry. I will let you know how many marks I get. Love to all the Cogs and yourself, dear Hub, from Robin. Hood. Mother is quite right, old man, but I shall be glad to hear how you get. on.

Tokomaru. Dear Hub, —Here I am again. T. hope you are well. I..caught a cold yesterday and I have to go to bed early to-night. It was Daddy’s birthday on Sunday and I gave him a box of chocolates. I think my little brother and I had more than Dadd3 r . Baddy and Mummy like puzzling out the Skilltest each week. My birthday is on August 21. Daddy has shifted my bantams into a nice clean run. Love to all the Cogs and yourself from Golden Arrow. The sketch of the “bridge” was very good, Golden Arrow. Daddy would appreciate your gift. How many bantams have you?

Feilding. Dear Hub, —As it is three weeks since I last wrote to the Cog page I thought I would write again. Air Puzzleman’s letter made me laugh. I have not received my prize-money yet. I wondered if it had gone astray, as I received tho other so quickly. The chrysanthemums are coming out now and it makes things look wintry, but they are very pretty. AVc have a nice lot of flowers out in the garden now and they look very pretty. Robin is sending in the Skilltest this week. Yesterday Daphne and I went to my grandma’s, and she had some pretty flowers. Daphne repeats a lot of words wc say, and she is watching me write this letter. AVe have made a collection of Autumn leaves at our school and wo arc drawing some of them and they look verypretty when done in colours. I havo not seen any white moths in the garden. AVe will soon be having our examinations, and I do not like them, so I am not looking forward to it. I nm one of the Cogs who enjoy reading the Cog page, and every Saturday morning I like to see if I havo won tho Skilltest, when I have enclosed it. I have a lot of aunties and cousins 'in England, and we love reading their letters. How different the seasons are there. It is their spring now, and when my auntie last wrote she said the crocuses and snowdrops were coming out. Mum says it is Primrose Day on April 19, and how lovely the woods must look then. They are thick with primroses and anemones. I often think I would like to go to England. I wonder if I ever shall bo lucky enough. It has been a lovely day to-day. I have told you all the news now, Hub. Love to you and all the Cogs, from your loving Cog, Dawn.

Air Puzzleman's letters are very popular, aren’t they? How nice to get interesting letters from England. Spring is certainly a very pretty season over there. You may be fortunate enough to make the trip some day.

Woodville. Dear Hub, —I am sending in the Skilltest, which I hope is correct. I have not written for a few weeks so I thought I would send a letter to you. I went by car to Wellington on Easter Monday and spent a beautiful day. Wo went via tho Rirautakas and came homo via Paekakariki. We went to Day’s Bay and had our lunch, then we came into Wellington and had a drive round and saw tho now War Memorial. We then went to the Zoo and saw all the animals and I had a ride on a big elephant. I also saw the lions and tigers boing fed. We then went round and saw tho floating dock, which I thought was wonderful. I must stop now as I want to catch the mail. Love to all the Cogs and yourself from Meccano Tom. What a wonderful day you had, and. how you must have enjoyed seeing all those interesting things! I can picture you riding the big elephant. How did you climb up on his back?