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New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19986, 30 June 1928, Page 4 (Supplement)

Dear Boys and Girls, — Another short letter this week, as there ni'o still so many letters on hand, The Mail Bag" replies will be held over for tha same reason. [ hope you are all taking an interest in the painting competition, details of which were given last Saturday. You must also read the "overseas penfriends " items to-day, which I know will interest many members of our circles. Your Friend,

A RAMBLE AT TAPU. Dear Miss Morton:—l am going to tell you about a pleasant ramble a friend and I had over the hills at 'l'apu when looking for young liaraka trees. Starting at 10-o'clock, we set oli on our climb up the ridge, and after half an hour's hard climbing, we at last reached the top. After a short rest we again resumed our journey through the bush, and did not find a single young karaka tree. At last after another_hour and a-half we stepped out into a clearing about one acre in extent, and here we stopped to have our lunch which we did on top of a great kauri stump in the middle of the clearing. Alter our refreshing rneal we lay on top of the Rturup to rest our tired bodies. After a good rest we again continued to v.-alk, and after going a little way into the bush, we found a prize, a king-fern. This Vr-e plnced in our bag and hastened home where we were told it was but a common butter-feru..—From Norman McMillan. Grey St., Thames. (Age 12 years). WINTER DAYS.

We all think winter has "set in" when a rams day coilos along, but we are wrong, for the nest day out coiues tho sun. Althougn winter has not properly "set in" the nigiits are cold, and soineuuiea in the morning we may see uost on tiie grass. When the nights are cold we like to sit round warm hres, perhaps sharing it with the family cat. Winter, in many ways, is cruel to animals and birds, but mostly, I thinK, to the poor, to old people, wiio may be Ui and have notning warm to wear and no money to buy medicine and such things, i-iven to children winter is cruel, and you may see a child in the poor parts ol Auckland, poorly ciad and bare-footed, clothed in nothing but rags. Winter, though cruel, does good to the soil, it kills the slugs, mosquitos, sandflies, aphis, tiies, etc. If the ground is dug up and l'rost comes, all the moisture in "the soil turns to ice, and after, when it begins to thaw, it expands and becomes soft, so making the ground ready for the spring.—Your pen-friend, Xiorna Finlayson (age 9).

"We are living a long way out in the country, among the mountains. We are 60 miles from the K.aikohe railway station, and five miles from Wainiamaku. Last night we had a cloud, burst and aIJ the creeks are very high. Ten sheep that were grazing near the creek were trapped there when it rose, so they wilJ have to stay there until the creek goes down.—l remain yours truly, Marie Tuckey. ."VVekaweka, Hokianga, TREASURE FROM THE BEACH. I have not written to you for a _ long lime, but I still read " Boys and Girls " ■with great interest. I received my badge, and thought it a very pretty colour. We all went to Te Mika for the holidays, and had. a very enjoyable time. One of my treasures from the beach was an old pocket knife, which I found under a .small rock, while looking for crabs. It is just an ordinary knife, but has a peculiar covering of hard, sandy rock. A few evenings before we left Te Mika, we had a campfire party just outside our tent, and about 10 people came along and spent a delightful evening. One of my chief interests was fishing for sprats, and all the time I was there I caught 35. One day. when down at the wharf, we saw a sting-ray.—l remain your loving pen-friend, Phyllis Farmer, Otorohanga (Ago 10).

THE ADVERTISING EXHIBITION. During the last week of May, some of my school mates and I went to the Advertising Exhibition, which was held at the Town Hall. We left school at about a quarter past ten with one of the teachers, and arrived there at a quarter to eleven. First of all we went to the " Model House " and saw a man taking flashlight photographs. Then we went to the typewriters, and printed our names and dideome arithmetic. We went round and looked at all the stalls, the Mustard Club included, and then went m for a " Poster Competition." By that time it was 12 o'clock, so we went back to school after a most interesting visit. Well, I mußt close now.— From your loving pen-friend, Joan Bellingham. 36, Gladstone Rd., Parnell, (Age 11 years). MOTORING FROM TAURANGA. I, would like to describe to you our Journey from Bethlehem, Tauranga, to Waihi. We started early, and it was a very beautiful, sunny day. We passed over many swftly-f10w... j streams and bush country, and at last came to the Waihi Plains, which extend for many miles. Before going into Waihi town we went to the beach. Huge breakers rose high into the air and then fell with a mighty roar. My auntie, cousin, and sister and I waded into the small ones and had great fun. At last we went on tc Waihi to see my auntie and uncle. We left my auntie and cousin there and went on our way home again We arrived home tired and very sorry to leave our cousin and auntie in Waihi.—.l remain, your sincere pen-friend, Joyce MefJatt (age 'D).

, l have a small farm here and from tne beach we can look across to Pine Island and Hobsonville Wharf. I go to Whenuapai School. We have only 13 scholars and we have our lessons in the hall. I am in standard I. There are fouj in xny class I was eight years old last month. 1 had n little party and seven of my play mates came. Mother made me a '-ake shaped like a Victorian iady. She put a doll's head on top and a pink silk bonnet, and her dress was of white icing v;ith pink frills. Last year my cake was like a houso. I am sending you a small map of it. My only pet is a little canary. 1 call him Dicky.—Yours truly, Doris Hill. Whenuapai. (Many tharik3 for the snap, Doris. It looked a lovely cake, just like a tiny house. JJother must be very ciever at cake-making) I was very proud of myself when I eaw my name in the Supplement, and lots of my friends have seen it, and "ne of them wiote to me and told me. have two more cows with little calves. few weeks we have had lots and lots of ram, and (he creek is in flood, and J can t go on the short, cut across the creek ana have to go a lot further by road to pchool.—Love from Bob Anderson, Utakura Jlokxanga (age 7)