DEAR BOYS AND GIRLS:

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20602, 28 June 1930, Page 4 (Supplement)

DEAR BOYS AND GIRLS:

I have received a number of letters this week saying how pleased members are to. read of our now feature " The Critic." Please read to-day's special announcement for further details, and repiember that every condition must be strictly complied with, or your entry ;will be disqualified. Also, pleaso romemtor this very important point: you are going to get true criticism of your work, not just a few vague kind of words. If your story shows no promise whatever, you will be told so, and in that case it. will be better for you to tako up knitting or caterpillar rearing as a hobby. And the rule, one story, essay or poem ONLY each month must be strictly observed. . Yon. will all be interested to read the closing article of the Homeland series to-day. For nearly three years, we have followed Pixie and Pat on their travels, during the course of which the Silver Plane has flown from tho Far North right down to Queenstown. I hope to be able to replace " Our Homeland" witß occasional " feature" articles, but will ' jfcell you more about that later on. The first of our " Fireside Competitions" are announced to-day, and I hope they will fill odd half-hours with interest. Love to yon all from Your Friend,

A DAY IN CAPETOWN. Dear Miss Morton,—Have you ever been Jo Capotown? I have, and I would very much like to so again, although I suppose I am very lucky to havo been on.ee. Whereever you go you see aomo place or happening, that stands in your memory as a reminder of that particular spot. It is the "tio'wer markets of Capetown that I always think of When South Africa is mentioned. Down ' the- centra of " the main street the etalla were built, and each bore notices in Dutch, French and English. Flowers, reminders of England, and others, exotic in their tropical beauty, made a glorious riot of colour against the whiteness of the street. Ono stall, tended by an -old Dutch,_ had a placard on it bearing tlio following > inscription: "Buy aomo of Gods' Souvenirs." / Don't you think it a beautiful thought? Then, of course, tbero nro the usual horde of Souvenir Sellers. Dressed usually in white, with a straw hat and their trays of over-priced goods, they would rush at you, citing the beauties of Capetown like human parrots. One of tho most interesting Bouvenirs we-bought was an ostrich egg (brown, of course), with a picture of the huge bird painted, on it. I think that the eouvenir sellers have a most interesting work, they meet no many different kinds of people. (Everybody may not share .my point of view, but I like meeting new people,) Tuble Mountain, with its beautiful cloth of clouds is, of course, the principal tourist spot In Capetown, and guides can easily be procured. - If I was asked' to sum up my opinion of Table Monntain in one word,;l should say—" Grapes." Just that—- " On each eide of the track the vines grow, and when I think of them now, I somehow mix them in my miad with the vineyards the Old Testament speaks of. !Y7hy, I don't know, but tho thought is there just the same—that somewhere in tho past ages, there were vineyards such as those of Africa's Table Mountain. I don't remember seeing many natives but there •were people of nearly every natipnality in the world thronging the streets. A Chinaman with a long aueue (the only one I've ever seen) here, a Frenchman theresuch & medley of interesting faces, each intent upon their own business. Then, there is a' scone I'll never forget—the receding shores of South Africa with tho blue ocean find ilia foaming white horses.—Tour sincere pen-friend, Bobbie Shipman, Oaklcigh, North Auckland (ace 17). > ,'/ BIRD FRIENDS. Dear Miss Morton,—l would lik« to tell you what I think about birds. .In tho Jcowhai trees, high above the streams, the tuis and bell-birds, their black .coats showing among the brilliant yellow, chant their songs, and one has to stop to listen ✓to them. Some of the bird's songs are prettier than some of the much-renowned pieces played in, the great operas, which people think so grand. In China tho fishermen have cdrmoranta, which ait on tho edges of their boats. When fish Bwim past, the cormorants dive down and bring them up for the fishermen, who never think of how they would catch fish if they did not havo these useful birds to help them. Sometimes one is awakened by ft tap, tup, tap. on the xoof. That is tho thrushes' way of telling you that he hns caught a snail, and is tryiilg to crttck it. Some birds dig their bills into the ground and by doing so, eecure Jittle insects that are creeping about below the surface. I think birds are very useful.— Ypuf losing pen-friend, Ted White, 21, Eoad. Mount Eden (ago 13).