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New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20620, 19 July 1930, Page 4 (Supplement)

A RAMBLE IN THE BUSH.

JJSAR BOYS AND GIRLS: I want you nil to read tho special fetter. " Children and World Peace," written for you l>y the secretary of the League of Nations Union. One of the greatest children's organisations of the day is the Children's League of Nations." It exists all over tho world, and all its members wear the same badge as a sign that they aro one in their desiro to work together for world-friendship and goodwill, as tho best foundation for world peace. Tho subscription to tho Children's League is only one shilling a year, the price of the "silver badge sixpence, and a:iy boys and gills who wish to join nay do so by writing to tho secretary, j\lr. C. E. Archibald, 111. Pacific Buildings, Wellesley Street. Auckland. He ■will not only enrol you. but tell you of many interesting ways in which every hoy and girl can help 011 tho work oi the League bv means of competitions, overseas correspondence, poster and picture card contests, etc. Entries for the second series of Fireside Competitions are now coming in, and I am pleased at tho interest you aro all taking in them. Will mombers please note that no stones should bo sent in at present by juniors? " Tho Critic" section will keep mo busy lor some time to come, so all younger boys and girls please keep their stories until their turn comes. " The Critic" is for senior members, 16 to 18 only. Items, original or copied, may be sent in for one week more, from members up to 12 years of age. After that the others will have their turn, so if you have anything good on hand, little folk, now s the time" to send it! And don't forget to mark it " Letterbox Corner," or it will get mixed up with the competition entries and lose its chance! Love to you all from

Doar Miss Morton,—lt was one Sunday Jnorning in summer when 1 decided to go for a ramble in the virgin bush which grows on the hills and in the gullies about two miles from my home. I set out on my walk at 9.30 a.m., taking my lunch with ine, and arrived at the edge of the bush at 10.10 a.m. Here the sun shone brightly, bees buzzed, cicadas " crackled " and crickets chirped, while all other kinds of animal. and bird life vent their ways in leisurely fashion.- I did not pause for long to admire the scene of baked earth, brown grass and green trees, but plunged into the Sush which eprend invitingly before me. Once deep in the bush the scene changes. Great kauris rear their proud heads up to ■the sky. towering above the lesser trees beneath, and amply justifying the saying: " The Kauri is the King of the I-orest. Pungas twist round, reselling up their spreading heads in nn endeavour to obtain the sunlight. Tree ferns also abound, not to mention myriads of shrubs, creepers and vines, among which, the rata vine, twining His treacherous trailers round the trunk of some great tree, which it gradually fcills, is very noticeable. Straggling beams of sunlight peep through the leafy canopy overhend, but very seldom do they reoch the soft rustling carpet of leaves underfoot. Little fantails and tomtits flit from bough to bough, seizing any small insect which they e*py, but which is invisible in the semi-twilight of the bush to the naked eye. Occasionally I crossed a small water course ■where ferns grew in multitudes on the banks, find where email fish swam to and fro in the calm pools of crystal water, i walked many milf-s that day engrossed in the wonders of Nature which I saw, arid when I returned home late in the afterjioon. I had decided that if any other native bn°h in the world was prettier and more wonderful than ours, the country which owned it might well be proud of \t-ltorn your sincere pen-friend. Hugh Fleming, Grande Vuo Itoad. Manurewa (age lo). THE MAIL-BAG, June Carter: I will be pleased to enrol you June. 1 am not wanting any short stories from the younger members jus-, now. but you-mav send in some other items. \nnie Diprose- Unfortunately you did not state whether thn coach ride was a personal experience. An unfailing rule ot , ,v.<r e i» that every item must be , marked" _ " Original," " Re-written, or " Copied " Phyllis Chunn: I think the idea of a " Hf.rald Pen-friends Club in the dinercnt towns a very good one. Wo have Quite a number ot 'lo Awamutu members. Ernest Clarko: Thank yon for the firstaid hints but they would not be quite suitnbjp f>r our paire. Items of that kind ofr.'n sppea- elsewhere in the supplement. Gerald Souster: No jumbles, thank vou. Gfrald. We gave them up some time aco: they are very OifTicult to set. and too eas.\ to soive. 'l'hn limerick was Al. Beverley Williamson: Now is the time to send in the forestry letter, also any other items you have been saving up. Ellersley Hull is a New Zealand author, not a member of our Circles, and thoso stories are written specially for " Lioyß and Girls " Lorna Finlaysoir I locked over the poems. Lorna. and one or two are very nice. You did very well with the collecting card, although my idea was that members should secure donations from relatives and friends rather than the difficult way you chose. Tom Phillips: The card wa3 sent, nnd has been entered. I will send another, but please icturn it if tho first ono conies to hand. Elsie Waring: I am indeed sorry to learn nhout the sad fate of your dear dog, Spot. What a pood thing you have such a nice photo of him! My pet kitten. Kitty-Kiwi was cruelly poisoned some months ago, and bo I can sympathise with you. LETTERS AN D SUNDRY ITEMS ALSO FROM: Freda Carter. .Tessie Woodward. Connio Cuff. Rogers Naylor. Desmond Neithe. I.ucv Fyera, Thelma Millett. Margaret Aulridee. Len. Mitchell, Joan Ni'son, lan Verrv. Marian Sliilton, Olive McHae, Madge Dixie, tuid Keith Rjwstll.