GLOW-WORM GROTTO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23121, 20 August 1938, Page 8 (Supplement)

GLOW-WORM GROTTO

JEAN McKAY.—Violets are lovely flowers, Jean. There is nothing so nice as their delicate scent., Yes, in spite of all the rain, the spring flowers seem to be struggling up to the surface. Your original sketch was good. BACON.—I am glad to welcome you as a new member, Colleen. Wiiat fun to have «now on the mountains. SHIRLEY CARLINE. —Your sketches were beautifully done, Shirley, but please don't roll them next time. Either pack them flat fold them. ■ JOHN FRANKLIN—I am pleased to welcome you to our Circles. I do like the name of your home, John. It sounds just as if it had come out of a story-book. VELMA SANDIFORD. —I love knitting, Velma, but have not had very much spare time lately. I do not know the bookyou mention, but have read a number of Ethel Turner's tales. They are very good. Sumanas address is Kshatriyalaya, Charles Place, BETTY'GOODMAN.' —Your little sketches will require inore finish before they •"each publication standard, Betty. T hank V" for the Hawaiian address. I Joan —.—Sandringham. I am afraid I cannot publish trade names on the page, Joan, but there are several good stamp dealers in town and they would tell you all you wish to know. As far as I know you can only exchange the stamps for others. I do not think actual cash is given '"hEATHER SHANKS. -Goodncss me, you have a number of pets, Heather. ° f lovely to have those baby kids. They must be darlings. I think your names are very good. I can certainly see you have tried harder with vour sketches this time. The field mouse was quite a good attempt O, RONA CHADWICK.—Your riddle-rhyme was good and will see print, Rona. MAIRE MARK.—Your little sketch of the house was quite good, Maire. The cat, however, looked a bit .out of proportion. What a number of baby animals you mus K?—One of your pussies was quite well done, Jessie. The other sketches We BEVERLEY tO HEADDEY— Many thanks for K poems, Beverley. I am looking forward to the other items you prom'se. Don t forget to write on one side of the paper Cn MOLLIE WLSON—What a pity the rain ha« sooilt your camellias. They are such lovely flowers, I think. The little birds are very busy building their nests now. I am afraid your puppies in the sketch have rather disjointed legs. The bunny in the basket was quite well done. _ AUDREY BECK. —That certainly is a. good publication, Audrey. Your sketch " ore very neat. You will see some of them ° n jOAN P S^CHWARZ.—I shall think about that suggestion, Joan. It might be useful. I hope the cold is better now. Do try to make your sentences shorter and simpler, Joan. Your writing is inclined to be spoilt by long rambling sentences. Many thanks for tl,e pressed flowers. BARBARA HYDE. —Your pets sound t delightful, Barbara. Don't you love bi\bv Wucklings? I do. Your sketch of the old •nan's head was well done, but not quite (uitable for the pare. Of your three poems eA Rti-inv" was the best. V i JEAN COOKE. —Of course you may use le name with wliich you are most familiar, : 8»n. Yes. a great many people have caught gnsles this year. NELLIE BROWN.—Such a nice long Ser. Nellie. You seem to have had a grv enjoyable holiday. LUNA BICHENO. —Your brass fire-screen funds lovely. Una. Those Household Hints fere most amusing. ... / FAY JONNASSEN. —I should certainly Ike to see Happy-Go-Lucky village, Fay. It sounds very fascinating. [ MADGE HOGWOOD. —I was interested /to hear about Mirry. She looks a very (handsome puss. I think cats are really very intelligent animals. Yes, lambs are darlings when thev are very wee. MARGARET DAY.—Your riddles will be published, Margaret. The sketches were not quite stood enough to appear on th 6 page. KITTY ALLAN.—I was pleased to hear from you again, Kitty. Yes. it was pleasant to see the sun again that week-end. I certainly made' the most of it out in the garden. Your poem was rather jerky. Do try to keen vour metre more even. JEAN OTTO.—I am glad to know you enjoy my letter, Jean. Yes. tuis are lovely birds. Grev Malcolm has quite got over his little "huff" apd is the nicest of cats again. Sorry, Jean, your houie sketch was not good enough for the page. BERNICE MCDONNELL.—The Idea of your mii»e "ooH. but it was -very- Well written, Bernice. DONALD AIMER.—You must have fun Wth your calf. Donald. They are usually **ry mischievous little things, aren't they?

J) EAR ANNE SHIRLEY,—'This time I am going to tell you about the glow-worm grotto and caves on our farm. Most of the creeks here run through numerous caves and some of them we have been able to explore. Now I must tell you about the little glow-worm grotto we have near home. It is situated in a fairly deep hollow, with rock walls which are covered with wot moss. The hollow is full of shrubs and ferns, which make it shady. The moss which grows on the rock is always

moist because, when it is raining, the moss sucks the moisture and keeps the glow-worm's threads moist and sticky. Some of the glow-worms are about one inch long and about one-eighth of an inch thick. One night when it was very dark 1 was on my way home from the paddock and, as I was passing _ the grotto, I noticed the pale-blue lights of the glow-worms, whose tiny silken threads were spread out to capture small, flying insects attracted by the fairy-Hke lamps. Yours sincerely, Jimmy Ngahiwi (14), Waitomo Caves.

JIMMY NGAHIWI. —That glow-worm grotto must be lovely, Jimmy. I think glow-worms are such fascinating little creatures. There is do need to put a title to letters. KEITH ADAMS.—Your sketch was very neat, Keith, but you do not seem to have made your sheeps* faces quite correct, somehow. The tree also was not very natural. Your second sketch was much better, but you still need to make your objects clearer. JENNIE NISBET.—So glad you enjoyed your stay in Auckland, Jennie. Why didn't you come to see me? the monkeys at the zoo are very amusing to watch. Your poem was not as good as your usual work. _ . HAZEL NORRIS. —Dear me, you do seem to have had a wet winter up north. Hazel. I hope the rain has decided to ttop for a while now. AILSA WALLACE.—What a pity your pets were so unfortunate. Good luck in the exams, Ailsa. Your sketch was very SW ROBERT LEESE. —Your sketches were received safely, thank you, Robert. They will appear on the page when space permits. ' HEATHER McCRAITH. —I always loved school, Heather, and I am sure you will grow to like it too as you become older. Exam time is not very pleasant, but what fun when it is all over. Those must have been lovely grapefruit. MARY HYLAND.—I hope your school plays were a great success, Mary. Yes. all items for publication must be marked "copied" or "original." For the girls there are tea-tree, rata and kowhai mark cards, while the boys have fantail, tui and kiwi. Yes, I was able to read your writing, Mary, but don't you think- you might try to make it a little neater. Your poem was not up to standard. THELMA COATES. —Yes, that certainly must have been a Monarch butterfly, Thelma. They are becoming very plentiful in this country. BETTY CRUICKSHANK. —Your "water lilies" were quite well done, Betty. It is quaint how'kittens sometimes become firm friends with dogs. I expect Fluff thinks Pluto will protect him from any harm that might be lurking. MARIA RODOKAL.—No, Maria, I am not publishing copied poems on the page just now. PHYLLIS CORBETT. —I am publishing your sketch of the horse, Phyllis. The other is not quite suitable for satisfactory reproduction. JOAN MOHR.—What a naughty puss Darkie was to catch the sparrow. I. too, once had a little mother cat with six C FLORENCE SMALLWOOD. —I have already enrolled you as a member, Florence. Your certificate should have arrived by now. , , RONA WILCOX.—Thank you for the items, Rona. Some of them • will be used MILLIER—Oh. Pat, I really think we ought to give you a handicap. Your little items are just too irresistiblo! Many thanks for sending back the mark card. ROIE COMPBELL. —I wish you had come up to see me that day, Roie. So sorry to hear you had had 'flu, and I hope you aro feeling much better now. What a pity you had such a wet week-end in town. Yes, H. G. Wells' books are most fascinating. I liked your poems, Roie, 'but the last verse of "Harmonv Lane" was rather forced. Don't you agree? BARBARA WOODS.—Your essay arrived too late for Arbor Day, Barbara. I am afraid the person you mention is no longer connected with our page, but your idea is certainly quite a good one. AILEEN CUMBERLAND.—Many thanks for the interesting letter, Alleen. The animals must certainly take a great deal of looking after. Address all items to Anne Shirley, Editor Boys and Girls, Herald Office, Auckland. Your story was not quite up to standard. SUMANA COORAY.—I liked your poem, Sumana. I will see print soon. Try to make your sketches just a little lighter. JOAN SMlTH.—Thank you for forwarding Sumnna's items, Joan. ADRIAN CAMERON.—The tul's song Is very beautiful to hear, Adrian. I ani sorry your poem was not suitable for the page. HARRY HANCOCK. —So pleased to hear from you, Harry. What a number of boys in your family. You must have great times together. ELIZABETH WILLIAMSON.—The story of Tinkle Bell was not quite good enough for publication, Elizabeth. Letters and items received from:— Nicolas, Maria and George Rodokal, Vivyan Kendall, Aola Bicheno, Frances O'Doroghue, Nona Shanks, B. App'eyard, Joy Fisher, Nellie Wilson, Dawne Thompson, Cedric Macpherson, Elizabeth Coates, Audrey Beck, Eleanor Dunning, Vic. Fussell, June Hickson.