The Children's Corner

Otago Witness, Issue 1341, 11 August 1877, Page 19

The Children's Corner

THE WORD HUNT.

Sixty-nine lists— 3o from Girls and 39 from Boys — have been received in competition for the Four Book Prizes offered for the transposition into words of the letters contained in the word "Unfathomable." The following are the Prize Winners :—: — Girls.

Teresa. Gerkens, of St. Bathans, has forwarded a list of 353 Words, and ia the Winner of the First Prize— viz : " The Young Lady's Book," illustrated with 270 engravings. Louisa. Edwards, of Forbury, whose list contains 350 words, is the next highest, and is winner of the Second Prize— viz. : " Working to Win," a Story for Girls, illustrated. Boys. Thomas A. Finlay, of Waihola, has formed 378 words, and is winner of the First Prize — viz. : " Discoveries and Inventions of the Nineteenth Century," with numerous illustrations,

David Burn, of the High School, Dunedin, with 360 worda, takes the Second Prize ■ "At the South Pole," by W. H. G. Kingston, with numerous illustrations.

We regret to notice that several of the competitors have not given their ages. The work of revision has proved most laborious. Words were systematically repeated, obsolete words, scientific terms, prefixes, proper names, and words not to be found in any dictionary were used. Many of the wordß which wa have erased were formed in this way :— "Lobated" (having lobes) is found in the Dictionary, and "lobate" is put down, So with "Unbonated," "unbeaten," &c. One boy's list, from. Waikouaiti, written in a remarkably fine hand, displayed a great want of principle. His list contained 673 words, fully one-half of which he must have known could not pass under the rules laid down. Many of them were either invented or repeated. He has not given hi 3 name, but this is not at all surprising. Had he done so, we should have declared him to be disqualified for the future. David Burn's list, although not so well written, presents quite a contrast to this one. It is carefully and conscientiously made out. Kate E. L. Munro sent us a list of 2280 words, neatly done up in book form ; but they were nearly all taken at random from a dictionary, without regard to the letters in the foundation word. Ernestiene Reichel's list is one somewhat similar. We cannot understand how they could have made such a mistake. Margaret Isabella McHattie, Blue Spur, Tuapeka, writes a fine hand, but she also made a singular mistake. It was stated that words must be classed under initials, commencing with *' U." She commenced with " U," but there she stopped, making, eighteen words, commencing with that letter. Her brother, who also writes well, has made the same mistake. Many words in the longer lists have had to be excised. We have not subjected the shorter lists to a close scrutiny.

In both Boys' and Girla' lists there are some most commendable specimens of writing. The majority of the writers, however, require a good deal of close application to improve their penmanship. The neatest of the Girls' lists is that of Louisa Edwards, of Forbury, who has won the Second Prize ; the writing is very good. She has not, however, given her age. The list next in neatness is that of Lilian Kate South, of the Tapanui Main School, aged 11 years, who writes a remarkably good hand. Elizabeth Crosland, of Woodlands, Longbush, aged 11 years and three months, sends a very nicely prepared list, and writes a beautiful round hand — very unlike that of any other girl, and almost equal to the best writing by the boys. Rubin a Henderson, Roslyn, Jessie C. Littlejohn, Waiwera, and Ellen McLaren, Caversham, also deserve praise for the care which, they have bestowed upon their lists, and also for their writing. Kobina Henderson, in her 13th year, writes like a lady who has had long experience with her pen.

Of the Boys' lists the best written are those of Fred. W. H. Brine, John Osborn, V\m. A. Crawford, Peter Dunn, and oharle3 H. Hayward. None of. them are strikingly excellent, but all are carefully and neatly written, notably the lists of Fred. W. H. Brine and Charles H. Hayward.

We hope that those who have been beaten will not be discouraged, but will again enter the lists on a future occasion. The time spent in competition has not been wasted. All the competitors have •tijoyed the excitement of the " Word Hunt," which is healthy exercise for the mind, and they have had some extra practice in writing.

The following is a list of the competitors, with, the number of words sent : — j Gihls. words. Teresa Gerken3, St. Bathans 353 Louisa Edwards, Forbury 350 Jane D. Smith, Greenfield, IS} ... 346 Emma J. Godso, Opoho, 12 343 Bobina Henderson, Eoslyn, 12 ... ... 336 j Elizabeth Crosland, Longbush, 11^ ... 828 E. Murdock, Waikouaiti 325 , Je33ie Anderson, Peninsula, 13 320 I Jessie C. Littlejohn, Waiwera 312 Maria Webb, North Taieri, 15 289 Elizabeth A. Bayley, Warrington, 13 ... 284 Agnea Armstrong, Dunedin ... ... 278 Fanny Inglis, Anderson's Bay, 11 ... 275 Lilian Kate Smith, Tapanui, 11 ... 275 Annie Kobertson, Waihola, 14 275 Katey Walker, Milton 267 Edith Stanford, Duuedin, llf 249 Ina Musker, Tiniaru, 239 Jessie Pollock, Otepopo, 13 224 Gertrado Dauber, German Bay, 12 ... 189 Helen C. McAllister, Dnnedin, 10 ... 177 Loui Wiiaon, Dunedin, 11 157 Ellen McLaren, Cavershain 152 Catherine Waddeil, Oamaru 149 Annio A. McLay, Glenoamaru, 8 ... 109 Ellen McNoil, Dunedin, 12£ Margaret J. McEattie, Blue Spur Kate E. L. Munro, Oteramika, 12 Ernestine Roichel, Orepaki, 12jfBoys. Thomas A. Finlay, 12 378 David Burn, Duuedin 3GO Edward F. Gerkons, St. Bathans, ... 352 , Bauk of N.Z., Waikouaiti, 13 349 W. J. Norman, Arrow, 15 ... ... 341 John J. McCartney, Portobello, 12 ... 335 Walter Watkins, Akaroa, 14 33 1 John Anderson, Broad Bay, 14 328 Thomas Ramsay, Hyde, 15 321 George B. Styles, Peninsula, 12 ... 31C James A. Valentine, Waikouaiti 13Jr ... 314 John Hardie, Dunedin ... ... ... 312 Daniel Boyd, Wangaloa, 16 310 William J. Manley, Waipori, 15^ ... 305 I W. A. Baina, Maungatua, 14 300 [ William Dalgliesh, Waitepeka 299 Alexander Manson, Maungatua 286 John Laing, Halfway Bush, 13 273 Thomas Inglis, Anderson's Bay, 13 ... 273 William A. Crawford, Dunedin, 15 ... 272 John Fowler, Waikiwi, 14 268 Frederick W. H. Brine, Oamaru ... 264 Pefar Puunj Oamaru ? 14 ,„ „, „, 264

James Inglis, Anderson's Bay, 10 ... 264 John Osborn, Port Chalmers, 263 John Walker. Milton, 262 John H. Williams, St. Bathans 260 Wm. McCormick, Victoria Bridge, 12 ... 258 Leopold Botting, Naseby, 13 240 Oscar D. Flamanok, Hyde, 81 217 John Eobertaon, Waihola, 16 203 Qeorge Jackson, Oamaru, 10 166 C. A. Hume, Invercargill 155 Alfred Dauber, German Bay, Cant., 13 154 R. Hueston, Clyde 150 Robert T. Haines, Queenstown, 13 ... 131 " Anonymous," Oamaru 100 Charles H. Hayward, Catlin's River John McHattie, Blue Spur The Prizes will be sent, post-paid, to each of the successful competitors, and we hope they will acknowledge their I receipt. We received, with one of the lists, the following letter from a young lady up country, who requests us not to print her name :—: —

Dear Mr Editor, — A.s a regular reader of The Witness, permit me to thank you for the space devoted to the children, and for the entertainment which your Eiddles and Prize Competitions afford. We feel a new interest in The Witness, which always contains something good, and we look for it anxiously every week. I have been working ever so hard at the Word Hunt, and if I do not succeed, I will not regret having engaged in it My brother and I always try who can make out most of the Riddles, but ho is usually too smart for me. He is older, you know, than I am. Some of them are very hard. Could you not give us more of the easier ones ?— I am, Sir, &c.