The Chums’ World Tour.

Otago Witness, Issue 3755, 2 March 1926, Page 84

The Chums’ World Tour.

By

ERN SHAW.

Copyright .

No. 2. FRANCE. Ajlar a splendid journey the Chums landed in Paris, not far from the wonderful Eiffel Tower, fust as they got out of “ The Skylark “ a cheery Voice said: " Ah, Messieurs Teddy and Colly! Welcome to France! Vive l Angleterre!' “ Yes-er—of course," stuttered Teddy. " Thanks eery much—pleasetermeachcr! ’ The Frenchmens dog “ Fiji ” amused the Chums very much. " Goodness!” said Golly. “He looks as if he'd gone for a hair cut, and the borber had gone on strike half-way through the job I” Anyway, their new friend Was most courteous and showed them all the sights, including the wonderful Boulevards, for which Paris is famous. They also Went to the top of Eiffel Tower, about 1,100 feel high, and had a glorious view of Paris. Next Week will find them in Spain. (To be Continued.)

Dear Dot,—lt is disheartening t-o see bountiful grass crops lying in the paddocks rotting for want of warm sunny weather to dry them. How would you like to be in Australia? Must it not be awful to have to watch that fi.ro destroying all those beautiful homes and forests, and to know that one can’t do a single thing to stop it? All t>o3e poor people can do is to pray for Tain, which we hope will come soon. We had an excursion to Riverton the other day, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, though it was a. very cold day. We left Dipton at about seven o’clock in the morning and arrived there about eleven o’clock. As soon as we arrived, we had a cup of tea and went | straight out to the rocks, a walk of about i two miles. We stayed till about one o’clock, and then went back to town. Just as we arrived there we found a launch ready for a trip. We boarded her and went for a lovely trip round the Heads. We did enjoy that trip. We were sorry when we had to land. We left Riverton about four o’clock, and arrived home at seven, after having spent a very enjoyable day. Best love to all and yourself.—Yours truly. A DARK DAMSEL (Dipton). [I prefer to be in New Zealand, Dark Damsel. Your day at Riverton must have a very enjoyable one.—DOT.] Dot. —I went to Christchurch for a holiday, and we went to the museum. I received a meccano for Christmas, and on wet days I have something to play with. We had three little kittens, but we gave two away. The one we kept is a little persian. Best wishes to all and yourself.—Yours truly POOR HUMPTY DUMFTY (Pleasant Point). (It i« quite a change to hear of someono going to another town than Dunedin for holidays. Poor Humpty Dumptv. You are a lucky boy to have a meccano.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have been learning to ride a bicycle this week. I .can almost manage it now. I received a watch for Christmas from my uncle, and I have two watches now. T havo been to the Exhibition for a week. I spent all mv time at the amusements. When I was there we went for two trips, ono to Waipon and “in and around Dunedin." The Exhibition is n beautiful scene at night, from the top of High street. We have started school again, and I am in Standard TV r.ow. I had some of my schoolmates up yesterday, and we had some fun. I have been setting mv traps along grannie's hedge and I caught six rabbits, a hedgehog, and a rat. I aent away a bundle of skins the other day. There are pictures here on Tuesday night. T think I shall be eoine.—Yours truly, LITTLE RED ROOSTER (Olennvy). [You havo loomed cnieklv to vide. T : ‘*’o Red Rooster. Traps always seem to catch the wrong animals.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—We have started school after the holidays. I am in Standard 111 now. I like it verv much. I went to Dunedin for a week to the Exhibition. I enjoyed myself very much. I went on all the anvusoments. The Exhibition is worth seeing. I was glad I didn't miss it, for we young folk will remember it for years to come. We went on the trip “in and around Dunedin.’’ One oouM hardly credit the scenery and bits of bush about Dunedin. Another day we went to Waipori. It is such lovely scenery m

among the hills. The power house is all there is to sec. Mum and dad were at the Otaki orchard for some fruit. They have such lovely fruit up there. It is pretty cheap to go and gather it. They came home through Kurovv. I won two prizes this year at school. They aic very nice books. Love to all.— Yours truly, ONLY A LILAC BLOSSOM (Glenavy). [We have some beautiful spots in Dunedin, Only a Lilac Blossom. Did you find the power house interesting?—DOT.] Deal* Dot,—May I join your happy band of Litr:e Folk? We are taking the Otago Witness now, and I read all the letters your Little Folk write, so I thought I w r ould write one to you. I am going to school, and I am in Standard Y. I was eleven years old on Lebruary 8. We had six weeks and one day in the Christmas holidays, and I enjoyed myself very much. We are going back to school now, and I am as happy as anybody. I hope I may join your happy band of'Little Folk.—Yours truly, PUSS PUSSY r (Marlborough). [Welcome, Puss Pussy. Your name was taken. School seems quite a new place after the holidays.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—l am at work in the Post Office now. My hours are from ten till twelve in the movnig and from one till six in the afternoon. I do not feel much like writing when I arrive home at night. I went to tennis to-night and managed to have two games before dark. Before long we shall be leaving tennis behind and thinking about hockey again. The - winter seems to be returning very quckly. Last Sunday a special train van to Motulora for the'railway picnic, which is held every year. I went witn a party of friends, and had a nice time, although it was very cold. There were races going all the time. T went in for the esrg and spoon race but walked only about six steps when the egg dropped. On Wednesday night there was a spoci'if picture here, and I went to that also. We had a nice time, for the picture was good. The cadets are out here camping just row. At present there are one hundred and fifty, but they returned to-night, and fifty more are to come out to-morrow. The picture was held especially for their benefit, but there was also a dance in Puha, so most of them went to that. They hod their leave that night, and I think they had a good time by the noiso they were making. Yesterday was visiting day. and quite a number of people went up to take snaps of the camp. A few days ago some friend of ours were burnt out. They saved very little, and are at present staying with Winnie. Love to tho Little Folk aud yourself.—Yours truly,* A LITTLE BUSH MAID (Te Karaka). fTennis is almost over for tho season. Little Bush Maid. I am sorry to hear of the fire.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am a new writer, and I want to tell you what happened during tho hurricane. All the great big trees round my house have fallen down, and the lighthouse is lying sixty feet away from where it was standing. A small steamer belonging to Apia was tossed like a plaything on ft wave and lay on the inner reef with a big hole in her side. Many Samoan houses have been blown down, and the copra shed’s roof was blown away. Six cocoanut trees hftve

boon blown down, ami breadfruit trees, and banaa&s also. Your a truly, ROBIN HOOD OF MERRY ENGLAND (Apia, Samoa). [Welcome from Samoa, Robin llood of Merry England. Your name was taken. The hiuricane must have been very terrifying.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —It was well the thunder shower did not spoil my father's crop 3. He has about 100 acres of crop to cut yet. We have* Hacked our oats and barley, and have cut some of our linseed. I have not had a letter from any of my correspondents yet. Haven’t the Australian bush fires been bad? Just think of the people and animals that have been burned to death through them. Have you had any of the smoke from them? We ha v e, and it smelt awful. Have you been to the Exhibition yet? Everybody says it is very good. I should like to go. I think the school children are going from here. I wish all and yourself every success. —Yours truly, BONNIE JEAN (Pareora West). [Yes, the fires have raged, Bonnie Jean, and I am thankful they did not come over the sea to New Zealand. I have been to the Exhibition.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—About the two most important questions just now are “have you been to the Exhibition?" and "w’ere you on the ecenic railway?” I was in Dunedin for a week and enjoyed myself immensely. It is such a wonderful Exhibition that when it is described to one, one doesn’t seem to realise what it is really like. Canadian Court I think is beautiful. Are you going to be the lucky one and win the motor car this time? The observation buses are very nice, as one can take a trip and go round Dunedin for two hours, or one can make a day and go to Waipori and the many other places. For this week-end I had one of my correspondents up, ar.d we quite enjoyed ourselves one way and another. There are quite a number of school excursions to the Exhibition now, and it enables the children to go, who would not go if such a thing were not organised. To-night there was an oppossum on the roof of the house, so we went out and threw stones at it to move it. I climbed on to the roof, but finally it ran down the pear tree, the only wav of escape. —Yours truly, BETTY JO (Clinton). [I am afraid I shall not win the motor car, Betty Jo. Dunedin will seem a quiet place with no observation buses rushing through it.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—Our school teacher left on Saturday. We are without one now, and do not know when we shall havo another. An uncle and aunt of ours are coming here on ’.Vednesday to stay for a few days. Four of my brothers are in Dunedin seeing the Exhibition. They have been away for nearly a week, and will be home on Friday. We are having our annual picnic on Friday the 26th. I hope it will be a fine day, but if it is like to-day it will be awful. One of my sisters is teaching at Orawai. She was home yesterday and stayed the night.—Yours truly, WILD IRIS (Mangahiri P. 0.). [Does your sister like her work, Wild Iris? Where is the picnic, to be held? —DOT.] Dear Dot,—l am not at school to-day. Our garden is looking very well. We have'a good few sweet peas out and they make a lovely show. I did. not go to the Clifden races, but I had a good time at home all the same. My grandfather and uncle were at our place for a week. Our oats will soon be ready to cut, as they are ripening. I like our new teacher at school, as he is a eport. Most of our apple trees are loaded with apples this year. Love to all the Little Folk and yourself.—Yours truly, AMELIA (Lilburn Valley). [A “sport” teacher makes school an interesting place, Amelia. Do you find the “An apple a day keeps the doctor away?”-*-DOT.] Dear Dot, —Since last writing I have changed my address, as I am at present going to the High School. I like it very much. Weeping Willow from Arrowtown is also going, so we are still schoolmates. I have been to the Exhibition, and I think I liked the courts best of all. Some of the articles are very beautiful, aren’t they? 1 had my first lesson in riding a bicycle the other night, and I wobbled from one side of the road to the other. It must have been funny to watch me. One night last week, my aunt and I went hunting for mushrooms, but were very disappointed in finding only an odd one or two. Love to all.—Yours truly, TYNE LASS (Riversdale). [Yes, the articles are interesting, Tyne Lass. Everyone wobbles when first learning to ride a bicycle.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band? I am nine, and I am in Standard 11. We have a dear wee kitten, and we call him Socks. We are going to the Exhibition at Easter time, and I am looking forward to having a good time. My best mate is Primrose, and we have oetne lovely times together. Day after day there seems to be more Little Folk joining the page. Love to the Little Folk and yourself.—Yours truly, TOOK TICK (Otago). [Welcome, Tock Tick. Your name was taken. Why do you call the kitten “Socks”— DOT.] Dear Dot,—l have been to the Exhibition and also to Invercargill. This is blackberry season, and mum is busy making blackberry jam. I like reading the letters the Little Folk write. I was at school to-day. I have missed only one day since I have been back to school. I enjoyed myself at the Exhibition.—Yours truly, THE riPElt’S LASS (North Canterbury). [Did you gather the blackberries for mother, Piper’s Lass? Try not to mies any school days this year.—JX)T.] NOTES. Olive Gaßcoigne.—l do not know your non-de-plume. You must try and remember it.— DOT. AUTOS. Sweet Dimples (M. Gilchrist, Reed street, Oamaru) wishes to correspond with Rexona Girl. Betty Jo (M. Irving, Wairuna Bush, Clinton) wishes A Strang Lover of Old and Peggy the Tease, to write. Dorothy Dimples (Anna Harper, 20 Ann street. Roslvn Dunedin) wishes to correspond with Slim Jifu, Napoleon the Great, and any other Little Folk. Please will they write first 2 Eama (Iris Watkins, Waipahi P. O.) wishes to correspond with any Little Folk willing, and will her correspondents who have neglectod to write, pleaae write soon? Wild Iris (E. McLees, Mangapiri P. 0., via Otaut&u, Southland) wishes to correspond with Roas-Bhire-Rose.