The Cousins’ Competitions

Southland Times, Issue 22008, 6 May 1933, Page 18

The Cousins’ Competitions

AWARDS IN THE 346th TEST. (a) For Boys: Story entitled “The Mystery of the Pirate Ship.” Prize of 2/6 and 4 marks to Cousin James Lynch (14), Otautau. Highly Commended —3 marks to Cousin Desmond Stone (12), 14 Morton road, Invercargill. Commended —1 mark to Cousins Billy Kerr (13). Riversdale; Harry Smith (8). Glencoe, R.D. (b) For Girls: Story entitled “Moon--shine.” First prize—3/- and 4 marks to Cousin Molly Hynd (13), 169 Elies road, East Invercargill. Second prize—2/- and 3 marks to Cousin June Black (12), 138 Esk street. Invercargill. Highly Commended—2 marks to Cousins Constance Fox (16), 94 Earn street; Jean Neill (14), Tokanui; Winsome Blue (13), 69 Elies road; Chrissie Ross (14), Maia, Ravensbourne; Connie Jellyman (14), Otautau; Ruby Beggs (12), Otautau-Blackmount R.D., Commended—l mark to Cousins Faith Campbell (9), 162 Clyde street; Pattie Smith (10), Glencoe R.D. . COMMENTS. Well, the boys have made a startend that’s a definite achievement, I can

assure you! “Boys are lazy, that’s the trouble,” said one of the characters in one of our plays some years ago. And it’s still the trouble. Girls arn more industrious—they have more stick-at-it-iveness—and that’s why girls are definitely establishing themselves as superior beings to boys all over the world at the present time. And that’s what you see in the page, too. Girls get further, because they work harder. That the boys really can achieve things if they put their mind to it is evidenced once more in two stories sent in this week (by Cousins James Lynch and Desmond Stone). These are both fine pieces of work, and read like solid, sincere efforts. I was very pleased with both of them. Billy Kerr, too, made a good attempt, showing a promise that practice and experience should justify. And young Harry Smith continues to be a perfectly splendid trier—a rare thing in boys, I find!

Now just look at the girls’ section! Excited, my dear cousins!—l was positively thrilled at having to read such a big pile of splendid stories—and such a high standard, too! This is a spurt of energy and industry with a vangeance, and I only hope it continues, indeed I do—and if, it does I’ll have to work at least two hours a day overtime' on the page—and like it! The prize-winners in this competition should be very proud indeed of themselves. I am, of them. I was very surprised and pleased at the improvement in Cousin Molly Hynd’s work —this cousin has been steadily developing, and her story is carefully and thoughtfully written, and effectively. Not so Cousin Winsome Blue’s, which began ever so well, but was obviously written in a hurry, and full of spelling and grammatical mistakes. I did not get the “point” of her last paragraph, and truly I’m wondering if that’s my fault or hers! Female cousins, you’ve made me very proud this week. —COUSIN BETTY. 347th TEST. (a) My Pet Aversion. (An essay of not more than 300 words—see the extract from a letter from Cousin Chrissie Ross in last week’s page. (b) Poem of 20 lines on a cat.