THE COUSINS’ COMPETITIONS

Southland Times, Issue 23444, 26 February 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE COUSINS’ COMPETITIONS

405th COMPETITION

Poem for all Cousins: “In the Farmyard.” Prizes of 1/- to Cousins Isobel McKenzie M.A.C., (16), Dipton, Raynor Huffadine (11), 439 Tweed street, Eric Lindsay (10), Wrights BushGladfield R.D., Clara Lobb V.A.C., (13), Box 28, Edendale. Very Highly Commended and 3 marks to Cousins Dorothy Lake (9), Tussock Creek, Section 8, Glencoe R.D., Patricia Henderson (13), Waikana, Ella Lindsay (14), Wrights Bush-Gladfield R.D., Marion Stobo M.A.C., (14), 20 Wellington street, Mary Maloney V.A.C., (12), Maka-

rewa, Cyril Whitaker (11), Dipton. Highly Commended and 2 marks to Cousins Marie Sutton (13), Palmer street, Grassmere Terrace, Alexander McCleery (9), 193 Ritchie street, Margaret McCleery (11), 193 Ritchie street, Vera Lake V.A.C., (13) Tussock Creek, Section 8, Alan Lake (10), Tussock Creek, Section 8, Glencoe R.D., Eva Lake V.A.C., (14) Tussock Creek, Wallace Baillie A.C., (9), 216 Nelson street, Yvonne Hall A.C., (9), Aparima, Otautau, Ngaire Gardner (11), 154 Leet street.

COMMENTS

The poems were of a high standard this week, and a number of entries just missed being included in the prize-list. I was very pleased with your poem, Cousin Dorothy. Keep trying to improve your work. What exactly is “clustered up,” Cousin Isobel?

405th COMPETITION

Story for all Cousins: “An Adventure Story.” Prizes of 1/6 to Cousins Alexander McCleery (9), 193 Ritchie street, and Patricia Henderson M.A.C., (13), Waikana, Mataura. Very Highly Commended and 3 marks to Cousins Raynor Huffadine (11), 439 Tweed street, Wallace Baillie A.C., (9), 216 Nelson street, Gwen Waterhouse V.A.C., (16), Orepuki, Richard Goodson A.C., (11), 64 Robertson street, Ngaire Gardner (11), 154 Leet street.

Highly Commended and 2 marks to Cousins Margaret McCleery (11), 193 Ritchie street, Eva Lake V.A.C., (14), Tussock Creek, Section 8, Glencoe R.D., Vera Lake V.A.C., (13), Tussock Creek, Yvonne Hall A.C., (9), Aparima, Otautau, Cathleen Sutherland (10), 48 Dublin street. North Invercargill, Cyril Whitaker (11), Dipton.

COMMENTS

Once more my story-tellers have disappointed me. Plan your story, know what you are going to write about before you start. Try not to use the same expressions too often, and go over the finished entry to see how you can improve it. The main fault with your story Cousin Gwen, was its length. I took out over a page of unnecessary material,

and it is still too long. Also, you took too much space for the introduction. The long description of the dawn is not a good beginning for a tale of adventure, it delays the action of the story. Cousin Alexander shows originality, and when his style has developed and improved should be one of my best prose writers.