OUR COMPETITIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1926, Page 8

OUR COMPETITIONS

RECORD ENTRIES RECEIVED The entries for our annual competitions again showed a large increase in number. Entries came from as far afield as North Auckland, Westland and Poverty Bay. The short story competition proved the most popular, though there were over fifty sketches submitted. As regards the stories, the judges report a rather disappointing lack of crispness. Most of them had the sentimental side over emphasised, while others apparently forgot the story was required for a cheerful Christmas number and sent in stories that were saturated with woe. One young gentleman of ten deserves mention for his short story in 14 chapters, which showed at least, a love of healthy adventure and a facility for making circumstances fit the story as he wished to tell it. Among the sketches received there were many attempts to portray life in Taranaki, but there was a lack of finish about several drawings which put them out of court. At the same time the standard of work sent in shows that there is considerable latent talent in Taranaki. The children’s essays were much more difficult to judge, so many of them reaching quite a high level. Some of the children overlooked the fact that the essays had to refer to an actual incident or experience in Taranaki, and some good essays were disqualified on this account. The young man who sent in the essay concerning a bull and a bicycle, bad he taken a little more pains, could have won a prize, but his work was slipshod though he had a story to tell. The essays on Taranaki history sent in from the Boys’ High School were about on an average with former years, the first half dozen being very closely placed in order of merit. The results are:—■ Short Stories. —Quentin Pope (Wellington), 1; Miss Nellie Reid (Mangorei), 2. Sketches. —Bernard Aris (New Plymouth), 1; Allan Lomas (New Plymouth), 2. Children’s Essay.—Joan McCluggage (Stratford), 1; Master A. Salmon (Eltham), 2. Essays on Taranaki History (Boys’ High School pupils).—Seniors: M. Geddes 1; Bruce Bell 2. Juniors: W. S. Thomson 1J D. Phillips 2.