WENDY HUT LETTERBOX.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 January 1933, Page 7 (Supplement)

WENDY HUT LETTERBOX.

LETTERS to be Addressed; “WENDY,” '' Cafe . Taranaki Daily News, Box 119, NEW PLYMOUTH.

Monica and Dan Holmes, Opunake: Thank you so much, Monica, for the pretty calendar; I shall keep it beside the birthday roll: so we shall know what days your birthdays are. We shall look for a letter from you soon, Dan, because-we are sure you have lots to tell us.

Thelma Jordan, Albert Road: You were very energetic to climb so far in such hot weather, but you would enjoy, it all, I know. Hut Dressmaker has made Baby Margaret a sun bonnet for the beach; a little white one with blue And pink daisies on it,, so if you see one like that on the beach one day, you will know who it is that’s : under it Frances Hickey, Opunake: I think cucumbers would enjoy being in that little garden by the creek, for they love plenty df water, don’t they? We have some little fat apple ones growing and they taste so nice: with tomatoes. We 'saw some rain clouds over your. way one evening afed we hope it rained hard efidugh to fill up your creek again, so that you can swim property. Bernice Hickey, Opunake: Yes,, these are happy days—the -Hut' folk think so-, too, for their idea of a perfectly happy day is a swim in the sea. Old “Bouncer „ chase's up and down 'the beach, not sure, of the waves, so not daring to go in, barking at sea-gulls and the little edges of foam that slowly ebb back. We often' drop a sandwich in the sand or lose' a little boat in the water, but we are really too happy to worry about it. Bill Holland, Waiteika Road: Goodmorning,* stranger! We are so. pleasedto hear from you again, although we, know what a busy person you are. It will be great fun to have* lots of straw-! berries next year, and if you manage; the plants that you already have, well, ydu should have a good crop. I hope It was fine for the hay. Olive Saywell, Uruti: I am afraid Wen-, dy sometimes dreams, too. She is sorry about the competition-,-there will soon jie another one, perhaps. What a large family of dogs you have and what fun you must have with. them. They are great companions, aren’t they? “Bouncer” ’ will sit for hours blinking his faithful eyes and seeming to quite understand what we say and do. Irene Saywell, Uruti: Are you quite well again, Irene? We do not want our Tinks to be chopping themselves about, fOr they ate too precious. The stories are very good and I think if you look next week you will find them; this week’s space is already filled up, • “Dreimland Fairy,” Te . Kiri: Your roof will look shining bright in its new gteen coat and 'all your friends, when flying the sky in their aeroplanes, will quite easily be able to find you. Did you stay with another Tink for ■ the lt is very exciting to be able to go away for part of the holidays; and how yOur tongues will, chatter on the first day of school! Patricia Maitland, Inglewood: A surprise for you over the page, Patricia! Someone already has that. pen-name, but I wonder if “Marigold Maid” would be just as. nice? The trouble about fishing with h' .pin is that fish slip off too easily—if ever ' they can be persuaded to come on!

Megan McKay, Motunui: Was' not “Nutmeg” your pen-name, Megan, as I; noticed that you used another this time? I think a little booklet would give you simple directions for a knitted jumper, and most of them ate very reliable. You can buy them almost anywhere. The “Sunshine Cupboard” is for gifts for poor children at Christmas time, and. all the year round we collect gifts for it. ,

. Loma Drake, Oakura: Welcome, Lorna, to the family circle. You are not really a stranger,- because we know Maisie and Tansie so well. That is a very pretty name ah’d one no-one else has chosen; so remember to sign it next time you Write.

“Mountain Queen,” Kaimiro: Baby Margaret has to begin to have, lessons, soon, so Billikins will have a companion in the school-room. He will like that, because he thinks all the rest of the world is playing while he has to work, forgetting that you Tinks are working, too!

“Thistle-ddwn,” Westown: There are Idts of “one o’clocks” drifting about today; some are bowling along the floors and some ate caught up in spiders webs. Baby Margaret loves to try to capture one as it flies past her, and she says it is a fairy kiss. The recipe sounds delicious.

Sid Carley, Cardiff: Quite a number of Tinkd would like to exchange places with you and sit up on that hay-rake, but I am not sure that they would make such a good job of it as you do. We must not make you older than you are, Sid, so I shall tell Billikins to remember that next time.

“Daddy-long-legs,” .Piliama: These “daddy-long-leg” friends of yours like coming in to the light these summer evenings, and sometimes they get so near to the candle flame that they singe those long legs of theirs. Baby Margaret usually • tries to catch them and put them outside again, out of danger.

Ruth Sheerin, Auroa: Peep on the other page and see the little surprise for you. There! You’did not expect to see your name there, too, did you? Baby Margaret is very-well, thank you, and is busy with her little watering-can these dry days.

Ray and Douglas Rook, Okato: Postie” has just brought in your letter and printer-mail is calling out for the answers straight away, so you will not mind sharing one, will you? You may have the pen-name you ask for, Ray, but someone' else has chosen Douglas’. Would you like “Bruin” instead, Douglas? Billikins says he will remember your birthdays when they come. Renee Patch, Toko: Brothers have a way bf .managing things, as we see from that very amusing joke. I suppose your beach holiday has made you as brown as some of those little brown shells we find sometimes and I’m sure there is a definite line where your bathing suit has come, Isn’t there?. Charm Barrow, Haweta: What a lovely gipsy life y 6u are enjoying; you will just want to wander on,and on like that even when school-days come again! But it will be great fun to meet all your chums again; to play and talk and learn with them.

Daphne Rae, Eltham: Yes, you may have that pen-name, Daphne, so remember to sign it beside your real name next time. Have you. seen any of those white moths that fly about the gardens? They are pretty things but nobody admires them because they like eating the things in our garden. We would all love to know what grows in your little flower patch. /

“Clematis,” Midhirst: Oh! what a lively whiff from your garden as I Opened your letter and the lavender fell out. Vnnr flower-patch must be a perfectly glorious place these days and very popular with the bees, I should think. Have you a pink hydrangea yet? They always want “to turn blue ’ again. Your entry was too late this time, Bernice. The Hut folk think it is lovely to sleep out-of-doors and you will be sorry when colder weather, sends you inside. “Diane,” Oaonui: I should think you have received your . surprise packet through the post by this time, Lucy. Were you very delighted with it? Sorry about that poor old shoulder; it will soon be right again, we hope, and you will forget that you ever had it. “Baby Margaret” is a dear little poem and was much enjoyed. “Fantail,” Westown: Billikins is very pleased you asked after him; he puffed himself up, and said, “Fine, thank you.” He is very brown because he lives in the water, and I should not be a bit surprised to see him go sailing off to sea on the back of a whale one day. Would you like to live on a farm? “Boy . Blue,” Kiore: When you are bathing in the sea do you ever get seaweed twisted round your legs and think it is a fish? It is too bad that our weather did not behave properly when you were here. Anyway, the cicadas are scraping away very busily to-day, so I think that means lots of sunshine.

“Lily of Laguna,” Pihama: Well, we’ve had the field-glasses on the mountain all morning but we haven’t been able to discover you yet. The clouds, of course, get tangled up in the crater sometimes and block our view, so you might-have slipped up under cover of one of them. We are very pleased that you passed. your examination. Lilian, and send pur congratulations.

Tansie Drake. Brixton: It is really dreadful to have ifiemory-boxes with so many holes in them, but we simply cannot remember what pen-name we gave you and now we don’t know what to call you! It is ; funny to find . you in Brixton, but Tinks are bobbing up at the most unexpected places these holidays and we’ are getting lots of -surprises. We think it is splendid that you and Nola are such clever mermaids. Eileen Granville, -Auroa: One evening when we were sitting outside in the garden we heard a funny little v/uffly noise in the hedge. When Bilhkins looked he found Baby Hedgehog out for his evening walk in search of food. We left him. to continue, for they seem to pine away if they, are kept in captivity, don’t they?

■ Kathleen Annis, Rahotu: It would be nice to go just wherever you put your ’finger on the map, wouldn’t it? But since very few of us c„n do that we find it just/as. much fun to read travelbooks. Your letter* was a very little one and we are very anxious to hear all about your holiday.

Jack Coatsworth, Eltham: It is Mr. Nobody who forgets to turn off our tap in the bathroom dr who forgets to bring the scissors .in:, from the garden, so, you see, he does not Only live in your house! Sparrows are friendly little chaps and we often see a long row of them sitting on the telegraph wires discussing the weather, or what kind of birds aeroplanes really are.

“Woody,” Mangamingi: - You timed your arrival home very nicely, Rex; plums seem to be very popular with boys and Billikins has swallowed so many stohes in his haste to eat that I should not be surprised to see him sprout one day. What a tremendous thrill it was to see the “Southern Cross”; I am sure you must have been very excited.

Mavis and Thelma Cox, Te Kiri: We. nearly forgot to turn over the page, Thelma, and so nearly missed your little letter. What a lovely Christmas you both had. Billikins and the twins think the scramble for lollies must have been even more fun than Santa Claus sliding down your chimney on Christmas Eve. Has a Wave bounced away with Clifford’s beach-ball yet?

Monica Dodunski, Inglewood: Did you feel like a bird when you were flying about in the air? I don’t suppose you ■could speak for excitement; I know even Billikins would be too thrilled to speak if he'went for a ride in an aeroplane. Baby Margaret and- Tinkerbell would love to play in the hay with you; it has such a lovely smell and sometimes you can find field-mice hiding amongst it with you.

“Peach Blossom,” Te Popo: I’m looking to see what new flowers are out so that I can tell you all about them.' There are tall, brown-spotted tiger-lilies; fat, cheerful marigolds bordered with deep blue lobelia and odd comers of gay verbena, mixed with night-scented stocks. They are all very lovely, and fat, drowsy bumble-bees are nearly tripping over each other with ■ their heavy bags of gold. , • ' ■ Lois Jordan, Stratford: Santa Claus is a kind old fellow to remember us all, and even if we have been naughty or mischievous he soon forgets all about it and pops down our chimney as he has been doing '■ ever since there were boys and girls. Js there room in the lunch case for a r&y big apple, too? You are lucky to possess such a useful thing. Sylvia. Price, Oakura: Little people love looking over our shoulders to tell us what to write or to see what we are writing, don’t they? I think I can remember doing it myself. Baby Margaret wants to know -if you caught some of the little, pieces that fell when the wee baby smiled for the first time. What are you going to call him?

“Dainty Fairy;” Whareroa: Step lightly, little fairy, as you travel from gardenflower to garden-flower; poppies and full-blown roses, for instance, might let you fall if you do not step lightly on their petals. You are one of the little people we have to thank for our rich golden butter we have on our toast, every morning, I know, so you see, we appreciate you early morning efforts. “Red Berry,” Mokau; Can you hear a very loud, “Ha-ha!” echoing around the house? That is just Billikins thoroughly enjoying your joke about.“fascinate." It is because he is always laughing so much at, the Wendy folks’ jokes, that he is growing sb fat ■ All the Hut Folk and most of the pets ("Snuff” in a basket because he always wants to go the wrong way!) have gone down to play on the sand; sand-castles are' our favourite game. ; ‘ >

Nola Petersen, Brixton: No, we get into such a tangle if we begin changing pen-names, Nola, that we have decided hdt to do so any more. We wish we could see you and Tansie eeling.. When the Hut folk go eeling in the creek someone usually falls in, and in the excitement of “fishing” them out, the eeling is forgotten. Clarence Dodunski, Inglewood: I like your little “Don’t Worry” poem; I think it should be tacked up all over the world to help people when things are wrong and so save lots of puckered and lined brows. Billikins wishes he were • with you to jump on the hay; there is nothing he would like to do more, unless it is to put his finger in the jam that Cookie is making. ' ‘“Princess Laughing Water,” Kapuni: A princess turned house-wife! And how she enjoyed it! “Ginger” thought. that perhaps he would like to give. himself away as a Christmas present, apparently, and so that’s why he came to you. Riverbathing .is so delightful, although I always imagine an eel is nibbling at my toes!, Frances Ogier, Midhirst: Watch out for the poem at a later date, Frances. I should think your garden is a great favourite of the birds and—little boys. When Cookie wants plums for jam from our garden she* sits under the plumtrees for weeks and weeks until they are ripe' enough to pick! Does your mummy have to do that? Muriel Brooking, Tututawa: Your letter reached us by Monday this , time, lassie. It was most exciting to see the Southern. Cross arrive. Billikins, who always wanted to keep a zoo before, has almost given up that idea in favour of being ah air-pilot'and carrying Wendy letters around New Zealand! I hope the river does not dry up altogether, because I know you would like more bathing.

“Waratah,” Tirimoana: Two letters from you to-day, Merle, one from “Holiday House” and the other from home. What a really lovely time you had; I have seen some of those places, too, and the loveliest one of all is the river one, where, the bush runs down to the watef’s edge, peeps in, and gives you the most perfect mirrored picture. Is Trixie ready for school again? Chert Grant, Ararata: Some day- someone will ask you if you saw the Southern Cross and you will want to say, “Why, of course, I came with him!” And you will want to say that because you heard every little bit of the flight over the wireless, ■ even the propellers buzzing and the sound of .the wind in the Wings;, isn’t , that very wonderful? I hope Sir Charles' noticed the Hut garden as he flew over; it is so vivid and gay just now!

Nola . Des Forges, Urenui: It is, fun to have a birthday even if it is close to Christmas, isn’t it? Baby Margaret and Tinker Bell were gardening yesterday; Unk was hoeing weeds from the paths (it is strange, how weeds like paths). Baby Margaret was scratching the garden-beds with the wee fork that arrived for her at Christmas. There was such a neat fresh garden for the flowers to wake up to this morning.

POLICING ARCTIC CHICLE.

DAILY LIFE OF THE RED COATSThe whole world has .heard of the famous Canadian Mounted Police, of their daring and discipline, 'of their courage and kind-heartedness, of their, thrilling exploits in the face of danger, and their almost unbelievable endurance. Not everyone, however, has a clear picture of the day-by-aay duties of the 116 men who form the Northern. Patrol of “the mounties” policing the Arctic end sub-Arctic region. ?!! The official report shows us that these men, unlike the kinema heroes, do not spend their time dashing about on spirited horses riding down desperate criminals; they go slowly and painfully by dog-team, relieving distress among the Eskimos, helping with projects for conserving gaihe, exploring unknown regions, collecting scientific information, taking the census,., helping people make out their income-tax returns, and being guide, philosopher, and friend to the inhabitants.

Constable J. H. Pearson gives this account of how he spent five days between Arctic Red River and Macpherson. “Furs were exported, returns of native fur collected, radio licences issued, income-tax returns collected, expired game licences taken up and new ones issued. Beaver permits were also collected, explosives at Blake’s store examined,’, and the. census taken.”

All this was apparently satisfactory, for the Inspector gives a good report of Constable Pearson’s detachment. He says: “I found the detachment in good order. Practically the whole district has been patrolled by dog-team. There were indications that the personnel had been regularly employed.”

Everything "ship-shape; this, the Inspector knows, means that that intangible thing called moral is in good order. He judges by that. He has to. It would, for example, be ridiculous to compare the day’s work of a census-taker in Baker Street' with one around Baker Lake on the Basis of the number of persons enumerated. , s Two. constables of the Baker Lake detachment had to travel 2635 miles' by sled and boat to- list a total population of 367 soult. But travelling was not the only hardship on this detail. There was also the spelling. These people belonged to four tribes—the Padleymuits, the Savatamuits, the Krainelrmuits, and the kingmuits. If their first names were anything like their tribal- names Constables Nichols and Humphreys, who went out on this task, must have been glad when it ended. Constable J. W. McCormack tells of some Eskimos he met at Wagner Inlet Who had taken two polar bear cubs in as members of the family. They tried at first to train the small bears to pull the sled like the dogs. At first the dogs, resented the presence of the little bears, and there were fights, but soon dogs and bears learned to put up with each other. But the bears were so much more clumsy than the fleet huskies that’ finally the family gave up that experiment as a bad job. The cubs went on living with them, however, in a sort, of threefold capacity as friends of the family, nursery governesses and central heating. They slept at night in the igloo side by side with the people, helping to keep them warm, and in the day-time they played with the three little children. •