LETTER DAY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20077, 6 April 1935, Page 13

LETTER DAY

Merit Cards for Well Written Letters Awarded to:— Joan Mary Thomson, Timaru. Dorothy Lyne, Timaru. Joan Swap, Tetnuka. Erica Kellie, Otipua. Highly Commended: Phyllis Bruce, Temuka. Kenneth Ramsay Smith, Timaru. Phyllis Smith, Rosewill. lan Hewson, Bluecliffs. Shirley Littleton, Craigmore. Commended:— Olive Hopkinson, Temuka. Jean McKerchar, Ma Waro. Barbara Scott, Pareora East. Leslie Necklen, Timaru. Reta Keefle, Christchurch. Neroli Gillingham, Cave. Georgina Mcllwrick, Upp. Waitohi Dear Peter Pan, For many weeks I have been looking forward to March 9, and now that it has passed I must tell you about the wonderful day I spent at the Guide’s Rally. On Saturday morning a large number of Guides left Timaru for the Addington Showgrounds, where the inspection by Lord and Lady BadenPowell was to be held. Although the sky was overcast with clouds, on that dewy autumn morning the country looked beautiful and fresh as the train rattled through South Canterbury, and as we neared our destination the sun came out to greet us with its warming rays. At 2 p.m., a Guide from each company formed a guard of Honour for the Chiefs to pass through. Then we all lined up for the March Past, when we were thrilled at receiving a smile from the Chief Guide herself. It must have been very tiring for Lord and Lady Baden Powell, saluting so many times. The Brownies were then harnessed in reins of coloured paper. Holding on to poles with bells jingling, they trotted round to the tune of “John Peel,” which was very pretty. Other items of interest were the drill Display and folk dancing by the Guides and Sword Dancing by the Rangers, all of which were very successful. Next came a relay race with balloons, but one unfortunate team’s balloon burst, so they had to sit down. After singing our choruses Lady Baden Powell shook hands and chatted with the invalid Guides, who were lying on couches. Then she gave us all a message from Princess Mary, telling each one to keep the Guide Spirit. Everyone felt proud and pleased to have been at the Guide Rally, and after it was over we were provided with soft drinks. All the visiting Guides wished they were staying the night in Christchurch to attend the Cathedral Service on Sunday, but they had to obey orders and return that night. However, we had a happy journey, reaching home at 10 p.m. feeling tired, but still smiling. Love, — Joan Mary Thomson, Timaru. Dear Peter Pan, Thank you very much for the prize, the Merit Cards and also your kind Birthday Greetings. I liked the Bird

Page very much. The birds are such happy little creatures they deserved a whole page to themselves. I am afraid I cannot be so complimentary about the white butterflies. I have been very busy catching them. They look such dainty little creatures, poised with quivering wings, that it seems cruel to kill such beautiful things—almost like killing a fairy!—but one glance at Mother's winter cabbages—(just mere skeletons), makes me feel quite different about them, and soon they are lying bruised and broken. Did you see the parachutist, Peter Pan? Mother, Joan and I were on our way to Pareora, when we saw lines of cars waiting on the Hill, and, thinking the descent would soon be made, we also waited. The minutes dragged into half-an-hour, and we were still patiently waiting. Finally Joan decided to proceed on the journey, but Mother and I stayed. The half hour grew into an hour, and I begged Mother to wait no longer, but she said, “Just wait for the next aeroplane to go up, and then we’ll go.” Just as she spoke we saw the parachutist jump, and my heart really missed a beat, for I thought the parachute was not going to open. Then it opened out gracefully, and we were very pleased we had not missed such a wonderful sight. As he descended he commenced to swing from side to side, and again I was a little frightened that the beautiful white umbrella would collapse and cause disaster; but he made a splendid landing. I just wanted to cheer, for it is the first time I have ever seen a jump. I received one very big disappointment this month. Although I am a Guide I missed Lord Baden Powell. I was dancing in a ballet at the Prosperity Fair, and Mother and I were separated in the crowd and could not find each other until too late. Your loving Circlian, Dorothy Lyne, Timaru. Dear Peter Pan, Thank you so much for my Merit Card for letter-writing. I did not finish telling you about the canaries in my last letter. A few days after the young bird left the nest, the mother and father canary pulled all the nest to pieces, and then rebuilt it again. Then the mother canary started laying once more. She hatched out three lots of young ones in a season. At the Temuka flower-show the school- children were able to enter for quite a number of competitions. I entered a plain hemmed handkerchief and received first prize, and I also entered some plain scones, and gained second prize. It is the first time I have ever entered anything for a show. Wo have held our school swimming sports, and I entered for the learners’ race, but only came fourth. I had to start scratch. I have also swum my twenty-five yards for a certificate. The sports were very good, and I liked watching the diving best. They had several novelty events, which caused a lot of fun. Since I last wrote, Pat and I went up to the Girl Guide Rally at Addington. We had a most wonderful day. The train left here in the morning shortly after eight o’clock, and we reached Addington about twelve. We all went on to the Showgrounds, and after we had our lunch we prepared for the Welcome to the World Chief Guide, Lady Baden Powell, and the World Chief Scout, Lord Baden Powell. The brownies trotted ! past the platform, which held Lord and Lady Baden-Powell. We were all in 1 ribboned harness, with tiny bells at the side, and were driven by our leaders around the ground. We kept time to the tune of “John Peel” played by the Ist Canterbury Regimental Band. The Girl Guides gave displays of physical drill, fancy skipping, sword dancang and folk dancing. I will not have room to tell you any more about the Rally. We left for home about 6 p.m., arriving in Temuka about 9.30 p.m. Love to all— Joan Swap, Temuka. Dear Peter Pan, First of all I must apologise for breaking the word rule. Then I must thank you very much for your birthday greetings. Do you know anything about pigs? If not, it might interest you to hear of an incident I watched in connection with them. I had the pleasure of seeing a proud mother with eleven little piggies only a day old. The weather, which had been very hot, turned equally as cold, and the little fellows were shivering with the cold. The mother pig cuddled them in, but seemingly that wasn’t enough, and I lingered to watch them. The mother trotted to the straw-stack, nosed some straw together, picked it up in her mouth, and then placed it in the bed of the sty. She repeated this process dozens of times, each time carefully nosing the precious straw into place until she had made a perfect bed. Then

she nosed out a few pieces of turnip that had by chance remained underneath, and finally cuddled her babies in again. They settled down quite comfortably, and as I stared in amazement at the marvellous patience of the old mother, I realised that nature is really wonderful the way she gives all animal mothers the necessary knowledge of how to care for their young, without them having to go to college to learn it! We have twenty-six piggies altogether, and they are a pretty picture, all pure white. The older ones are a fortnight old and are very fat, and it is funny to watch them trying to eat leaves of turnips and cabbages. It is surprising how quickly they do learn to eat. There is one I called Peter on account of its smallness, and it has got so used to me, that when I go to the sty and call, “Peter, Peter!” it gives funny little grunty squeaks in reply. They are darlings when they are wee, but I cannot say that I am over fond of them when big, unless turned into bacon! Best wishes, from— Erica Kellie, Otipua. Dear Peter Pan, I think it was a grand idea having a Bird Page. You do think of lovely treats for your Circlians. Have you had any mushrooms this season yet? We have had loads more than we want. Just now the asters are looking beautiful. and the garden is a mass of colours. Have you noticed that the Mockies are very gay at present? I suppose they are after the apples. The air is full of their silvery chimes. A ferret took all mother’s young bantams one night. Wasn’t it horrible of it to steal like that. Have you been out black-berrying this year, Peter Pan? I like it very much, but I was unable to go out this year because of my leg. What a lovely time you had in the bush and what a size that tree must have been. I just love the native bush and its merry little birds. Wouldn’t you have liked to have seen New Zealand befoi’e the early settlers came, with its bush-clad hills and beautiful native flowers and birds? Edna and Selwyn went with the Hilton School to compete in the sports to-day, and they won the three cups. There was the big cup for the most points, and two smaller ones. Have you seen many white butterflies lately? T haven’t seen any. . The days are getting much shorter now. It won’t be long before old Man Winter is upon us, and Goblin Frost will be nipping our fingers and toes. All the willows and trees are painting their leaves with gay colours before they let them drop. Every night a little grey owl comes and sits on the old ash tree across the road and hoots for quite a long time. Did you get my flowers, Peter Pan? Your loving Circlian, Phyllis Bruce, Temuka. Dear Peter Pan, The Easter holidays are not far off now, and I may be going to Christchurch. My bantam has hatched six more wee baby bantams. I hope they are not all roosters, don’t you? We have quite a lot of bantams now. I have for pets eight bantams, two ducks, a canary and a goldfinch. The canary is a green one. We should get a lot of eggs now if the bantams lay. I enjoy going to woodwork this year. We learn a lot of useful things about how to make things, repair things, and how to use different tools. Did you go to the model yacht regatta up in the Park? I did, and it was very good indeed. The Mayor made an opening speech, after which everybody was requested to take their yachts down to the other end to have their photos taken. My brother had two yachts entered. Their names were “Majestic” and “Silverwings.” The Majestic was the second biggest boat there and Silverwings was the smallest. Just before we had to take the boats down I was trying to reach Silverwings when suddenly I slipped and fell in! When I got out I was not so clean, for the water was very muddy! After the regatta my brother gave me a ride in his canoe, and then we went home to tea. My brother is making a very large model yacht. The |