LETTER DAY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21210, 3 December 1938, Page 22 (Supplement)

LETTER DAY

Merit Cards for Well Written Letters Awarded to:—

Naomi Kellie, Timaru, Daphne Hopkinson, Temuka, Jean Edgar, Rangitata, Shirley Howe, Timaru. June Wreford, Ma Waro,

Highly Commended:— Margaret Ayrey, Hunter, Olive Hopkinson, Temuka, Grace White, Kohika, Joan Gardner, Waihaorunga Loma McGeady, Suva,

Commended:— Phyllis Rapley, Temuka, Diana Phelps, Suva, Leah Smith, Kimbell, Barbara Corbett, Suva, Mary Robertson, Hilderthorpe, Shona Allan, Peel Forest, Pat Anning, Suva. Annie Bentley, Suva, Shirley Fuller, Suva.

Dear Peter Pan, I missed last letter day; my second “miss” since I joined your Circle, because we were in what Mother called “the throes of moving.” It sounds terrible and I can assure you it was terrible. I am still hunting for my “treasures” and although my Parent faces me with an innocent look, I have a horrible feeling that the bonfire could tell a tale if it only would! Our “new” abode has more conveniences and a much larger garden but it is all flat, with no places to hide in. The cottage we have left was entirely surrounded with bushes of lilac, roses, gaudy coloured broom, japonica, May, and others that I cannot name. These in turn were decorated with lilies, primroses, violets and pansies, and joined together with s veet-peas. It was an ideal place to play hide-and-seek, and when we\ climbed into the heart of the broom, -we would be entirely surrounded by a sea of gold; and unless the “seeker” actually climbed into the trite, we could not be seen. My sister arnd I have forty-two dolls and I am sure they also enjoyed being put tc» sleep beneath a canopy of floweirs. We are now preparing for oi’ir School Flower Show and this year*we are having a Queen Carnival. Etach room has nominated its o«/n representative and each is tryirlg very hard to make

enough money to place its choice on the throne. We are also having our final examination, so I think you will agree that we are busy people. Last week I caught a sparrow and put her in a cage, and although I gave her bird-seed and crumbs she refused to take any. That evening when I went to the door another sparrow was clinging to the cage and scolding the prisoner; then he flew to the roof but as she did not follow he flew back again to coax her. I then opened the door and with a chirp of joy, they both flew away. Best love from— Naomi Kellie, Timaru. Dear Peter Pan, I hope you and all the Circlians are well. Thank you very much for my merit card and for printing my poem. I enjoyed reading the "Adventure” Number very much. The chickens are a fortnight old now, and they are all lovely little things. The Susex hen has seven, and the bantam has a family of four, of which she is very proud. We have another hen which has been sitting on fifteen eggs for nearly a week. Doesn't time pass quickly? It will soon be Christmas again. We break up for our Christmas holidays in less than three weeks. How is Michael? I suppose he is just as fat and healthy as ever, and I enjoy reading his Adventures immensely. The School Inspectors visited our school some time ago, and the one who took us was very nice indeed. On November 1, a Monster Gypsy Fair was held in the Parish Hall. There were a number of stalls, and sheep guessing, nail-driving and dart-throwing competitions. High tea was served from 5 p.m. till 7 p.m„ and from 8.30 p.m. till about 11 p.m., a very enjoyable concert was given by some Timaru Artists, who, I am sure, were greatly appreciated. Our Sunday School picnic is to be held next Saturday, and I am hoping the weather will be fine. Haven’t the evenings grown long? I love the long days, but am sorry to say they will soon be shortening again. Often, when I have been in bed for quite a long while I hear a thrush singing his goodnight song in the walnut just outside my window. I am sure you will be looking forward to seeing the scrap-books. How is your gar-

den, Peter Pan? I have some roses, daisies, arum lilies, stocks and lupins, out just now, and they make quite a pretty sight. I hope the wind has not been rough with your garden again. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New

Year, Your Loving Circlian, Daphne Hopkinson, Temuka. Dear Peter Pan. I am very sorry I did not write to you last month but I do thank you very much for the special prize

mvuv vaxuo x nave reueivcQ lately. Time seems to go so quickly, doesn’t it? We have been busy lately with exams and practises for break-up. I am in the drill and folk dancing display given by the girls. It doesn’t seem a year since I left Primary, but it nearly is. The work I have learnt has been so different and yet interesting in another way. Next Friday our class and some of the Commercials are going on a visit to the Christchurch Museum. I am looking forward to going as I have only been there once when I was rather small, and I don’t remember very much. At Tech, we have a moving picture machine and on dull days when there is not a very bright light, geographic and science films are often shown to us. The other day one of the films was called “Fruit Picking Time” and it showed how carefully the different fruits were picked, sorted and packed. There were views of great fruit fields stretching far and wide in Otago and Nelson. Another film was on the Thermal Regions of Rotorua, showing the hot mud pools all bubbling and spluttering, and all the geysers and things that make Rotorua famous. A few weeks ago a very enjoyable concert was held in the hall here and we had a lovely time. There were some very good items, including songs, dances and a play given by the school children, which caused much amusement. The concert proved successful in helping to buy a piano for the school. Our gardens are looking quite bright now with the snap-dragons, catmint, marigold, and quite a host of other flowers all in bloom. Aren’t roses glorious? My sister and I enjoyed a walk through the Ashburton Domain the other day and the rose gardens there are very beautiful. The flowering shrubs and lupins, etc., made a wonderful show also. I could write lots more about those gardens, but my Word-limit is up. With best Christmas wishes to you and all the Clrclians, Jean Edgar, Rangitata. Dear Peter Pan. Thank you very much for giving my drawing a place in your Paper,

, and also for the merit card. I think ■ our Animal Number was a great : success. I travelled by train to the ' Timaru Show last Saturday. My ■ mother and father and I had dinner . early so as to have a good big afternoon. When I was going through the gate I had my photo taken and I am going to collect it to-morrow. As it was the first time I had ever been to the Show, I enjoyed myself very much. Out of all the cows the little jersey cows were my favourites because of their smooth coats and kindly natures. While I was looking at the pigs I noticed a huge fat ginger mother pig with six little baby pigs having a feed. There was one black pig so large that the men had to take the division down because one pen was not big enough for it. The next thing I saw was the machinery and tractors. I felt one of the tractor’s tyres which was so hard and tough that I hurt my finger trying to press it in. In the large parade ground were the horses—some big. some small and some draught horses. The horses jumped hurdles I saw five sideshows. The performing pigs which did many clever tricks, Übangi the tiny tree woman who danced and sang, the Indian magician who performed many amazing feats; the glass-blower who made wonderful ornaments; the jungle show of tiny monkeys in small racing cars, and the cowboy singer. I will have to finish for I think I am getting near the word limit. Lots of love from your own Circlian,

. Shirley Howe, Timaru. I Dear Peter Pail, I went to the Timaru Show and liked it very much. I went to two side-shows. I went to see the pigs. There were five of them, and they were boxing, and the one that won got a drink of milk. I went to see Übangi, too. She was only 25 inches high. I did not go to see any other side-shows. I saw the parade. I think I liked it best of all. I have a pet lamb which chases me round the lawn. I have had it for about six weeks. It is called Bunty. We have a cat called Darkle, which we’ve had about four years, and it is always going away. It has been away five times and it stays away about six weeks but always comes back. I have a little vegetable garden and have carrots, radishes, cabbages, and lettuces. I liked the Animal Paper very much and am looking forward to the Adventure Number. Tinker and Frisky our other two cats are always out hunting. My pet lamb. Bunty, follows me every day. Our garden looked very pretty a little while ago. All the daffodils and match-heads

looked very pretty. Did you like the Show, Peter Pan? I did. We got there about half-past ten. The

willow trees are looking very pretty now. We went up to Rangitata one j day to a sale. I have a flower garden with forget-me-nots, violets, daisies, stock and nasturtiums. We have four calves; three red and white one? and one white one. I like the Adventures of Michael very much. I suppose Michael was very pleased with the Animal Number. I liked the stories, poems and drawings in it. I like doing the puzzles you have in your Paper. We have two little chickens which we have had about three weeks. My little bantam hen' died, but I have a bantam rooster. I am going to send a drawing soon. All the pussies send Michael a purr. Love from— June Wreford, Ma Waro. Dear Peter Pan, First I must thank you very much for the two merit cards and then I’m going to tell you all about the lovely time I had at the Show. We had to go out in the bus as Dad was still at work, and it was simply crowded. Mum got a seat but my sister and I had to stand. However, I enjoyed standing more than sitting. When we arrived the children’s pony competition was on, so we watched them for a while. There were some lovely ponies. Later we went round the side-shows and I went and saw the “Indian Rope Trick.” When I went in an Indian was doing some tricks. One of them was joining any number of steel rings. Then he undid them very slowly by just moving them a fraction upwards and sidewards and they came apart as easily as anything, but I couldn’t see how he did it. Then came the big trick. First

he got a lady who was with him to lie down on a bed. Then he waved his hands over her eyes and said a few native words. When he had hypnotised her he placed a coil of rope under the bed and said some more words. • Instantly the rope started to go upwards. It went right through the bed and started to raise the girl slowly. It lifted her to the top of the tent; then the Indian ordered it to come down. The rope came down immediately but the lady stopped up there as still as a mouse. Then, to prove no invisible thing was holding her up, the Indian passed a hoop right through her body three times. Then he ordered her to come down and sure enough she came down slowly on to the bed. Finally he said a few words and up she got and went and sold some more tickets. Maybe you saw this trick or read about it, but I can’t think of any possible fake that could have been present. Well, I’ll say Au revoir or else I’ll be breaking rules again. With best wishes to you and all the other Members, Your loving Circlian. Margaret Ayrey, Hunter. Dear Peter Pan. Thank you very much for my merit cards and for printing my contributions. I went to a Guide Rally last Saturday, and although the weather was rather unpleasant I enjoyed myself very much. We had folk-dancing, sing-songs, and most important of all, the “March Past.” We mixed up with all the other guides and altogether we had a very enjoyable time. I enjoy reading the letters from Circlians in Suva, and I am sure you must be pleased to have them belong to our Circle. I am looking forward to Christmas and the holidays very

much indeed. We have been working hard with the scrap-book, so as to get it finished, but we find it hard to get small pictures to finish up the pages. Just now, at school, we are busy with our examinations, and I shall be very glad when they are all over. I enjoyed reading the “Adventure" Paper, and I am looking forward to the “Christmas Number” of our Paper. Don’t you think the weather is exceedingly cold for the end of November? Dear Peter Pan, this is a very short letter, but I have been so busy lately, I haven’t much time. As this will be the last letter to you till after the holidays, I will wish you “A Merry Christmas,” and "A Happy New Year.” Love from— Olive Hopkinson, Temuka. Dear Peter Pan, I am going to Esk Valley school where there are twenty-eight pupils —ten girls and eighteen boys. There are gardens round the school with a lot of flowers in them. The most that are in flower are lupins, daisies and roses. Did you go to the Timaru Show? We went, and I visited three side-shows. One was Übangi, the smallest living person. She had a spear and she used to poke it into people. Then she would set a gramophone going and dance and sing. The other one was a glass blowing place where a man was showing people how thin he could blow glass. He also showed us a dress that was made of glass. In she other side-show little pigs were ioing tricks. There were two that lould wrestle. Another one could ihoot a gun. There was another me that could open doors and another one that knew left from right and could jump fences. Our hack has a little foal now. It is chestnut

in colour and has a white spot on its forehead. We call it Jenny. Tell Michael Peter sends him a big purr. Tick has grown into a big rooster now and he is quite savage. If anybody goes near him he runs at them and gets hold of their stocking or shoe and pulls. We put him in the stable at night and whenever the door opens. Tick gets out and goes all round the fences till he finds a hole to get in. Dad and my brother Jock went up to the Christchurch Show on Thursday and are coming home on Sunday. I am sure they would like it. I have a pet lamb called Flossy now and I have her in the lamb club at school. Iler mother was a pet, and was called Flossy, too. But she was sick and we had to kill her. Flossy would not take to another sheep, so I had her for a pet. Your loving Circlian, Grace White, Kohika. Dear Peter Pan. Once more I take up my pen to write to you. I have a fountain pen now and I’m very glad, as I’ve always wanted one. Did you go to the Timaru Show, Peter Pan I did, and I enjoyed it very much. We arrived there about half-past ten. We walked round for a while, then we watched the ponies. After that I went down to the side-shows. 1 went to see one which was car’ Pig-a-dilly. There were five I-*- I*o 1 * 0 pigs doing different tricks. I went to see them last year, too, and 1 went to it this year ber ause 1 thought it would be different- Then I went down and had lunch. When lunch was finished I walked round till afternoon tea-time. When we had finished tea we pac Ke d up and went home, after an eni°y a hle day.

' My pet lambs were waiting for me I when I reached home. They both t looked hungry so I gave them some j milk. Have you a pet lamb, Peter Pan? I have two. To-day I did not go to school as it was pouring 1 with rain, but I made two dresses for my dolls, one cape, and a blouse. , One dress was yellow with red i roses on it. Round the neck I put i a little scarf. On the end of it was a rose. Then I put a fringe down • the front of the dress and also tiny j red and green buttons. The dress ■looks very pretty. The other dress tad seven different colours on it. I put an orange girdle round it and yellow buttons down the front. The , blouse was of brown and white stripes. I am now making a warm dress wich I’m sure will look lovely when finished. Love and Best Wishes, from—Joan Gardner, ! Waihaorunga. pear Peter Pan,

I would very much'like to become a member of your- Circle, if you will have me. Perhaps you would like to hear about a trip round to Tavua. We started early in the morning with a very big punt of Government cargo. Our first stop was away up a river about thirty-five miles from Suva. The name of the river was Wainabakasi. Next day we went through to a little island about fifty miles further on. On the third day we had to cross the famous Viti Levu Bay, and it was terribly rough. The seas were very nearly as big as the launch. When we reached there, and had discarded the cargo we came all the way back to Suva, a hundred and thirty miles. Coming back it was beautifully calm—not a ripple on the water. When we came back into the harbour it was dark. I will tell you some of the things we saw next time I wr}te. Hoping I can join your Circle, Yours sincerely,

Loma McGeady, Suva. Dear Peter Pan, Thank you for printing my work, and for the merit cards. We are having Exams just now at school. Hasn’t there been a lot of sickness about? We have been lucky so far. Linda and I had the measles four years ago, and do not want them again. Have you read, ’’Story Girl” and the book that follows it, Peter Pan? ‘‘The Golden Road” is the name of the second book, and they are both written by L. M. Montgomery. I have read “Just Patty” by Jean Webster. It is lovely, too. We have been getting some good

books from the school library, so have done quite a lot of reading lately. We have agriculture clubs at school and I have sown seven different kinds of clover and one of Lucerne and it has come up well. Linda is growing sweet-peas. We hope the new Circlians from Suva enjoy our Paper. It is quite thrilling to see all their names, and to read their letters. Christmas will soon be here, and the holidays, too. It will be quite a change not to have to get ready for school. Hazel is very anxious for me to send in her name to you to-day, but I think I will send it when we send in our Christmas contributions. The Adventure Paper was good and I hope you continue to have one each year. Much Love from—

Phyllis Rapley, I Temuka. Dear Peter Pan, Thank you very much for the Membership Card you sent me. I was very excited to see my name in your Paper. Some more children from this school want to join your Circle. On Saturday in All Nations Street it is marvellous to see all the natives. They go there to sell their things. They sell dolo, crabs, fish, yams, prawns, mummy-apples, and bananas. Chillies are sold by the Indians. There are such a lot of other things, but I can’t tell you everything now, as I must close. “Samoru,” which is Goodbye in Fijian. Yours sincerely, Diana Phelps, Suva. Dear Peter Pan, Since I wrote to you last Mr Measles has been to visit us. My Mother and sister caught them first and I was head cook while they were in bed. Just when it was about time for my brother and I to go back to school, I caught them. I was in bed for two days and then Rossie

caught them. But now we are up and about again. I did not like | them in the least. We have missed four weeks from school and I think it is time to go back again. There are about five cases in Kimbell. I would not like to be up in Auckland where some children have had measles three or four times this year. We have five pet lambs. We had seven but my brother found mothers for two so that left five. My sister went round the sheep one day when my brother was away and she brought in a wee lamb. It lived for two days, and one night when we had it in a cage in the kitchen it jumped out of the cage and walked about the floor. Then it lay down on the cold floor behind a chair and died. We had eighteen wee ducks and the cold rain killed them all except four. We have another duck hatching to-day and I hope we have better luck this time. We had seven grey ducks and eleven black ones with yellow breasts. We have the four ducks in a kerosene tin and we let them out into a tub of water for a swim about three times a day.

Your Circlian, Leah Smith, Kimbell. Dear Peter Pan. Thank you very much for letting me join your Circle. For the last holidays we went to Ba, a district in Fiji. We left Suva early on Friday morning. On the way we met many landslides, some being big, but many were small. After an hour’s drive we arrived at Singatoka so that we might have a rest. In a little while we were off again, now starting for Nadi. We drove through barren country all the way, sometimes catching the view of the sea and the coconut trees. While we were driving near Nadi we nearly ran over some wild pigs—a mother and her five young ones. When we reached Nadi

we drove on to Lautoka. from which we went to Ba. Next morning 1 rode out in the cane fields, having a lovely swim in the afternoon. Yours sincerely, Barbara Corbett, Suva. Dear Peter Pan, As it was the Oamaru Show on Saturday I am going to tell you about it. It was a beautiful day. and about ten o’clock the train pulled in at Hilderthorpe Station. When we reached Oamaru my Auntie Mary was waiting for us, as after the Show we were going up to stay with her for a few days. We saw a lot of tents at the Show. We had some ice-creams and we had a ride on the merry-go-round, which’ has horses on it. At twelve o’clock we had dinner. At two o’clock was the Grand Parade, which was very interesting. First of ail were the mounted-rifles on horses, next came the miltary band, next cattle, horses, carts and horses, and then the children on ponies. After they went out of the ring the tractors came in. We had a good look round and then we went home. It was a strange journey home as we had to go round zig-zags, and it took us an hour to go to Airedale from Oamaru in the car. My Auntie and Uncle have a lot of cows. Thei’e are nineteen. They have a ’ hiking machine and a big cowshed with a dairy joined on to it. Their house is surrounded by tremendous hills. I still have two pen-friends, but one has not written to me for a long time. Love to all the Circlians and you. from— Mary Robertson, Hilderthorpe.

Dear Peter Pan, My Auntie came up for the clay yesterday and brought me the Peter Pan's Paper. A fortnight ago on Friday I went up to Le Bon’s Bay to a wedding, which I enjoyed very much. I did not go away for Labour week-end. We have Agriculture clubs at our schol, and I have joined the Forestry Club. Our vegetable garden is looking very nice just now. We will be having new potatoes soon, and we will have a lot of strawberries. We had our first meal of gooseberries last week. Have you ever been up the Rangitata Gorge? We live ten miles from Peel Forest. Thank you very much for putting my story in your Paper, and also for the Merit Card. We have a lot of turkeys, and they are all nesting, some have got young ones. Dad finished tailing all the lambs last week. Love from—- - . - . Shona Allan, Peel Forest. Dear Peter Pan, I hope you are well. I have heard of the Circlians and I would like to join. I thought you would like to know about All Nations Street. On Saturday it is very busy as the Indians sell tobacco and pineapples, oranges, bananas, sugar-cane, grenadillas, passion fruit, tomatoes cucumbers and lettuce. Now I think you might like to know some Fijian words. Sega means no; io, yes; lako, go; bula, well. I would be very pleased if you would let me join your Circle. As it is sewing time I have to hurry. Yours sincerely, Pat Anning, Suva. Dear Peter Pan, On Friday the 18th it will be my birthday. Last week at school we had to write about an exciting adventure. Every Saturday a market is held in Cumming Street. Most Fijians have fuzzy hair but some young boys have it cut. When there are a few houses and a church at a place they call it a Coro. The Fijians’ houses are called Bur’es. ’ will be sending you some Fijiar stamps with this letter. As I have no enrolment form to fill in please let me join your Circle without it It is sewing time so I must close Good-bye. Your new friend, Annie Bentley, Suva. Dear Peter Pan, I am writing to 'you to ask if 1 can join your Circle. There are lots of fruits here and many Fijians The Fijians drink yqona and leraor tea. In the three weeks’ holiday 1 went to Savu Savu and stayed with my Granny. One day as I and somi Fijians were in a boat, we came t( an island on which were lots o mosquitoes. Soon we lit a fire anc they all flew away. Yours sincerely Shirley Fuller, Suva.