THE TRAVELS OF MR JOKE BOX.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20541, 16 February 1935, Page 22 (Supplement)

THE TRAVELS OF MR JOKE BOX.

A Week-end in Greymouth. Mr Joke Box is having a very jolly time, and so, I think, are the Starlets who are helping to write this serial.^ Billy Pearson has given us a happy account of Mr Joke Box’s visit to Greymouth and now we are calling for chapters from Starlets in Blackball and Roa. The merry man from Starland is on his way there now! Dear Starlets, —After I had passed the beautiful Punakaiki blowholes and pancake rocks, I arrived at Greymouth. As I crossed the Grey River I saw many boys bathing on the Cobden side of the river, and on each side I noticed that the Akeake or TreeDaisy was in full bloom. At t~e tax»stand I found a large crowd of the Greymouth district Starlets awaiting me there. “ Welcome to, Greymouth. John Joke Box, Esquire,” said one. There was a procession from the station to the hall, where Aunt Hilda had given a delightful fancy dress ball. But I’m sure it would have been much more delightful had Aunt Hilda been there to join in the fun. Later on, I had a few hours to spare till tea time, so I visited the Kowhai Reserve. The flowering was long over, but the leaves of the kowhai in summer are in all their splendour with the almost-ripe Seed pods hanging from the branches. There is a lovely pool about forty feet by twenty, in the reserve. With the ferns and kowhai foliage drooping over it, and the peaceful reflections, it was beautiful, and all the little seedlings helped to conceal • the bareness of the ground The yellow pigeonwood berries hung in clusters on the trees, and on the supplejack vines, green (yet unripe) berries hung like grapes in a vineyard.

Then I was shown over the primary school grounds, the Technical High School grounds, both having well-kept gardens and lawns, and the latter having a native garden. The hostel, the boarding-place for country pupils of the High School, also has well-kept gardens and lawns. As it was a hot day I then had a “ dip ” at the municipal swimming baths. I swam thirty lengths of the baths—that is over half a mile. After I had had a swim I bought twelve penny ice-creams and four bottles of soft drink. Don’t say I was greedy! It was so hot! I then visited the brick kiln and saw the machinery working, and saw the men shooting at the rifle range. And oh, my! how time flies (no, I am not throwing away a clock as I say that!), for the taxi-driver said, “ Mr Joke Box. I shall be waiting here for you after tea at half-past seven.” Then I remembered I had to go to Blackball and Roa, and sleep overnight at Blackball. You will hear from me next week. —Your friend, (Mr) John Joke Box Billy Pearson, (51, High Street, Greymouth).