THE "GOOD ENDEAVOUR" LEAGUE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 60, 8 September 1939, Page 6

THE "GOOD ENDEAVOUR" LEAGUE

TOE WHALER S or WHALE ISLAND

FOR YO(§£tG READERS ONLY /to^^ol'^k oar cl f° r the Goodwill Cruise*

Well ma hearties, we're off agair leaving the palmy land of Fiji in oui wake. I am very keen for you to set some of the South Sea Islands before we visit the better known countries. We will make for the beautiful Island of Tahiti which Captain Coofc in nis voyages loved so well. You know of course, now that it belongs to France and is considered one ol the most beautiful spots on earth. Notice how clear the sky is and how warm the sun's rays are. There is a stiff headwind so I must send a few of our Midshipmen up into the shrouds for a bit of practice in tais. ing in a reef or two. Up you go Midshipman Bill Wallace, George Ramson, Dick Littlejohn and Billy Rivett. Be careful of your footing and hang on tightly with hands Steward Russell Law you can take Midshipmaids Rowene Woods Ann Littlejohn and Jean Gray down below and brew me a nice round of coffee for all hands. Snap to it. All hands are as hungry as sea horses. Watch out for land ahead you in the crow's nest —Petty Officer Leslie Stewart. Cheerio till next week. P.T.W.

OUR STORY

A MERRY SONGSTER The sun was just setting one Oct. obcr evening and the light was lading among the quiet trees. Suddenly a loud call broke the twilight silence. It was a startling sound, sharp and harsh. Veery was speaking. Vecrv, the thrush had flown to a v ' 9 branch on a cherry tree. There were taller trees on all sides, but Veery did not care to go very high. He turned his head after his first call and spoke again. This time his voice sounded as if it came from a different place, but Veery was still on the same branch. A. moment later 4 music filled the air, a rich, mellow whistle that seem, ed to whirl in circles—full and loud ttt first and then soft as a whisper. Veery was singing. While Veery was singing his mate was on her nest keeping four eggs warm. The eggs were greenish-blue, much like those of a robin, only I smaller. It was not at all strange that Mrs Veery's eggs should re_ seinblc those of Mrs American Robin for both of these birds belong to the Thrush .Family. Mrs Veery's own colours, however, were quite different from those or Cousin Robin. She did not have a reddish breast. Her under feathers were white, with some pale brown streaks and spots on the upper pa it of her breast. Her back was tawny Drown. The nest of the tawny thrust was not like Cousin Robin's nest. lis walls were not made of mud. They were built with dry grass, narrow strips of birch bark and torn bits '>f leaves with soft drj' moss for » lining. There wc-rc eftjht tiny "li m-> bers'' in the foundation. One timoer was a piece of dry goldenrc.i stem nine inches long. The others were slender stems of dry sumac leaves. Many tawny thrushes build their nests on the ground, but this Mrs Veery and her mate had made a plat, rorm Cor their nest on the low<»s'ii crunches of a young spruce, tree, 'they brought nearly lifly dry. brown oak leaves for this platform. Veery sat on the eggs when !\7° : mate wished to go anav from the i nest f but he d'd not talk or sing ] t/'ien. Like most birds, those tawny tnrushes considered their nest to be meir own secret. Every time Veerv

ci-.me near it, he was very cautious. Me flew to an oak branch and paused tiierc to look and listen.. Next he reached a sumac bush and stopped tiiere while he looked and listened again. His third rest was the branch or a low birch. Then he took a short, quick turn and arrived at the nest. It was the 28th of October when tlio.se thrushes began to keep their Tour eggs warm, and it took the eg£; anout Vz -days to hatch: During all this time the birds were silent whi!on or near the nestBut onee, after the eggs had hatch ccT and the baby birds were a fc'W days old, both Father and Mother Veery made a racket. That was the

i day when Chickaree, the red squirr re!, found out their secret by run--3 nlng up the little spruce tree and 5 yeelng the nest. Father Veery sat on a near-by - mac branch and yelled "Here! Here! c HERE! HERE!*' Mother Veery came i near the othr side of the nest and 5 failed "Dear! Dear! DEAR! DEAR!" P All the birds in that edge of the . woods heard the thrushes and knew ' that they were begging for help, t First, a purple finch fluttered ber tween the birch branches and began : to scold the squirrel. Next a flicker . dashed down ami 3'elped at it. Then > several warblers flew back and forth, : chattering and jabbering in protest. ' A robin came and started to shout ; but by that time there was no reel i squirrel to scokl. Where was Chickaree? Oh, lie had ( Jumped to the ground and scampered i out of sight among the bushes. The excitement was all over. Father Veery stood on the leafy platform and watched the nest. Mother Veery went off to find some caterpillars to feed the young birds. When she came back, father took his turn at hunting. Those Veery babies were growing so fast that they needed a gr-eat deal of food. They grew so indeed, that by the time they were nine days old, two of them filled the nest. There was no room for the other two inside that home—they were crowded out. They did not object, however for they were just as happy and comfortable on the leafy platform inside' the nest. The dry oak leaves served as a very good porch for them. They waited there Avhile their father and mother brought them instects to eat. The next day (which was November 20th) none of the young birds were in the nest. They had all even left their porch. They were using their wings for the first time. The youngsters fluttered from low branches to the ground in- awkward, heavy flops of 10 or 12 fe?t. It was well for them to practice ftiyng. for they would need to use their wings for a long, long journey. Some day in January, the Veerins would be starting south; and * perhaps they would go as far as Brazil to spend the winter. On the way they would stop for frequent picnic luncheons. They would feast on wild fruit, and bitter choke cherries Mould be one of their favourite treats. But they will come back to north. . ern woods in the spring. And there at dawn of day and evening dusk, a sweet, mellow whistle will whirl through the air—full and rich and loud at first, and then soft as a whisper. Veery will be singing again .

RIDDLE POT

Sent in by Keith Linscll. When is Peter the Whaler a funny bird? When lie hasn't his bcak-on (Beacon) . Whop is a horse not a horse? When it has turned into a paddock Can a picturc -hang up? No it can only hang down.

JOKE CORNER

The. professor had been lecturing the class- on poisons and afte** discussing various deadly substances, he asked the class to name n few more. At once one student put up his hand. ''Well,"' 'said f-'ie professor. "Aviation. sir/" The professor stared and -said "Come, come.'' This is no time for fooUn<?;. "What do you mean? "Why t sir, one drop wi'l kill. 5 " * * ® * Farmer: "You must be . s b"avo to come dow> in a parachute in a gale like. that.."' . Stranger: 'T didiV't come down with a parachute. I went 110 w"th a tent'" * * # * Degrees of comparison of 'bad' are bad, very sick. dead. * * ♦ People, go about in "Venice in gorgonzolas. * * * # A barrister is a tiling used to keep the crowd back.

LAST WEEKS COMPETITION'

There were twenty answers only half that number were correct#4iP The proper rearrangement was likdthis

aie me winners {marns given; for neatness): BEVERLEY ARMSTRONG A. LITTLEJOHN GERALD GARTSHORE JEANETTE McLEOD THIS WEEK'S COMPETITION MATCH PUZZLE No. 2. Here we have a new puzzle which I hope some of my crew will be able to solve.

Arrange 24 matches to form nine squares, as in, the diagram. Theproblem is to remove Four. (4) mat., ehes so as to, leave only five squares.. When you have done it make a diagram out showing the solution and send it in tb Peter the Whaler. Don't, tell your friend? and the first four ivill receive free picture tickets. The inswer will appear in next Friday's>aper. Try it and see how , r ou arel

MY MAIL BOX

Dear Peter the Whaler, I would like to be .a member of your crcw. I am 13 years, 'old, ant? I am sending the answer to th?s; puzzle. FRANK BEVERIDGE. Welcome my hardy sailorman. If you make haste you will catch us upat Tahiti where we will be stopping' a few days in the cpurse of our world* cruise. Your certificate has beensent to you. P.T.W. J Dear Peter the Whaler^ Please enrol me as a member of" the Good 'Endeavour League. I am. jit years of age and enclose threepence in stamps. AUDREY BUTLER/ Hero's a bonny lass from WhitePine Bush. Welcome to you too an<T\ may you have a hnppy ■ time aboard" the S.S. Good Endeavour. All best. P.T.W. • F Dear Peter the W'haler, I enclose threepence in stamps to join your club. ALAN TAYLOR. Glad to greet you. my lad, but I *~ wish you'd put your- address on. the Jotter. I have sent 3'ok"*' certificate*to Steward Alan Taylor, Whakatane. Let me know if it gets to you. All' } good wishes. P.T.W.

DETAILS OF JOINING. Five 3 r ears and 'under; Waterbabies. • Eight years and over stewards and deckhands. ' Fourteen and over e : ght. Engineers, midshi])men and petty officc-re: PETER THF WHALER: