THE "GOOD ENDEAVOUR" LEAGUE FOR YOUNG READERS ONLY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 89, 17 November 1939, Page 6

THE "GOOD ENDEAVOUR" LEAGUE FOR YOUNG READERS ONLY

What Ho, IMe Lads —an how is it now for a spanking breeze, and the salt wave across the bows. Before as lies the great Chinese port and trading city of Hongkong. We've been many miles now and 1 doubt il we have struck such a city as this, with such a tremendous population.' But one thing about Hongkong, its pait of the British Empire, and therefore its people are free from the aw lul war that is going on in other parts of China. To-day as a result of thou sands of refugees from the other parts of the country where the Japanese are fighting and destroying the homes of the poor inoffensive, Hongkong has nearly a quarter ol a million more people living within its boundaries than in ordinarj times What a fine harbour it has. The wharves are crowded with ships from all parts of the world. Down to the south called by the European residents 'The Pool' arc the native craft or river junks and sampans. There are thousands of them and they stretch away like a huge aiea of land with a forest of bare masts sticking.up in the air. Do you know, boys and girls that upon these ships Chinese, families live their whole lives. Sometimes there are besides the mother and father, as many as ten children. What a cramped sort of existence for them. Still they manage to live and some of them grow up to he prosperous men and women. We will go down to The Pool' when we go ashore, but in the meantime here comes the custom officer and the port doctor. So get ready, all of you to be examined. See you next week. P.T.W.

7 OUR STORY j i~* -i BREAKFAST FROM THE SKY Joe, the little gipsy boy, led liis father's horse and caravan slowly along the winding road. His father Avas very ill,' so he wanted to avoid the ruts and bumps in the road. Besides which, a thick mist had descended everywhere. The rest of the camp had hurried on, as thej 7 were obliged to stake their pitch 111 Little Meer, where there was to be a iair the verj next daj r . "It does seem a long was'," said Becky, his sister. "See! There is a signpost!" Joe climbed it in order to read. "Goodness, Becky! We have taken the wrong road!" lie cried. "Then we'll never reach camp tonight—especially in this fog!" she replied. So Joe urged good old Dobbin up a grassy slope to a spot where they could pitch for the night. " 'Tis a pity," whispered their father when they told him. There was neither food nor money in the caravan. They had depended upon reaching the camp that night. Their father had been ill so long that all his savings were gone. But their gipsy friends -were very kind and Joe and Beckj* did lots 01 odd jobs in return. In the morning they rose early and were soon on their way. But the mist had not lifted, and they had to keep a sharp look-out. They did not ■want to overturn into the ditches at the sides of the narrow road. "I'm very hungry, aren't yonV" said Becky. "Do try and let's reach Utile Meer in time for breakfast. Besides, there's father. t iiope he sleeps late this morning. Suddenly the zoom of an aeroplane came to their ears. Joe whistled softly. "He only just missed those trees. Listen, Beckji Can hear that spitting engine? I think the pilot has trouble with it and wants to land. "And the mist is blotting out his vieAv/' said Becky. They wondered what to do. On their right was a big field. Suddenly Joe stopped the horsi*. "Come on, Becky! I have an idea!" She followed him quickly into the caravan, and very quietly, for their father still lay sleeping, each picked up an armful of old newspapers from a corner. Bccky ran behind h;--brother into the field, and in 'h centre they piled them high.

board for the Goodwill Cruise

THE WHALER • (/whale island

j "Now for a match," said Joe, feeling in his pocket, and in a few seconds he had set light to the pile. As the aeroplane once more Hew overhead, the pilot saw the leaping flames piercing through the thick mist. Then : '•Hurrali!" they shouted. "He has seen the signal." The children watched him taxi across the field and stop with <\ gentle hump into a big ticc on the far side. "Come 011, Becky! Let's go and see. The pilot may be hurt!" But as tliey approached the 'plane with white set faces a man stepped slowly out. "We thought you might be hurt," said Becky.

"I jammed, my arm a little as I buini)C(l into the tree," lie leplied. "But it might have been very much ■worse if it hadn't been for your grand idea. Thanks a lot. My engine was troublesome and I could not have held out much longer. I couldn't see anything through that mist," he explained. "Can you tell me where T. am, please? I must report to the nearest police station." "About two miles from Little Meer." said Joe. "We are going there, too, and will give you a lift in our caravan." "That's line!'" said the pilot. "Thanks very much. I want to collect my belongings from the 'plane. Then I'll join you." Joe and Becky found their father sitting up in bed. "Poor Daddy!" said Becky. "We'll Imrrv on. You won't have long to wait for break last. And the mist is lifting now." "Won't you share breakfast with me?" came a pleasant voice from the door. There stood the pilot, flask, in one hand, a package of food in the otliei "I've sufficient for us all." And what a jolly breakfast they had! Chicken soup, savoury sandwiches and chocolate. "A breakfast from the sky!" laughed Becky. And very soon, it seemed, the}* came to Little Meer.

THIS WEEK'S COMPETITION THE BOWLER [ saw a big Fat bowler Standing on the lawn, And when I asked him how to play He looked at mc with scorn. "My little man," said he with pride, "You'll have to grow much bigger, And if you want to play good bowls, >> Complete this verse and win a tree picture ticket with P.T.W's com pliments. Three tickets for the best answers. PARTY FUN LET'S ALL DO SOMETHING ! For this game the hostess has ready beforehand as many scaled envelopes containing slips of-instruc-tions as there are guests. These instructions are in the nature of things to do, so that guests will become acquainted more quickly. For example, one slip might be the instruction: "Find the guest who comes lrom Waitoa and talk to him about his childhood days there" or, "Find the knitting needles in the desk drawer and the wool in the hall closet and knit two rows. If you can't knit, find someone who will do it for you"; or, "Find a book with a red cover on the library table and read to another guest a paragraph from it." The hostess should make the instructions as ridiculous as possible, so that the game avi'll be hilarious. \fi<:r this game you'll find that all •Cuesls will know one another quite well!

LAST WEEK'S COMPETITION! THE MISSING LINE The lion and the unicorn Had an awful fight one day, Bccause cach thought he liad the right To hold the Royal sway; But St George of England camc along And said: "Why all the noise? Just hold this shield between you lads, „ , . r> Ha, ha, well onejthing I have* found out is that there arc mighty few poets in my crew. There were only five answers and some were not too cleA r er. Well here are the winners with their own versos after them: Cecily Sullivan "And stand like two good boys" Sylvia Sims "And don't mind Hitler's toys" Frances Southey "And stand up straight like boys" THE GREATEST THINGS The best day: To-day. The greatest deceiver: One who deceives himself. The greatest mistake: Giving up. The most expensive indulgence: Hate. The cheapest, stupidest, and easiest thing to do: Finding fault. The greatest trouble maker: Talking too much. The Avorst bankrupt: The soul that has lost its enthusiasm. The best teacher: One who makes you want to learn. The best part of any one's religion: Gentleness and cheerfulness. The meanest feeling: Jealousy. The greatest need: Common sense 1 .

MY MAIL BOX Dear Peter the Whaler, I would appreciate it very much if you would hold a competition for the best Christmas heading of your page. If so, would you reply and tell me whether to use Indian ink, ordinary ink or (pencil). I also enclose a puzzle. To succeed you have to add two dots and make it a sevenletter word. DICK WARD.

Thanlcs for your suggestion lad, but I have a special competition in mind for Christmas. Still, I would welcome anj r design you might like to send in. It would be hard also to make your drawing into a printing block, but never mind, you send it along and I will tell you what I think of it. Pencil will do (but nice and black). Your competition is also hard to reproduce in a paper, as we haven't got, anything in a,print ing office resembling the up and down strokes you show in your letter. It was very good all the same. All the best. Peter the- Whaler.