THE "GOOD ENDEAVOUR" LEAGUE FOR YOUNG READERS ONLY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 285, 21 March 1941, Page 7

THE "GOOD ENDEAVOUR" LEAGUE FOR YOUNG READERS ONLY

Aliav there 'iia hearlics.. Pipe the the call Bosun for "all on deck." You remember last week we dropped anchor just off the coast of Sumatra where we all smartened up with our cleanest uniforms and our very best smiles on, all expectation ready to land. But it just wasn't so easy as we thought was it ? We had forgotten there was a war on and so many regulations and rules seemed to crop up whenever the Good Endeavour tried to get near a small harbour. Well, well, cheer up, that j doesn't matter so much after all because I find we will be able to land on the east coast of Sumatra at Padang which is a very busy port. Wc have managed to get ourselves right in the midst of naval activities here and there's nothing I'd like better than to take you to visit the huge naval base at Singapore. But of course that'& not allowed at present, as this area round and about the Dutch East Indies is being very closely guarded by the ships of the British and United States Navies. Even the little Good Endeavour has come in for quite n bit of attention and you all must have had a real thrill when Ave passed up the Straits of Malacca witli a huge warship on either side of us. I think the navv wondered just what we New Zeahinders were doing in the war zone. However 1 can see the members of the crew swelling with pride when they get home to Whakatane and. -tell their school mates all about the time, they had with the officers and sailors of the Navy. What important people we will be won't we ? Well here we arc at Padang after our trip through! the Straits of Malacca and the Indian Ocean. It's getting very hot isn't it ? I don't think anyone would say 'No' to an iced or any drink. How about it ? Ah, there's our smiling stewardess just at the right moment with a big glass j,ug full and I can hear the ice chinking on the top. My that's cooling to a parched throat —and so we drain our glasses and step ashore. What a curious place this is! Not a scrap like { ny New Zealand port—wherever you turn you see only natives and mostly of the Malay type. From this port Sumatra exports rubber, rice,! cane sugar, cortee, pepper, coconuts, copra, sago, tobacco, maize and sweet potatoes so you can understand why it is such a busy place. The island is very rich in all tropical exports and for the most part belongs to the Dutch people who founded colonies here. Do you see the huge chain of mountains ahead of us ? They are named the Bukit Barisan or Chain Mountains and some of the peaks reach to a height of 7,.000 to 12.0(i0 feet. That would take some climbing wouldn't it ? Well till next week Kia Ora. Peter the Whaler.

WHEN THE STORKS FLEW SOUTH Every yeair during August the children of the little village of Geltow on the banks of the broad River Havel, a few miles out of Berlin, keep their eyes open for something they know will surely come. One fine evening last summer, j,ust before sunset, they were rewarded for their patience. Pointing to the sky where a thick cloud was drawing nearer and nearer, they cried, "Ach, die Storche," "Ah, the storks."'

These big birds have their own special way of doing things which never varies, and the children knew exactly what to expect. Over the village they Hew, coming to rest upon the low roofs of the outlying cottages.. As they numbered about 200, and the roofs were small, you can imagine how closely packed they were! But it was only for a feAV minutes.

About a dozen* storks had flow>n on toward a huge poplar tree just outside the village where thev alighted and immediately began to clap their long beaks. As though in answer to a bugle call the birds on the cottage rose with a tremendous whirr and joined their friends on the tree. There was comfortable room for them all after a little adjustment had taken place, and then they proceeded with great care co put their feathers in order after

[Aboard for the Goodwill Cruise gr PETER whaler __ c/WHALE ISLAND

their long journey overland from many parts of Germany. By the time darkness had descended and the children were all in bed. the storks had finished their toilet and perfect quiet reigned: each bird had tucked its head under its wing, and was peacefully sleeping in preparation for the greater adventure on the following ingj At daybreak those villagers who were going to wcrk early declared there must have been some signal given, for at the same moment all I the birds rose, and in perfect order continued their flight to the sunny South. It is the older storks who make straight for the big poplar tree, while the younger ones remain on the cottage roofs until summoned. THIS WEEK'S COMPETITION If you were given an opportunity of a trip by land, sea or air by which would you travel and where would you like to go? HOBBY CRAFT PAPER DOLLS Take a strip of paper—say twelve inches by two (or any other dimensions you like). D'otible it: again double it; and again and again. Then start to cut (on the folded sides) a doll beginning with a foot. Then cut out straight to the edge of the paper for dolly's skirt, slant up for the waist, then curve out a little for the chest—a straight line out to the edges of the fold for her arm. Leave the width you think sufficient for the width of the arm. then start a fresih cut in for "the upper side of the arm, curve up a bit for the shoulder, then finish up with a curve like the side of a ball for the head. Be sure you do not cut the fold at the edge of the aim. Then open up and you will find (not half a dolly) but a whole ohain of complete dollies all hand in hand. If you prefer, you can start with the head and end with the foot.

LAST WEEK'S COMPETITION ONLY TWO ENTRIES Two answers only to last week's competition and both from feminine members of the crew ! What does this mean boys? The question was: "Is there anything wrong in Peter the Whaler this week and if so where." Oar two stewardesses came up to the scratch right valiantly and they both pointed out an error in grammar. "And don't our Chief Engineer instead of doesn't our Chief Engineer." Linen Stewardess Barbara Wallace also noticed that in the article about Dr Frank Collie and stamp collecting we used "her" instead of "his." That's smart of you Barbara. However none of you noticed in Peter's letter that I said we crossed the Equator. ■ Now just hunt out. a map and you will- see that we couldn't have done that because the Equator runs prrcticaHy througW the middle of the Island of Sumatra and we hadn't even reached the Equator on our voyage through the Pacific. So I'll have to ask you to smarten up your geography Xj'm thinking. Prizes go to Sylvia Sims and Barbara Wallace.

MOTOR CARS . Motor cars go night and day, On every road and every way. They have a light that shines so bright, So they can sea their wav at night. Motor cars are painted red, And other colours, too, You might like blue or black instead As people often do. Oh f don't they speed along the road. And round the corners glide. I sometimes with my father go, [ do enjoy the ride.