THE "GOOD ENDEAVOUR" LEAGUE FOR YOUNG READERS ONLY.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 145, 22 August 1941, Page 6

THE "GOOD ENDEAVOUR" LEAGUE FOR YOUNG READERS ONLY.

Aboard for the Goodwill Cruise - PETER THE WHALER - of WHALE ISLAND

What ho, what ho, ma hearties. For the last two days we have been threshing our way up the West Coast of the South Island. What' a wild and rugged coast it is! Some of had no idea that our country had, so many jagged bays such tall for bidding cliffs, and so grand a panorama of giant snow-clad mountains. Well that is Westland for you and I'm sure you will not forget it in a hurry. Of course the trip through beautiful Milford Sound was perhaps the gem of the early part of the trip, but don't you remember the wonderful view of tumbling broken country before we called into Hokitika. At any rate here we are at the beauty spot that so charmed Captain Cook, Queen Charlotte Sound, way up in the northern corner of the sausage-shaped South Island. This is a calm haven of rest, where one hundred and sixty years ago the famous explorer beached the Endeavour to* effect some repairs and take in supplies. The place was then teeming with life. The birds one morning chorused 1 ' so marvellously that Cook recorded it in his log. The Maoris were friendly and helpful, and assisted in the provisioning of the ship, cutting spars also to repair the cross-bars to the masts. Let me see, yes Ave will have 'time to visit the special memorial to Captain Cook if we go for a short walk over the headland to the little bay which marks the first place in Avhich he cast anchor. How the Maoris must have wondered Avheii the great white ship stole into the calm waters and came to rest beforo their village. See how beautiful the surroundings are. Tall green hills, mirrored in the waters, bush-clad almost to the shimmering edge of the sea lakes. Yes it is. no wonder Cook and his brave crew loved the place, and called it after the good queen of King George. He visited Queen Charlotte Sound no less than five times on his voyages. Next week Ave Avill go a-.Avandcring still further and I have a notion that before ay? land back in Whakalane avc will call into White Island, just to see for ourselves as it Avere. Who'd like to come along. Don't all speak at once! Alright then that's settled. We'll just haA T e a look at that island volcano for ourselves and see if its like the Kermadecs. Till then cheerio, from your old friend Peter the Whal-

DAY DREAMS As the gentle spring breeze fanned the trees and flowers around me, I cast my book aside for another day. Several gaudy butterflies hovered above me, while the scarcely audible hum and drone of the bees nearby soon made me fall into a pleasant day dream.

Where am I? As I straighten my back from picking bunches of golden red, orange and different coloured tulips, my gaze falls upon one of the many picturesque tulip farms in Holland. More intriguing than this, however, is the quaint Dutch costume I find to be my dress, while the plentiful windmills scattered here and there, tell me that I am In the pleasant land of Holland.

The scene changes. No longer am [ picking beautiful tulips, but I am being carried along in a rickshaw by a yellow stranger, who appears to be Japanese. From under rows of bending cherry trees I can see the Japanese working planting rice in the water-logged fields. You are right! I am in Japan—''The Land of the Cherry Blossom."

Once again the scene changes. N T ow r I am on a Pacific Island, on the foam-tipped shores of which the tiny, dancing waves are gently lapping. The coconut-palm grows in profusion here, while the sweet melody of native singers and players lends a pleasant touch to t.he romance of my Pacific Island.

All my dreams fade into darkness when I am aroused by Jib pulling at my leg. He is tired of my dreaming, for he wants to scamper in the bush. Once again I see the butterflies and hear the bees, but I do not forget my day dreams.

FIVE LITTLE FOXES

Among my tender vines I spy, A little i'ox named—By-and-by. Then set upon him quick, I say, The swift young hunter—Rightaway. Around each tender vine I plant, I find the little fox—l can't. Then fast as ever hunter ran, Chase him with bold and brave —I can. No use in trying—lags and whines The fox among my tender vines. Then drive him low, and drive him high. With this good hunter, named—Fl] try. Among the vines in my small ot Creeps in the young fox —I forgot. Then hunt him out and to his; den With-—I will not forget again. A little fox is hidden there Among my vines, named—l don't care. Then let I'm sorry—hunter true—■ Chase him afar from vines and you.

LAST WEEK'S COMPETITION

JUDGING DISTANCES

Well, I certainly had plenty of answers, but according to my chatts most of them were slightly out. X' may be a little out-of-date but I will award the nearest to my: own calculations when I was a young Middie on board my training ship. Here are the figures as I made them out: Auckland to Sydney 1278 miles. Auckland to Melbourne 1601 miles. Auckland to Suva 1148 miles. Auckland to Sail Francisco 6020 miles. Auckland to Honolulu 3819 miles. The winners were: — lan McKenzie, B. Bennett, Pat Comiskey.

NEXT WEEK'S COMPETITION

MORE DISTANCES

Wellington and Raratonga Wellington ancl Pitcairn Island Wellington and Panama Wellington and Chatham Island Wellington and New York Wellington and Hobart. NEW MEMBER 0 Welcome to Shirley Clark. Just cateh the limited for Wellington and you can pick us up there before the week-end in time fpr the trip t« White Island. Your certificate leaves to-day, let me know if you don't receive it. P.T.W.

Thanks to Margaret Grant for the verses, they will appear next week. P.T.W.