The Kiwis’ Nest

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 148, 8 June 1935, Page 15

The Kiwis’ Nest

This morning I saw a pretty sight through our kitchen window. I looked out and there I saw a plump thrush bathing in a dirty muddy pool. I sentried it for a long while until it saw me, and flew away. It rested on a post, then fluttered to and fro to dry itself. I thought this very interesting to watch. Would you, Chief Kiwi? —Blue certificate to Molly Gilmore, Frasertown. (Yes, Molly, I love to watch a thrush bathe, and afterwards, if one keeps quite still and quiet, he will often whistle a song.—C.K.) How busy Hastings is on Saturday night. Everyone seems to come to town to buy things for Sunday. The shops are all gaily lit up, and many specials are arranged at the different counters of the large, stores. Last night McKenzie's were selling blackballs, and just inside the door was a tremendous blackball made out of black crepe paper with white stripes up it. If you wanted to buy some blackballs you had to hand your money through a little hole and then you would receive your bag of blackballs. How everyone seems to rush and shove, and doesn’t it take a long time to get out of the crowd? Last Saturday McKenzie’s had a carnival with clowns walking all round the store with fancy hats, balloons and squeakers. How this attracts the attention of the little ones. —Blue certificate to “Topknot,” age II years Hastings. (Saturday is quite a gala night for children and Hastings presents a busy appearance on that night, but I wish, don’t you. Topknot, that folks would keep to their proper side of the footpath?—C.K.) On the 17th of April we started by express train for Wellington. We left that night by the Rangatira for Lyttelton, where we caught the electric train for Christchurch. After spending a week there I went to Somers, where I spent a fortnight. Mt. Somers is 30 miles from Ashburton and 80 miles from Christchurch. I helped to bluestone the feet of the sheep for footrot. (To be continued). —Red certificate to “Weka,” age 11 years, Hastings. (It will be interesting, Weka, to hear of all the other things you did at Mt. Somers.—C.K.) THE PENETRATIVE PENNY. To pass a penny through a hole much smaller than Itself seems an impossibility, but it can be done quite easily. Take a piece of paper and cut from it a circular hole just a trifle less in size than a halfpenny, which you probably know measures an inch across. Through this hole you are requested to pass the penny without tearing the paper or touching the coin after placing it on the paper, To do it fold the paper so that the crease will cross the exact centre of the hole, and place a penny in the fold. Pick up the paper and let the coin run down into the hole, part of it projecting below. Then bend the corners of the fold slightly upwards. This will lengthen the opening, and if the movement is continued the coin will drop through without damaging the paper in any way. OLD PROVERBS. To spoil what is good by unreasonableness is like letting off fireworks in the rain. Nine-storeyed terraces rise by a gradual accumulation of bricks. The prince who deserves the favour of heaven should practise and honour the five virtues: Charity, justice, prudence, fidelity and politeness. An unkind word falls easily from the tongue, but a coach and six horses cannot bring it back. Without going you can get nowhere. Trust not the flatterer; in the days of sunshine he will give thee three pounds of butter, and in thy need deny thee a crust of bread. Something is learned every time a book is opened. Never was good work done without much trouble.