Uncle Peter’s Corner

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 37, 13 February 1937, Page 20 (Supplement)

Uncle Peter’s Corner

Fig. a.—Hoop and Sticks. You can get so much fun out of playing Hoop and Sticks that I will give you directions for making the requisites of this game. You need seven sticks, which might very well be made out of bamboo, or two broom-handles cut into sections. After pointing these sticks at one end, plant them in the ground in a circle. Consider the size of the hoops inspacing the sticks, as a hoop must not be able to encircle more than one stick at a time. Mark each stick with a figure indicating the number of points it counts for. Now proceed to make tho hoops. Don’t you think mother can spare you un end of a washing-line or something? Ask her for a piece of rope three times as long as the circumference of tho hoops. Having procured our piece of three-ply cord, we ravel it out so as to obtain three pieces of equal length, whereupon they are rejoined in a tight c0i1. % Fig. 1 shows how the first length is to be laid in a circle for the desired size, the two lengths twined together are to be seen in fig. 2, fig. 3 shows the finished hoop. Wind string firmly round the joint, as shown in X. When you have made three hoops in this way the game can begin. Each player is entitled to three

An Anglo-Indian, who has returned to England, relates how his bosom friend, Pussy, once saved his life. One day, waking up from his after-dinner nap in a hammock on tho open veranda, he saw to his horror a cobra lying rolled up just beside him and swaying its

Fig. c The Last Match. Next time you find yourselves out in a gale with only one match left, take my advice and cut a few tiny splinters in the match just near tho sulpher. You will find that it catches fire much more readily.

Fig. d.—A Trick With an Elastic. Do you know tho trick in which an clastic jumps from two fingers on to two other lingers. If not, read the following:— I. Place tho elastic round your forefinger and middle finger. Then, on pretext of wishing to show your spectators that there is no hanky-panky, in other words, that the elastic is entire and encircles only the two fingers in question (2), extend tho elastic and rapidly bend the tips of all four fingers under tho elastic (3). Turn the back of your hand upwards again ((4), keeping your finders bent so that it appears to those in front that the elastic is still in the same position, viz., round your forefiinger and middle linger. But as you now straighten out your hand (5), the elastic will pop on to the other two

A NEW COAT OF PAINT Umutoi. Dear Hub, —Here I am writing to you and your happy band of Cogs once again. Dad is at present busy painting the house. He is painting the roof green, boards cream, aud chocolate facings. Isn’t the weather hot. lately, Hub? We’re been having swims nearly every day. Hobnail Boots. Your house will look lovely and fresh with its new coat of paint, Hobnail Boots. The warm weather is a real treat, isn’t it? A STRANGE COINCIDENCE Kapiti Island, Ngatitoa Tribe. Dear Hub, —Tho Skilltest was easy this week. For six weeks after the eclipse of the sun we had bed weather. It is very unusual for an eclipse to occur every twelve years over one country aud then to bo followed by an epedemic of infantile paralysis. Every time the eclipse is seen over New Zealand this terrible complain breaks out. I am back at my island now. I. have enclosed three penco in stamps for a badge. Te Rauparaha. This is certainly a strange coincidence you write of Te Rauparaha. I wonder where you found this interesting information. Now that you are back at tho Island I hope wo will bo hearing such thrilling news from you.

throws at a time, and tho object, of course, is to throw one’s hoop over the stick bearing the highest number of points. The player first scoring 50 points is the winner. Paint one of the sticks black and let a player forfeit 10 points if his hoop is caught on it.

head to and fro, evidently on the point of attacking him. On the other side of hammock stood his cat, her back was up, her tail stood erect, and her eyes almost seemed to be giving off sparks. The Englishman sprang from his hammock and rushed indoors to get his rifle. On returning to tho veranda, he moved tho barrel of the gun towards tho head of tho snake, which paid no heed to it however, but remained stiff and motionless, as though it were mere* ly a stuffed snake. The gentleman thought he would like to investigate the matter, so he held his hand in front of the cat’s eyes by way of experiment* The charm was instantly dispelled and

tho cobra became activo, raising its head with a hissing sound and preparing to attack. The Englishman hastily removed his hand, and the snake was again instantaneously transfixed under the cat’s gaze. Now tho gentleman did not demur to shoot the snake through the head, and, needless to say, from that day puss became by far the most important person in the house.

fingers. With a little practise you will be able to pull off the trick with such ease that you will have your spectators gaping, unable to conceive how you do it.

A HOLIDAY AT THE BEACH Raumati Beach. Dear Hub, —At present we are holi--1 daying at Raumati Beach. We are having a lovely time and 1 will bo verysorry when it is time to go home. W© havo been here four weeks to-dsy. I . am sending the Skilltest in. and I hope it is correct. It is a long time nine© I sent one in. We havo brought our two cats down here and they love it. For the first two days they hid under the beds and would not even come out t© eat. I got a watch for Christmas and I was very pleased because I have always wanted one. Sister Dora. How lovely getting a watch fox Christmas, Sister Dora. You are having a long holiday at the beach. It’s great fun in the breakers, isn’t it! A LETTER FROM HONEYSUCKLE Foxton. Dear Hub, —I expect you have nearly forgotten all about me as I have not written for such a long time. Hasn’t the weather been terrible for most of our holidays? I won’t be going away for my holidays this year because of the infantile paralysis. Honeysuckle. It is nice to hear from you again, Honeysuckle. I’m afraid the epidemic spoiled many holidays this year. It is fun having a holiday at home though, isn't it?