The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 7, Issue 5 (September 1, 1932)

Train Land

Train Land

Where Will You Go?

If you win that marvellous first prize, which enables you to travel to any place in New Zealand, where will you make for? Auckland, Invercargill, Mt. Cook, Rotorua, or Wanganui? Such numbers of tempting places there are to choose from. What fun scanning your map, trying to decide where you'll go!

How exciting to go exploring new places—perhaps your dream-lands? Why! You'd feel just like Royalty, travelling in such style. (See competition notice with regard to Railway employees' children).

Just supposing you don't enter for this great competition, won't it be positively awful to read that one of the first prize-winners is a boy or girl who lives along the road and isn't nearly such a good painter as yourself? It will, indeed, be terrible. But you couldn't possibly let anything like that happen. Make Sure you don't!

Enter Now. Get out your paints and atlas and let us see what you can do.

Remember there are also 1000 books to be won.

In case you didn't see the competition in our last issue, we have again printed it for you.

September! And it's spring again!

Dear me—this Monster Competition of ours has gobbled up most of our space. But we simply cannot let spring go without giving her a proper welcome, so next month we shall entertain her in Trainland. Special spring pages there will be, and a painting competition, too. You all love painting pretty pictures, I know.

Can you guess what the prizes will be? No. Not travel tickets and books this time; something entirely different!

Greetings of gladness to you all, from

* * *

Trainland's Letter Box.

Address all your letters to

The Children's Editor,

N.Z. Railways Magazine,

Wellington.

* * *

Wanted From You!

Original stories, poems, or drawings. Stories should not be more than 300 words. All entries printed will be awarded prizes.

Try and win one!

* * *

The Queen City's Fairy Train.

When visitors come to the lovely Queen City of New Zealand, proud Aucklanders say to them: “What do you think of our harbour?”

Then, as they come to the new railway station, they say: “What do you think of our new railway station?”

Then they say, “What do you think of That?”

Oh, how proudly they take their visitors along to see the lightning train whizzing above their heads in Queen Street.

Maybe you haven't been to Auckland yet and seen it?

Well, this fairy-like train is made entirely from electric lights, and is above the Railway Booking Office in Queen Street. At night-time the lights go twinkling on and off, off and on, continuously; flashing all colours, red, green, blue, yellow and orange, as quickly as can be.

Every few seconds the carriages are plunged into darkness, sparks fly, and the enginedriver drives on. Then the carriages light up again and you see the passengers leaning back in their comfy seats reading their newspapers. And—what do you think? They turn and wave to you!

Some folks say this fairy train should have a whistle—–But then, it wouldn't be like a fairy train if it made a noise, would it? You know, the tiniest mouse couldn't be quieter than something fairy. And this train is very, Very quiet, and oh—so beautiful.

Hobbies Corner.
Your Dog.

Here are some helpful hints on how to keep your dog healthy, told specially for you by Uncle Walker, of 1YA.

“All dogs need plenty of exercise, and after they are six months old they cannot have too much Many boys take their dogs for runs behind their bicycles, but the bicycles go too fast for the dogs, and the over-exertion sometimes makes them ill. Give yours plenty of fresh air and freedom, and a roomy kennel, raised about six inches above the ground, so that it will be dry. Keep it out of draughts, and fill with clean straw two or three times a week. Kennels with runs in front are best, as then the dog need never be chained. Dogs should not be washed often. Brush them well every day. Puppies should have four meals a day, but for grown dogs, two are sufficient. Feed them no later than six o'clock at night, and give them a walk after their last meal.

“Dogs are almost sure to get distemper sooner or later. I find that the best thing for this is to dissolve an aspro in the white of an egg and give it first thing in the morning to sweat the distemper out. Keep the dog wrapped up in something warm. Beef tea is the best nourishment to give. Of course, if your pet looks really ill you should call in someone who can give you personal advice.

“Do not try to teach tricks to dignified dogs such as Great Danes and Mastiffs. It goes against their make-up. Poodles are the best to teach tricks. But if your dog is a Terrier there is no end to the things you can teach him. Trust and love is the only real way to train animals. Don't keep your dog on trust for more than a few minutes at first. Gradually make the time longer, until you can leave the room without his touching the biscuit left until you return. Be patient, firm, fair, and reward him quickly. Remember these few simple suggestions, and you will be overjoyed with the results.”

Thank you, Uncle Walker, and if at any time we are in difficulties with any of our pets we shall gladly accept your kind offer made to us in Trainland last month.

Here It Is!
Monster Railway Competition.
Over 1000 Prizes.

Value Amounting to £100.

First Prize Awards in both Senior and Junior Sections.—First Class return railway ticket to anywhere in New Zealand during the summer holidays. This also includes a free ticket for a parent or guardian accompanying each prizewinner.

As the children of the Railway employees already have the privilege of free tickets annually, should the two first prize winners come under this category, arrangements will be made for another kind of prize, particulars of which will be announced later.

To each of the 1000 next best entrants (500 in the Senior Section and 500 in the Junior Section) we will send one of the two books “The Romance of the Rail,” by James Cowan, one of New Zealand's finest writers. These books are beautifully illustrated and have many detailed maps. Book No. 1 deals with the North Island Main Trunk, and Book No. 2 with the South Island Main Trunk. On your entry form state which book you prefer should you be one of the lucky winners. If no preference is made, the book will be sent which deals with the Island in which the entrant lives. There will be other competitions at later dates, so you will have an opportunity of winning both these handsome books.

The drawing below is a section of the N.Z. Railways, taken from a map of New Zealand. Bring out your atlas and try to find it!

Now, after that, draw and see how nicely you can paint a picture containing this line. The example will show you just exactly how to go about it.

A section of the New Zealand Railways, taken from a map of New Zealand. (See particulars of Competition given above.)

A section of the New Zealand Railways, taken from a map of New Zealand. (See particulars of Competition given above.)

Your entry need not necessarily be humorous. The prizes will be awarded for the most original and attractive pictures, along with the correct answer as to which section of railway this line is.

Conditions.

Open to any girl or boy under eighteen years of age. Senior section, 18 years and over 12; Junior section, 12 years and under.

No entry fee whatever.

Competitor's name, age and address to be written plainly on the entry form on this page. No drawing can be accepted without this form. Paste it firmly on the back of your entry. Only one attempt allowed from each competitor, and it must be unaided. Drawing not to exceed 8in. square.

Correspondence concerning the competition cannot be entered into. Read the rules carefully and you will not go wrong.

The decision of the Editor of the Railways Magazine will be final.

Closes Saturday, October 8th.

The full list of winners' names and addresses will be published in the December issue of the Railways Magazine.

Address all entries: “Monster Railway Competition,” c/o N.Z. Railways Magazine, Wellington.

I wish to enter for your Monster Railway competition.

My name is.......................

My age is.......................

My address is.......................

Fill in below your answer as to what section of the N.Z. Railways you think this drawn line is.