FOR THE CHILDREN.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 293, 8 December 1923, Page 22

FOR THE CHILDREN.

HOW NEW ZEALAND CAME.

(By Milly Ashley, 14 years.)

Little May had very often wondered how New Zealand came to be where it was. She had often looked at the map of the two islands, and wondered and wondered how they came to be there. A little Maori boy, Heni, was May's only playmate, and at last, after having thought of many different reasons, she consulted him. He was amazed to think that she did not know, and told her that that was one of bis forefathers' favourite legends.

Many hundreds of years ago, long before he or May was born, be told her, a huge giant inhabited the earth, which was then one big mass, of land, New Zealand being part of it. The giant one day planted some seeds on the New Zealand part of the. soil, and was greatly enraged to find that no flowers grew. He thought this all the fault of the earth, and stamping his feet and breaking up the -oil, he picked New Zealand up in his-big hand and threw it into the sea. As it struck the water with a mighty splash it broke into three pieces, now known as the North and South Islands of New Zealand and Stewart

tion the smoke which issued from many factory chimneys, it had blown the dust into pedestrians' eyes, and had altogether cleared away the cobwebs. The country—yes, that would be its destination. So off to the country went the wind at its highest speed. Now for a frolic in the wide open plains! Now to give the trees exercise! Now to enjoy itself thoroughly!

Over the plains went the wind, taking with it autumn leaves of red, gold and brown. Into the woods it went, lingering there to tease the trees; but it did not stay for long. The autumn was darkening into winter, and the sea called to it.

"Yes, the sea for mc," it whistled. On it hurried. Ah. there were the cliffs. There was the sea! At the 3ight of that huge expanse of water the whistle of the wind deepened into a menacing roar. Now for real mischief! Now for a ship! Yes, there was one— one of those helpless sculling boats that it could do anything with. "I'll show them," it thought, and towards that helpless boaot it raced, but just as the leaping waves were dashing the boat towards the rocks the wind sank away with a sigh, and the sea smoothed out the angry curl of its lip and gently lifted the boat on a rolling swell. "That was a blow," said the sailors, as they turned again homeward.