A LETTER FROM BARRIE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 125, 28 May 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

A LETTER FROM BARRIE.

THE CREATOR OF PETER PAN. A little girl living at Paraparaumu, (Jwen Lewis, , may well consider herself as being the proudest girl in New Zealand, for she has received from Sir J. M. Barrio, the creator of Peter Pan, a letter actually written and addressed by him, save the "Dominion." In a> charmingly,, characteristic style, the famous author tells the little girl of an adventure of Peter Pan while "(lying about the world," when he spent a night in a, little house built by herself, and that Peter sends her a thimble in payment for his lodgings.

How Barrie caroe to hear of a Peter Pan house in the far distant village of Paraparaurnu may seem a little puzzling, but it is explained by a certain action taken by Mr. Victor S. Lloyd, of Wellington. Mr. Lloyd was visiting "Waimarie," at Paraparaumu, during the summer, when lie was particularly charmed with a little hou&e that the little girl, Gwen Lewi*, aged about 10 years, had built. In front of it was a signpost with the inscription: "House of Peter Pan," and the garden in front was neatly divided into flower and vegetable portion*.

Mr. Lloyd photographed the Peter Pan House, with its little builder alongside, and sent the picture on to Barrie. In his letter Mr. Lloyd explained that Waimarie meant "lucky water," and that Paraparauinu meant 'scrapings of an oven." Ho related a picturesque 'legend surrounding the little township, from which it u> supposed to have derived its name.

Legend relates that in a far distant time, there was once a Maori chief who had a very beautiful daughter, and with whom a gallant young warrior was deeply in love. When the young Maori asked for the hand of the daughter in marriage, the father would not look upon the proposition with favour—and go the two lovers eloped. The infuriated father pursued them, and at Paraparaumu found that there they had just passed, for there were scrapings of an oven, etill warm.

In his letter Mr. Lloyd mentioned that if Barrie would write to the little girl at Paraparaumu, she would be the proudest girl in New Zealand. This he did, much to her delight.

Barrie ie well known for hie general shyness of manner, and it is common knowledge that he i& a very reluctant letter writer. Therefore, this little note, which is reproduced on this page, is of more than passing interest.