OUR BEAUTIFUL LAND

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 76, 31 March 1945, Page 9

OUR BEAUTIFUL LAND

Dear Girls and Boys, ... A happy Easter to you all ? Let's hope that this, will be the last Eastertide that does not bring any jolly chocolate eggs and fluffy yellow chicks with it, for it does seem a shame that some of our little folk are growing up without knowing the delights of real Easter eggs in bright coloured paper and ribbons. But never mind. We have so much to be thankful for in this safe little country of ours, haven't we? We haven t suffered in the war in the same way as many other lands. And lately I have been thinking how grateful we should be to live in a not only as safe as New Zealand, but as beautiful. For I have just returned from a wonderful holiday at the Franz Josef Glacier on the West Coast of the South Island, and I found the snow-capped &eaks, endless miles of bush, and the deep lue hills unforgettable. From • Christchurch we went over Arthur's Pass and through the Otira Gorge, where magnificent, isolated mountains enclose one in rich blue and purple folds, and not a sign of life is to be seen, except here and there in scattered cottages. From Hokitlka, which is still full of interesting relics of the gold-mining days, we drove by service car through mile upon mile of the most beautiful bush I have ever seen. The mountains, as we glimpsed them through the trees, were so blue—a deep, soft blue—they looked like bits of sky. At Franz Josef we visited the famous little church with the wonderful view of the glacier through the altar window. It was so lovely and so peaceful. And we went for a trip to the glacier itself, all fitted out with hob-nailed boots, ice picks and sou-westers, because it often rains up there on the ice. . , , , The glacier was breath-taking in its blue-white purity as it sloped down Between bush-clad mountains, dazzling in the sun and with a blue sky above. When the guide cut steps in the ice it showered out In crystals and was like hail to walk on—only much more slippery ! Afterwards we walked back through the bush and over swing , bridges, under which rivers rushed and cataracts swirled. It was a long walk, and the bush was lovely, but, added to the glacier trip, it made us very stiff next day, and I'm sure we looked like crabs walking! On my return I went to Plcton to catch the steamer for Wellington, and took a launch trip down through the f 011^!, They are very beautiful, with their high shoulders of land rising out of the mirrorlike green water. I thought they looked like sleeping lions, while now and again we passed a long, low one resembling Yes, it was a wonderful holiday, boys and girls, and it made me realise anew the fact that New Zealand contains a little bit of all countries. I hope you will all have the opportunity to see it thoroughly during your lives, especially if you are keen to travel > and see other countries.' Once more a happs . , Easter to you .all from i.\ iv Peter Pan and myself. Love and best wishes. ,