HOME TO THE CHATHAMS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22389, 30 April 1938, Page 5 (Supplement)

HOME TO THE CHATHAMS

At Christmas time we went to the Chatham Islands. We had to go to Wellington to catch the boat and the trip down to the Chathams was very calm. Daddy was there to meet us when we arrived. I couldn't see him at first, but I saw my pony, so I knew he was there. After we had had tea and collected the parcels and letters we went home.

I rode my pony Silvdr Coin and when we got home it was dark. Our farm is called "Te Awarakau" which means "Woody Creek." The house is not very far from the sea, and below it is our swimming pool in the rocks. The sea washes into the pool sometimes, but no harmful sea creatures can get into Often daddy takes us down for a swim and we have such fun. I rode my pony, Silver Com, When I was there. He is very playful and sometimes he will give one a nip. When I got my new saddle he didn't like the white girths, but he soon got used to them. My pony is cream and white in colour and has very wicked eyes. Sea-Eggs When I go down to the rocks, with Anne to get sea-eggs I usually lift up small rocks 'and see what is under them. There are long fat things like caterpillars,

some are white and some melt from white to bluish green, and some have a faint touch of pink in them.

Pink crabs scuttle away when I lift the' rocks and tiny creatures like shrimps, but dark red in colour, jump about. There are red starfish and some with tiny bodies and long browny green tentacles. Also small cockles and mussels which I like to eat.

We get sea-eggs out of the water with a pointed stick, but the ones in shallow water are easy to catch in our hands. The orange part of the sea-egg is the part to eat, and the colour of the bitter ones grows darker as the sea-egg gets bigger. The Maori name for the sea-egg is kino. Shellfish Another shellfish is the pawa and the Maoris find it good to eat. There is a place to get pawas below our home and once when I was getting them I saw an octopus, but we kept well out of its way. On the shelly beach, near the swimming pool, I have found many

shells. .Some are white and others pink and blue, and others greeny-white. Most of the shells I have are tiny ones, and I have a magnifying glass to see them properly. A good few shells in my collection come from our place, but I have a few bigger ones that came from Waitangi, the chief port, and one or two from Kaingaroa. The shells from Kaingaroa are fan shells, and are orange and pinky white.

Fishlnr

I go fishing sometimes but only big Maou ever come near my line. These are not edible. In the creeks are trout, and one dav I caught one with a piece of cofton and a bent pin. There was much excitement when I nearly

caught a big one, but It broke the cotton and when 'I was jumping about I fell in. Then it started to rain and I arrived home wet and muddy, but I had caught the trout, so I put it in mummy's goldfish pond.

—PRUDENCE MITCHELL. L.8.H., A.8.H., P.8.H., Cashmere.

"I am watering my poppies in the garden." v —NORMA OLIVER (aged 6), Ashburton.