SENIOR ESSAYS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 160, 22 June 1935, Page 15

SENIOR ESSAYS

I shall have to write on my own subject again as I don’t see the “Hawke’s Bay Tribune.” I shall write on some native 'trees I like One native tree I like is the rimu. Its leaves are a greenish brown, very small, thin and spiky. The tree is pretty when it has its colours on. Another is the Kobe, which has a small, roundish light green leaf. The flower grows straight out from the trunk. The sepals are curled up after the flower has opened. The flower is white and bell-shaped. The tree looks very pretty when there arc two or three flowers together. The karaka is another pretty tree. The leaves aro dark green and roundish. The berries are an orange colour. The berries are liked by the pigeon, and the leaves are liked by the cows. It grows to a fairly big tree. The Kewa Kewa is a tree with a verypretty flower. The flower looks like a brush, and it is red, with small, fine hairs forming the flower. The leaves are pale green, with a jagged edge. —Pink certificate to “Peahen.'' age 12 years, Nuhaka. (Very interesting to us all, Peahen. I shall post you a paper, so that you may see it in print.—C.K.) I shall always remember the strange thing that happened to me one day during the holidays when J went to the Wellington Zoo. My father hed taken

me there, and we had a fine time going from one enclosure to another, seeing the animals and birds. Presently we came to the elephants, which were outside giving people rides on their backs. We stood watching one beast lumbering down an avenue with a load of passengers on its back. But as it was returning to pick up another load, it stretched out its trunk towards me and suddenly lifted my hat off my head. The next thing I saw was my hat in the elephant’s trunk being handed to the keeper who was driving it. Everyone around laughed, so did the keeper who handed me back my hat.

—Pink certificate to “Briar Rose, age 12 years, Hastings.

(Did you laugh, too, Briar Hose, at the elephant’s little joke, or were you too surprised?—C.K.)

Everyone delights in a holiday, even if it is only to Napier, where the waves lap the breakwater. It is not a very picturesque sight to see the gold dredge leaving the harbour for a river to dredge. The harbour itself is not verydeep, so the big liners anchor out in the bay. My brother took me to the harbour for the first time. It was most thrilling watching the traw-lers draw to home again with their catch. It seemed very- sad for the fish w-hen they were drawn up from the water which they had lived in all their lives. I saw an octopus on one of the trawlers. —Pink certificate to “Tubby,” age 12 years, Hastings. (You have won an extra mark, Tubby, for the way in which you began your essay. A good beginning is of merit.—C.K.)

After spending four years in the King Country it was decided that I should return home. My schoolmaster arranged that I should meet him at a neighbour’s at four o’clock the morning after breaking up for the Christmas holidays.

In the fog of the morning we left in the car for Palmerston North. When we reached the Gorge we were at the height of six thousand feet above sea level. It was a magnificent sight w-ith rocks hanging overhead and the giant trees of our New Zealand forest. The melody of the birds could be heard above the noise of the car. Nestling in one of the most beautiful spots of the gorge lies Morgan’s grave. Many years ago, when the King Country was one great forest, Morgan and his mate were working there. They came to an apple tree and the fruit looked good. They ate some of the apples, but they proved fatal for Morgan became ill. His mate went to Taumarunui for help, but when help came Morgan died and they buried him where Morgan breathed his last.

—Pink certificate to “Piper,” age 12 years, Otane.

(Your description would have added interest had you mentioned the name of the gorge through which you passed. Did you like living in the King Country, Piper?—C.K.)

During the holidays I went once to New Plymouth, and during this visit wo went to the Gardens. Wo walked round for a while admiring the exquisite trees and plants. Eventually we came to a lake, where we hired a rowing boat. Off we went, and all enjoyed to the full a half-hour On the water. After this we had afternoon tea in the kiosk, where I mot a friend who is now living in New Plymouth. We had a good time exploring further, and wo were all sorry when we had to leave. You may bo very sure that I account this day one of the happiest I spent there, and it will be long before I forget it.

—Blue certificate to “Buster Brown,” age 13 years, Hastings. (Pukeora Park is well worth exploring, Buster Brown, and its abundant native growth makes it different from the parks of other towns.—C.K.)

I thought the winter holidays passed quite quickly this year, and I had rather a good time. At the beginning of the first week I went to a friend’s birthday party. We were glad it did not rain, as the day before was wet. For three days I was at my grandma’s place near Palmerston. The day going there was terribly windy, the hood of a car being blown off near the gorge. Two days after I came homo we all went to Hastings, where we spent the day. The rest of the holidays were spent at homo. Love to all. —Blue certificate to “Silver Pop lar, ” ago 13 years, Otane. (They were quite red letter holidays, Silver Poplar. Did you notice my reply in last week’s letter to your query re certificates?—C.K.) This week I am writing about a greengrocer’s shop. Iu Palmerston North there was a certain greengrocer’s shop. The front window pane had been removed, and the fruits and vegetables could be seen better than with the full window. The contents of the window were arranged in ascending tiers, completely obstructing your vision into the shop itself. Oranges, bananas, potatoes, apples, dates, all in the same order as when they arrived from London. Carrots and parsnips were huddled together behind a row of bleeding beetroot. People were always ready to return, as the shopkeeper never demando higher prices when the season was poor. Love tn all. —Red certificate to “Flannel Daisy.’’ age 12 years. Hastings. t.\ greengorcer's display can present i bright sight on a dull day.—C.K.) Imagine my delight when I was told that I was going for a trip to Auckland. As you may guess I was very excited, as I had never been away before. It was a beautiful day- when we left for Napier, there to join the express to Auckland. 1 was glad when I

was awakened and told that we had reached our destination.

After a good night’s rest I awoke early, and looked out of my window to see a heavy fog. Presently it lifted, and I could see lots of big buildings. Then started the rumbling of the trams and cars, and within a short space of time everything seemed to be moving about.

We went for a tram ride and ended up at the zoo. I was very interested in the animals, etc., and was sorry when it was time to leave. —Red certificate to Inah Aitken, age 13 years, Tukemokihi station, Wairoa.

(I have had to deduct one mark. Inah, because you omitted to leave the necessary margin. What else did you de and see in Auckland, and did you like that city?—C.K.)