OUR GIRLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20472, 25 January 1930, Page 4 (Supplement)

OUR GIRLS.

A WEST COAST HOLIDAY.

Bv ELSIE WARING (age 18), M.8.G.. Great South Road. Manurowa.

Seated in a buggy, driven by an elderly

farmer, sat two girls. They were being driven from Aratapu to the West Coast, with its foam-capped breakers, for there they were going to spend their Easter holidays. Presently through a gap in tho hill they caught a glimpse of the rolling blue expanse of ocean. It was a clear day, but still there wore snowy breakers. In one place several sea-gulls sported round toheroa hunters, and now and then rose high in tho air, to break a shell, by dropping it on the hard, clean sand.

Joan and 'Eileen alighted at last near one of the little shacks, where they were welcomed bv (heir host and hostess. " Welcome! Welcome!" they said heartily for tho people of Glinke's camp wore very hospitable. Soon tho girls, clad iu bathing togs,

wero running toward the breakers,

"I'll race you in!" called Joan as sho sprang ahead only to trip just out of roach of the receding waves. " Bother!" she laughed as she surveyed her sandy suit; but after a bathe in the combers it was quite clean. For half an how they sported in tlie sea, making friends with some of the campers, who were in swimming at the same lime. After their bathe, the chums strolled along the beach for they, laughingly said, " Wo are going home as brown as N berries." On the way they passed the skeleton of a whale, which had been washed up many months before. Several people, were taking away pieces of its back-bone and 0110 nlan was using some for garden seats.

" Would you like some toheroa soup and fritters?" Mrs. Turnbull asked, when they went back.

"Rather!" thoy agreed, joyfully. So armed with a spade and bucket they set out to gather some toheroas. "I say!" said Eileen. " this looks like an air-hole, doesn't it. ?' " Yes-s-s, 1 think so," Joan agreed, doubtfully. Tliev set to work with a vim, but suddenly: " Oh!" rent the air. Their toheroa was' a crab! How they laughed over it. Finally, however, they met with success, and back they tramped with a basket half full.

That night they sat on the cliffs and watched the crickets flying toward the sun. Next morning, thousands of dead crickets lav at high water mark. When darkness 'fell tho girls still sat and watched the breakers rolling swiftly shorcwards. The phosphorus in the waves showed e;lch snowy crest as it broke, with a weird light. Several days later they ventured inland to Simpson's Lake, and there adventure befell them. Soon thoy had gathered a basketful of mushrooms, somo as big as soup plates and all very tender. The lako was clear and blue, and in it were reflected myriads of snowy clouds. On its glassy surface were a number of teal, which dived and swam under water, to come up far from tho intruders. Round tho shores, grew toi-toi, and flax bushes, and in these the teal made their nests and reared their voting. " Just look how the lake is undermining the cliff, Joan!" Eileen exclaimed presently. ' " Yes. I expect if will break out 0110 day, and just look at those sheep hurrying from it. I wonder what is frightening them?"

Joan had hardly finished speaking, when there was a deafening crash and the whole sand dune collapsed, allowing a torrent of water (o rush to the sea. Right in the path of the oncoming water, they stood. " Hun to a flax bush and hold on!" Eileen called as they ran. "Wo can't gel. up tho hill." Grasping the flax bushes, thev clung, out of the full force of the, current, which swept down the valley, with fearful strength, taking all before it. T'hey were safe, for the water was slower now. Teal were flying back. At last, wet and bedraggled, tho chums climbed up the hill, where they rested, and viewed the scene. Only a, few feet of water now remained, and in it a few eels were sluggishly swimming. Right down to the breakers, a deep channel was scoured, and in this many bushes were lying. Far out to sea, bobbed their basket, and Joan with a shaky laugh said, " T hope the fishes enjoy tho mushrooms." At that moment, Mr. Turnbull and some of his neighbours, rushed up, their faces lined with anxiety. "Thank goodness you're safe!" Mr. Turnbull said. " When we heard the roar, we felt very worried, for we knew you had come in this direction." Tho girls returned to the shack, after the men had examined tho opening and calculated that the lako had dropped from ten to fifteen feet. Although they had a happy time for the rest of their visit, the chums never forgot their trip to Simpson's Lake.