HOLIDAY LETTERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20490, 15 February 1930, Page 4 (Supplement)

HOLIDAY LETTERS.

DEAR GIRLS AND BOYS: Sonic very interesting letters have been rent in for tho " open subject " contest, and several are printed below. It lias been real holiday weather lately, and I couldn't help thinking how hard it was for vou all to be back at school just as summer really arrived on the scene. I, too, have been away for a few days, picking blackberries, swimming in tho creek and following tho old bush tracks once more.. is some timo since wo had a' special page, I have arranged a Holiday for to-(lay, with holiday photographs, letters and essays, and I am sure it will remind you of happy hours not long gone by. / [With love to you all, Your friend, 7 A VISIT TO THE MUSEUM. Dear Miss Morton, —I visited the new Museum one day, so 1 mado up my mmd tu toll you all about it. We went up by a tram-car. arid theu .walked up the hill to the Museum; outside of it, in the front, were two bis guns, used during the Great War. Looking up above the huge pillars, cut rpto the concrete, we saw pictures of soldiers lighting and places where they went, whtir.n I ent'ered tho magnificent building I went ..i> see some native canoes of the South oeas, and skulls with eyes and no3es made with wood; thero were spears, the handles made of bamboo sticks. Nest I went and looked at some native nets, used for fishing. 1 then walked to the Maori whares, with carved wood, that was stained red. In one whare (the largest) you could walk inside and sue the fires, which were really electric globes covered with wood to resemble a fire; in another whare were all sorts of baskets, used for fishing. Alongside these whares was a huge- war canoe. S'2ft. long and 7ft. _ wide, and it could carry a hundred men; it was very well carved, so good and strong was it, that I reckoned it would be worth a few hundred pounds. . Next I had a good look at some animals and some, more birds, some from bouth Africa and America. Thero were moas and Egyptian mummie3, and wheat left in tho toni>o3 of the Egyptians to feed on, when th'-"? entered the nest world. I went to the third lloor. then into the memorial hall, in which we took off our hats in honour of our dead toldiers. In this hall there was a tomb, on which wo were not allowed to tread, because it was sacred. I then went and s . a% v some models of famous ships, among which was the " Victory" and the '' Endeavour. Thero were bombs and sheila, blunderbusses and rifles; some were made by the Germans. Towards 5 o'clock I was taken right up to the roof of the building and had a look around; it was very nico up there, lor 1 *ould see tho yachts racing in the Auckland harbour. When I came down again X went to seo the Winter Gardens, after that I went home thoroughly convinced that I had had «n interesting day.—Your new pen-Inend, John Smith, Kerepeehi

A PIHA HOLIDAY

Dear Miss Morton.—Mother, Betty, and I liavs just arrived back from our camp.at Piha, and I am sending you my impression of this beautiful place. I have omitted the minor details, such as the shocking roads, the terrible weather, and the discomforts of tenting in rain and cold. Later. I may send you a " skit "on our trip. This was my first trip to Piha, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, notwithstanding tho bud weather. Ave caught 34 fish, including sclinapper, trevaln. cod. buttcr-fisb. and one shark. We crossed over the hills to see the biow-liole in a very big storm —tho waves wero gigantic, sometimes goinz right over the Nun Rock, and breaking into tho Gap in mountains of white loam. For days afterwords the beaches wero strewn with great pieces of kelp, and a. mixed array of driftwood. To see such a storm, with all its immeasurable power and strength, makes wo mortals feel how small we really are, and how marvellous aro the powers of tho elements. I expect the time will como when puily man will harness the oceans, and use the powers that are now going to waste, then the problem of perpetual motion will bo solved. I love tho sea at all times, but most of all when it is lashed to fury by some wild gale, it is then that it shines in all its marvellous beauty. Piha is tho ideal place to view a storm from, and that is, I think, why I like it eo much. Betty is writing to tell you all about the trip, so I must leave the details to her. —With kind regards, I remain, your sincerely. Frank Molcsworth, Mt'. Eoakill.

THE MAORI PA. Dear Mis 3 Morton,—l have had a delightful holiday at Ngaruav/aliia, and I should very much like to tell you about my visit to the Maori Pa, and Settlement there. " I s a great big area, enclosed by large vails, and is situated on the banks of the Waikat.o River. Wo entered through big gates, carved in true Maori fashion, and walking a little distance, came to the Maori meeting house. This is a lovely building of a reddish .colour. At the entrance there are many carved he-ids of great chiefs with their names printed underneath. After inspecting this building we walked ° n - The scenery was very pretty. There were flower beds all around, a big pond m the centre. "We were amazed to see a beautaul peacock strutting about, its lovely tail glistering like a rainbow. But we passed on and came to the settlement. There. were dozens and dozens of little log huts all crowded together. Everything was spotlessly clean, and round about Jots of fat little inaori children played. At the doors old Maori women eat and contentedly smoked their pipes. We roamed in and out among these little huts, and walked down towards the river. Here we met eonie more old Maori women washing their clothos in the waters. A big carved building attracted our attention, and we discovered that this was the home of the Maori Princead, the ruler of this little settlement, aiid the princess of the Iving Country Maoris. The princess is a delightful person, And VCiy interesting to speak to. Strangers within the sates of the settlement are rare, and wherever wo went the eyes of the little Maori children followed us. On the whole our visit was a most intresting one, and I v/ 33 very pleased at having an opportunity of seeing the Maori Princess and her settle—.From your sincere friend, Sheila Quins, Tennyson Street, Mt. Edoii, Auckland.

A DAY AT THE GORGE. Duar Miss Morton,—l am writing to tell you about, a dny wo spent nt the Gorge, ;v lovely green, winding road with u. cre€>k pt the foot. We all aroso early, and after breakfast, wo prepared ourselves. Jt was not long before we were all 111 the car. j-pinninK along in the bright sunshine. it is not far, we were soon there. Alter r,lighting, we took a walk through a piece of bush. We also gathered evme pretty ferns. Then we indulged in reading until lunchtime.. After lighting a fire, and boning tho billy in the usual picnic fashion, we sat down tu lunch. Wo had sandwiches, caka, and gooseberry pudding. When lunch was over we went down the road to tho creek, ■with the intention of bathing. Wo could not, find suitable hole where tho road runs beside -the creel:, an we went through a fence 'and into a paddock, through which the creek runs. Presently wo heard a car, nnd we watched it as it stopped, and a mail got out. 110 came across to us. Thi3 is what ho said:--" Do you know who's p-p----property this is? I'm afraid you'll have t-t.*to go." How we shivered, but we plucked up courage and walked calmly away. We had been trespassing. However, we went home without a bathe. How silly wo felt, although I don I, »ee whoA harm wo could have done.—WithJovo fuom Zola. Lo Vailiant, Miiiroa, via lo Xuiti (ago II years).

BACK TO SCHOOL. Oh! how joyous to go back to school again after the long summer vacation. Once more wo see our old chums and playmates, and the dear old school. Thero is tho joy of .seeing new teachers and children, and a new class-room. J here aro new lessons to learn which help 113 along in our everyday life' and nVake us less ignorant ot other countries and person?. We learn about the different animals and birds, and the interesting lives they live, as well as of famous characters in history, such as Drake and Raleigh. ,J2very lesson is new to us, and generally is interesting. In school there i 3 tho library from where new books may bo obtained ami read. When at home, wo have only tho books out of our own library to read, nnd they become, stale. At schnul we can pass aw»y our spare time by playing deiH tf„l sames. like .rounders or tennis, while Kf^Vn!;: V? but idle about. Chr;relies, Tnmakffage Tholma

THE ZOO FOLKS' HOLIDAY.

Bv ELSIE WARING, M.8.G.. age 13. years, Great South Rd., Manurewa.

One night as I lay asleep I dreamed that all the animals at the Zoo went for a holiday. Mother, father and I arrived at the Zoo on New Year's Day. "Two and a-balf," father said, placing tho money on the counter.

Tha man at the turnstile handed it back. "No use coming in to-day, the animal's have all gone for a holiday." Feeling rather disappointed and surprised we went toward thQ Western Springs speedway, and thero careering round on were half-a-dozen lions and lionesses.

" That secretary bird is a nuisance," growled a lion who had just stopped. " One can't enjoy a holiday when he preaches ono of his sermons, the old parson ! "

"What's the matter now?" inquired the black panther, who had just strolled up. "Can't you cqase growling for once?" " It's that secretary bird " began Leo.

" Tut! Tut! " said Mr. Panther. "He's all right." Just then up camo tho sec.

Ho regarded Mr. Panther sternly. " Do you know anything about those turkeys which aro missing from the house down the road ? " ho remarked, supiciously eyeing tho bulky appearance of tho panther. "No! No!" he quickly denied, and retired to a safer distance. " Oh, stop grumbling and como somewhero else," said Linda Lion. " What do you say to Luna Park? " sho further inquired. Soon the, friends were hurrying off to the tram, followed- at a safer distance by tho three of us. The conductor was about to refuso admittance, but Loo's cheery grin somewhat reassured him. They were all seated and tho tram was about to start when along trotted Mr. and Airs. Hippo and their baby. " I'm afraid I can't take you on .board," the conductor said with an apologetic smile, behind his hand. Mrs. Hippo yawned languidly. "Bub you must!" sho commented. " I couldn't walk without my sunshade. Pondo! Pondo! como off the road." This to her offspring, as she pulled him by the car.

At last sho decided to walk, and the tram started. When the animals arrived at Luna Park, they found many of their friends assembled there.

Jamuna would persist in trying to climb into a " dodge-'ein " car, much to the caretaker's annoyance. The camels and tho zebras all tried to get on tho scenic railway in one car with almost disastrous results, and the brakeman insisted on having an empty car between himself and tho lions. What fun they had, and what howls and roars sounded as they went down into each hollow and up again. .Later they boarded a train bound, as they thought, for Wellington, but being bad scholars they got off at Westfield. Fortunately for tho slaughter-men, they were no more pleased with Westfield than Westfield was with them. So climbing aboard several motor-lorries they set out for Titirangi. How people stared and fled at tho sight of tho strange lorry-loads. " Why, Leo, we're causing quite a sensation," casually remarked Jamuna. Tho keepers had given them some prizes for several races which were to he held. In tho first race tho kangaroo came first with Jamuna an easy second.

Tho kangaroo was given three bunches of lucerne, while Jamjiria. was given a sack of buns. Mrs. llippo elated because Pondo received a bag of apples " for coming tenth," as she proudly informed everybody. After the races tho friends went for a ramble through tho bush. They all wanted a swing on tho rata and just ns o see. squawked excitedly " Half-pagt ur, and .wo must b-3 homo by fivo! " Jamuna had he.r turn. There was a rendbroken 1 " a Crash 1 Tho rala llaJ

I woke up to find myself in bed the h Cat k "« ki »6