LETTERBOX CORNER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21414, 11 February 1933, Page 4 (Supplement)

LETTERBOX CORNER

A SUMMER HOLIDAY Dear 'Miss Morton,—Before I begin my ioliday-letter, I would like tp thank you very much for the lovely prize you sent me. I think I am a very lucky girl. "We are spending a fortnight in the Waitakere (Ranges. As. we live by the sea, it i» a wonderful change. We came up by. car. through the winding road, shadowed by the tall ferhs and all the lovely native trees. From our verandah we watched the sun setting over the Tasman, like a great golden ball turning the bush to fairyland. "We could see the waves dashing on the shore, each, side of Lion Rock at Piha, the rock looming dark and grave, like a sentinel guarding the shore. Dater on, when we were snug in our bunks, listening to the wind sighing through the trees and hearing only the stillness of the bush—every now and then, the moreporks would sound their mournful notes and we curled up tight in our .blankets and soon were in the land cf dreams. The first morning I was awake at dawn', and oh! the songs of the birds as daylight came peeping through the trees. The tuii were loudest 'of all, with their sweet calling song and the funny little husky notes at the end. There were kingfishers, fantails and " bright eyes" all making melody of their own. "We have had lovely tramps through the bush tracks-

6me led to a huge lone kauri, standing tall *nd stately among the lesser trees. A little •tream runs gurgling through the ferna and ■that is a favourite spot where we quench ••our thirst on hot days., I like to know the fames' of all the trees. I know the rimus, "totaras, kauris, whaua and rataa. The soft velvet mosses that creep all among the roots ®iaka a lovely bed when we are tired and hot. This is my first holiday right in the ibush -and I hope we can corne back again *s it is bo beautiful and so much cooler than at the bay. I hope you had a very happy holiday and enjoyed yours as much •'a« I did mine.—Your sincere pen-friend, 3etty Dromgool, Springcombe Road, St. .Heliers Bay (age 9 years 10 months). AT WAIHI BEACH Dear Mis 9 Morton, —I am going to tell you of orir summer holidny. Nearly three ■"weeks ago on a dismal Saturday afternoon we started off to the Waihi Beach. We lhavo been out there very often, but it was exciting to know that we were going to Mtay out there. It was very Grange to go Jo bed tli/it night and wake up in the morning to liear tlie noiso o[ tlie rolling sen. After a few days of our holiday we all started to get sunburnt, but after a few days we all started to get almost as brown as Maori?. The sea was delightful to bathe in. too. We were' :ill thrilled one day when ■we saw a big shark, and three big kingfish swimming around the rocks, and T wan frightened to go swimming for a few days. 'An aeroplane came one day to take up people for flights, and one night it was too Tjndy to let it fly, so it stopped there all Sight. How pleased I was when I came homo with a little fish, which T had caught! I had it for my tea, too. We shall soon be going back to school, but there are more holidays ft to come, aren't there ?—I will close now, from your loving pen-friend, Hazel Giddens, Martin Road, Waihi (age 12).- f A HOLIDAY AT HOME , Bs Morton.—l am spending my boliaay at home. In the morning I get o|> just in time to get a rido to our front Sate ,in the cart. Sometimes I help U• pick plums and apricots. On hot days, v 7j ,er i, *Bo down to our river for :• afternoons I go out under mt SUiiaSS!? j ll ,, rea 4 my story book or play i i * make clothes for them.