Letterbox Corner

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22030, 9 February 1935, Page 4 (Supplement)

Letterbox Corner

LETTER-BOX CLOSED

THI BLUE BATHS Dear Miss Morton,—One night, during our stay at Eotorua, we visited the Blue Baths. We had been several times during the day, but we had not seen them lit up. As we approached the Blue Baths we could see the many-coloured lights twinkling through the dark trees. Strings of these lights were looped across the imposing front of the building, each casting its own little arc of colour on the brown stone of which the bath ia made. Inside, from the lounge windows, we looked out on to a beautiful scene. The tilea and water of the bath are blue, and all round the edge of the bath, below the level of the water, are recesses which hold big electric lights. When these are lit the water appears to be green. The bath building is made of brown stucco and the lights were reflected on to the walls. Strung crosswise from corner to corner above the bath were coloured lights—red, blue, purple, green and gold. There ia a children's bath, tea, which is much smaller than the main bath. At the far end of thia smaller one there are seats and a row of pillars Between the pillars is a fountain whose water bubbles up into a atone basin and. catching the rays of coloured light, looks quite like a rainbow. On each side of the big bath, on the walls are the words " Waiariki-Waiora." which. I suppose is the Maori for Blue Baths.—With love from your pen-friend. Pat Millier (age 15), c/o Miss Rhodes, " Marore," Edmund Street, St. Heliers Bay.

AT RAQI.AN

Dear Miss Morton, —We are spending a wonderful six weeks' holiday at Raglan. The weather has been glorious. The other day we went for a trip to Kawhia, which is about thirty miles from Raglan. About twenty feet below the winding gorge road, a silvery, crystal-clear stream winds in and out of the stately virgin bush. Suddenly, an we rounded a corner, we caught a glimpse of the sea reflecting in its calm mirror-like surface every hill, every valley and every bay. Unwillingly we drove on. but we were fully compensated, for every turn of that unknown road revealed to us some new beauty. Soon we arrived at Kawhia, a quiet fishing village on the west coast, and after having lunch we raced down to the beach and explored it thoroughly.

The time flew by and at four o'clock two carloads of very reluctant people set out on the homeward journey.—Your loving penfriend, Kathleen Caldwell (ago 12), Hakanoa Street, Huntly.

THE GIRL QUIDE CAMP

Dear Miss Morton, —Here, in Waihi, is a company of Girl Guides, to whioh 1 am • » recruit—and such fun we have, too! We meet at a small hall in Waihi. There we spend the time in learning and playing games. The troop consists of fifteen. Guides and a captain and one lieutenant. One fine day before Christmas the captain decided to take us to a place called The B'alla, which is not very far from Waihi, so off we started. When we had walked for about three miles we came to The Falls, to which I had never been before. After reaching there wo started exploring round about. Captain came after we had arrived; she told us to make a place for each patrol to have lunch. After lunch wo had games and had a few snaps taken of us by the falls. Then we said good-bye. As most of us live oil the Waihi Plains, only a few of us had to march back. As there is a rally up in Auckland, we, the Waihi troop, are to be met there by Girl Giiides from all parts of the district. We also are going to be inspected by Lord and Lady Baden-Powell.—Your loving pen-friend, Bessie Giddens (age 12), Martin Road, Waihi.

PETS AND PICNICS Dear Miss Morton,—Again we aire spending our summer holiday in Nihotupu, amidst the glorious native bush. Even the hottest days are nothing compared with the city and I feel so sorry for all the. people in town, working in such heat without even a lovely cottage and the mountain ait to come back to after the day's labour. Bunty, the Aberdine dog, and Ginger, the cat, are among the members of the family who thoroughly enjoy the freedom np ln re< Everywhere we (to, even if it is only a hw yards down the path to ccllect chips, Buntj and Ginger are always there. Each morning when we walk for the milk Bunty accom. panies us and, although she goes at a snail's pace very often, we have only to mention the word "ball" and she race* along, for the ball is Her greatest ment.

One day last week we motored to Can. bridge. The day was lovely and we got up early, with the birds—such beautiful birds too; the colours of tuis, parrot-3 and pigeon* are wonderful. Anyway, we left Ginger here, for he is quite content when supplied with nourishment, but Bunty had to go, g]- a thoroughly enjoyed the trip, with her head stuck half-way out of the car window nearly all the way, trying to catch the wind,-. We had a' picnic lunch and afternoon Ui in Cambridge and at eight o'clock arrived back here after a perfect day. The VTafttto River looked beautiful, with the green willows dipping into the water, and as tier# was little traffic we had a clear way. Every once in a wbile we passed smiling workmen, tanned deep brown with the sun and covered with dust from the dry roads.

It is time to go and gather wood for the morning fire now, so I must stop.— Yours sincerely, Margaret Lippincott, 301 Remuera Road. Auckland. 5.E.2.

THE DESERTED HUT

Dear Miss Morton,—During the six weeks which I have spent at Onetangi, Waiheke, I have seen many interesting and pretty scenes. The most interesting was » deserted little hut which had been suddenly left by a man who was employed cutting manuka. It was a picturesque scene. The little hat, with its roof of thatched nikaus, standing on the edge of the beautiful bush, carefully made and fitted, with a little manuka fence round it to keep the rabbits out; The garden was full of weeds. All his belongings, which he had left, had been tossed and explored by curious campers. Close by this hut was a knaried old pohntukawa tree, with a swarm of humming bees in the hollow, of a branch. We closed the little gate, which had been broken down and wandered on to a stream, where we made a darn and gathered native berriea. Then we wended our way home across th« hills after a very happy morning.—Jonf loving pen-friend, Estelle Morton, Buah Cot, Onetangi.

A DAY AT ARAPUNI

Dear Miss Morton, Sunday morning dawned bright nnd clear, so father decided to take us to Arapuni to see the wonderful sights there. We started from home about 9.30 a.m. on the* long journey of 22 miles, occupying nearly an hour. The winding road took us through bad and good country which interested us very much. When wo arrived at our destination ** first looked at the dam, which fascinated *ll of us. The next thing to see was the spiU* way and also tho waterfalls, of which mother took some very good photos. It was now time for lunch, so ws M* under a shady pine tree to enjoy a cup of tea and some sandwiches. After lunch we went further on to see the . transformer station, and next we ventured to cross the swing bridge, wh'.ch gave us a thrilling experience. , At last it was time to turn back and start on our homeward journey, keeping our minds the thoughts of wonderful Arapuni.—Your loving pen-friend, Doris Ferguson (age 13), Puahue, Te Awamutu.