A Happy Day in the Holidays

Southland Times, Issue 22993, 12 September 1936, Page 22 (Supplement)

A Happy Day in the Holidays

—PRIZE—

The best day in my holidays was on Saturday, when my sister let me help her do some baking. She mixed up some biscuits for me, and then I rolled them out and cut them out into nice shapes. I made some square, some heart shaped, and the rest round, and then I put them on an oven slide and put them into the oven to bake. When they were cooked, I took them out, and when they were cold, I put them together with jam. I put some pretty pink icing on top, and they did look nice. When it was tea-time, I put some on the table and my brother asked who made them. I said “I did,” and he would not eat any until I had tasted them, because he said he did not want to be ill. After I had had one he said “Oh! I think I will have one. Yvonne has survived so far.” Then when dad had one he said. “They are very nice, Yvonne,” so I was quite pleased with my first lot of biscuits, and I am going to make some more next Saturday. —Prize of 2/- to Cousin Yvonne Hall (8), Aparima R.D.

—PRIZE—

Perhaps the most happy day in the holidays was when I went to Invercargill for the Little Southlanders’ Bazaar. On the way down, we passed through fresh country where sheep and cattle were grazing peacefully in green paddocks. On a lagoon, ducks swam lazily, while flocks of birds drifted slowly across the sky. The car rolled smoothly along the highway, and soon we reached the busy scene of Victoria Hall, where all were busy preparing for the bazaar. It was nice to see all the stalls well filled and decorated. I think our Sunshine Clan stall looked as well as any, and it seemed they did good business there. There seemed to be quite a lot of pleasure in the Bazaar as we felt it was our own, and that we were helping the crippled children.

Naturally we of the Sunshine Clan were pleased to see our- Princess at the top and to know she will be crowned Queen. One of the most popular features at the Bazaar was Mr J. Gilchrist and his companion Jerry who brought shrieks of laughter from the children. The fancy dress parade was very interesting, many children having gone to a lot of trouble to make their dresses. After a busy day in Invercargill we arrived home tired but happy. —Prize of 1/- to Cousin Reg Paterson (9).

—VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED.— On Saturday, we rose early, packed a few sandwiches, some cups, a billy and some tea, to go to the bush for a picnic. When we arrived there, we lit a fire, and filled the kettle with water, then put it on the fire to boil. As soon as we had picked a suitable place to have lunch, we put all the eatables and cups on a rug. While we were watching a rippling stream winding its way southward, mother called us for afternoon tea. As soon as we had had our meal, we 1 had a lovely time playing tig and hide-and-seek, after which we went for a walk through the bush. 1 When we came back we were sorry ■ to leave our pleasant spot. i —3 marks to Cousin Margaret Wyeth (7), Woodlands. [ —VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED.— During our holiday to the cold lakes, i we camped one night by the side of i beautiful Lake Wakatipu. There amid : the majestic grandeur of the mountains i as the sun was setting behind the snow- , capped peaks, we brought our caravan ■ to rest, and admired the beauty of the ■ scene around us. We were soon tucked ! snugly in our beds to sleep the sleep of : the tired chauffeurs. At dawn next : morning we were up and frolicking ; about. The air seemed so light and it was almost impossible to keep still. ; We started on our way to Queenstown with much joy and pride. First of , all we went to the edge of the lake, ' which was built up by a concrete wall. : There were ducks which we fed with bread, and fish which we fed with saveloys which we broke into pieces and dropped for the fish. It was comical to watch them as they glided along and picked up the meat. They just kept floating, and didn’t seem to stop to eat the sinking food. Later on we went to the boat, The Eamslaw, where a man showed us through. It was remarkable, the weight it carried across Lake Wakatipu. It went for moonlight trips over the lake where people danced aboard to music supplied by an amplifier. So far the wedther had been fine, and one could not grow tired of watching the sun glittering on the Lake and snow-topped peaks of the Remarkables. After lunch, the weather changed, and while we were having a ramble in the park it came on a light drizzle. We all agreed the park was lovely and could have spent much longer there had we had time at our disposal, but we had to push on as Cromwell was to be our destination that evening. —3 marks to Cousin Clara Lobb (11), Box 28, Edendale. —VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED.— One morning, mum said it would be nice to go down to Riverton one day. So after a discussion about when we would go, we decided to go the first fine day. So the first fine day came, and it happened to be a Thursday. The fine day came just as we wanted, and so we were off. We went in the bus, though I like the train better. When we got down there, we met a friend on the back beach. We built castles, and made mud pies, though I did not know why. They were staying at a boarding-house. After a while, they went up to lunch. We brought ours with us. I hurried through my dinner, because I wanted to have a paddle, but mum would not let me, so I played on the rocks. —3 marks to Cousin Alison Thomas (8) 50 Louisa street, Invercargill. —VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED.— I think the happiest day in the holidays was the day of the Little Southlanders’ Bazaar, which was held in the afternoon of Friday at 2 p.m., and in the evening about 7 p.m. I was in the Scattered Clan stall, and I thought it great fun serving many customers. Later Cousin Betty came and took a ticket on a competition we had at our stall. This was a tea-cosy. About 9 o’clock the raffle was drawn, and Cousin Betty had the winning ticket! At about half past ten, we had an auction sale because there was a number of articles left on the stalls. About 11 o’clock, I went home happy but a trifle tired. —3 marks to Cousin Julie McKeever, (10), Pomona road, Invercargill. —VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED.— I spent my school holidays at home, and the happiest day of all was last Wednesday, when mother said to me, “If the day is fine, you and the two boys can go up to see your old school teacher.” Our teacher whom we liked very much, was married just before Easter and lives in a nice new home on a farm about two miles from us. During the morning, we caught the ponies and put them in the yard. After dinner we ' put on oui- coats and hats, saddled the ponies, and started off. We left the ponies at our uncle’s place and walked ■ the rest of the way. When we arrived, our old teacher was at the door waiting for us. We were so pleased to see her again. We went inside and sat down for a while; then we had a delicious afternoon tea. When we had finished, we went with our friend to give her husband, who was busy ploughing, a ' cup of tea. Before coming away, our friend showed us all through the house. , Everything was beautiful and new. We J left for home at half-past four, and j promised to go back another day to , see our kind friend again. The holi- j days are almost over, but I won’t forget the happy day I spent with my . teacher of last year. j —3 marks to Cousin Evelyn Andrews , (9) “Stemdale,” Five Rivers P.O. j —HIGHLY COMMENDED.— < I have had a good many happy days s during the holidays, and I am going to J write about the day that I had two of <

my friends from Winton come out to spend the' day with me. I knew they were coming, so I woke early and got all my work done, so that I would be ready for play when they arrived. They came about half-past ten, and we had a game at playing houses. We all dressed up. I went as father. It is easy for me to dress like father, as I wear a pair of father’s trousers, that got too small for him, every day when I ride my pony to school. After dinner was over, we sat down to think what we would do. At last one of my friends suggested that we go for a walk down the road. As we were going on our way, I spied some nice dry gorse lying in a heap. I told my friends I thought it would be a good idea if we lit a fire. We returned home. While we were hunting for matches one girl suggested having a roasted potato. In no time we had matches and potatoes and were down there. As soon as the fire was lit, we put the potatoes in. In about half an hour’s time they were cooked. Taking them

out of the fire, we returned home eating them, and they did taste good. By this time, the afternoon was nearly over, and we had another game of houses, making afternoon tea, for my mother was away to Winton. The girls’ father arrived to take them home, and that ended our happy day. —2 marks to Cousin Freda Heenan (10), South Hillend R.D., Winton. —HIGHLY COMMENDED.— The happiest holiday I ever spent was Friday. I set out at twelve o’clock for a friend’s place, three miles away, and arrived there about twenty minutee later. I played with my friend until 1.30 p.m. when we went out ferreting. We headed for the Fern Ridge, where we ferreted two or three holes, all of which were seemingly vacant. We had three dogs with us, Don, Fly and Tubby. We had caught five rabbits with the ferrets, when Fly caught one among

V.V.V.W.V.W.W.WA’.W.I the thick growth of fern. Next we came to a clump of dry bracken, where Tubby caught two rabbits. When we went on a little further, we saw Tubby scraping furiously at a burrow. We tried to ferret it, but the ferret simply refused to enter the burrow, so we started to dig it out, and found a shivering rabbit up to its stomach in water. We went on and were stopped five more times by the furious scraping done by Tubby. Four times we found a rabbit at the end, but in the fifth there was nothing but water. I returned to the house, and received dire threats of wrath from father for being so late. —2 marks to Cousin Cyril Whitaker (10), Dipton. —HIGHLY COMMENDED.— One of the most enjoyable days I ever spent was August 28, the day of the Little Southlanders’ Bazaar. After packing a few articles for the Scattered Clan stall, I set out on a walk to my friend’s home from whence I was to drive to Invercargill. Much to our disappointment, we found that it had started to rain, but we hoped that it would be fine and bright in the afternoon. We drove straight to Victoria Hall, carried our luggage to the stall which we favoured, then walked along the street to see about lunch. About half-past-two, we again entered the hall and found many decorated stalls amidst the crowd of people. On looking at the stalls from the different clans, it was next to impossible to

judge the stall which would bring in the most money. What I thought proved enjoyment to many children, was the “talking doll,” and the “fancy dress parade” was also interesting. After staying there for about two hours I left the bazaar, sincerely regretting that I could not stay for the night. In concluding I will say I found much enjoyment in the trip that day, and hope the crippled children will get enjoyment out of the money provided for them. —2 marks to Cousin Dorothy Stevens (11), Lora Gorge. —HIGHLY COMMENDED.— One of the happiest days in my holidays was when the two school friends of mine came up to see me. We played marbles and other games, and then went for a ride on the bike. About half-past eleven, the paper arrived and I was very pleased to see my first composition in print, and that I had gained two marks. After dinner we read the Little Southlanders’ Page. As it was looking like rain, my friends decided to go home. When they had gone home, I came in and started the next composition, and worked out the puzzles. By the time I had finished, it was tea time. After tea I played a few games of cards, and then went to bed, after a happy day. —2 marks to Cousin Lex O’Callaghan (10) Dipton. —HIGHLY COMMENDED.— The happiest day in the holidays was the day of my birthday. I invited guests to come along on Wednesday. When everybody arrived we began to play rounders, but as the ground was wet we decided to play hide and seek. We played that for a while and then played hop-scotch. The boys went t for a ride in the sledge so just the girls played hop-scotch. About four o’clock, we were called in to afternoon tea. We washed our hands and sat at the table. On the table were biscuits, marshmallows, chocolate cake, chocolate biscuits, sugar biscuits, and in the middle, stood the birthday cake. It was a sponge cake four stories high, with eighteen candles, seven for my brother, and eleven for me. We ate our fill and then had some birthday cake. The candles were lit, and it was a very pretty sight. When we finished, some children went home, but others stayed to hear the birthdays. I found my present in the bathroom. I got a bottle of lavender water scent, four hankies, sixpence, and a picture. From other girls I received two vases, a cup and saucer, and a handkerchief, a china basket, two more handkerchiefs, and e my brother who found his present in the wardrobe got a pop-gun and a box of crayons and threepence. I had a very happy birthday and I am now eleven years old. —2 marks to Cousin Joyce Howden (11) Mataura Island.