HOLIDAY LETTERS

Southland Times, Issue 23740, 11 February 1939, Page 3 (Supplement)

HOLIDAY LETTERS

/ —PRIZE— Otahuti R.D., Section 2, Invercargill. Dear many exc iting places I will choose the place 1 P.fkta ß I w.„ ; to a. s . to Invercargill. My friend met me there and we caught the Blatt train. When we drew in to Bluff station we hurriedly collected our luggage and scampered to the ferry boat, the Tamatea I, for one, embarked on a journey full of wonders. When at last Captain Hamilton sounded the final whistle fine rain began to fall. On our Journey across we saw Dog Island lighthouse. After a while we could see Mt. Anglem rearing its peak through the clouds that were rippling around it. When we arrived at our destination, which as you will nave guessed, was Stewart Island, there was a big crowd of girls at the On the next day we went to a delightful little gully named Fern Gully. When we were strolling we heard the whir of the tui in Hight, the tinkle of the cow-bells, and the fascinating musical ripple of a hidden waterfall. We admired the magnificent foliage of the ferns. As I pushed on further I heard a peculiar rustle and there was a fieete $ at island seventeen days, the walks I enjoyed were too numerous to recall, but I heartily recommend Stewart Island as a holiday resort. Your cousin, BRIDA CODY. —Prize of 1/6 to Cousin Brida Cody ( ), Otahuti R.D., Section 2, Invercargill. -PRIZE60 Robertson street, Invercargill. February 4, 1939. Dear Cousin Betty, I was afraid that the holiday season was going to be a great disappointment for those of us who had to spend it at home, on account of the wintry , weather we experienced. As far as I was concerned, I must say I had a very enjoyable time. We were lucky enough to have fairly good weather for our trips. . On Boxing Day we went to Bluff, where we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves paddling, fishing and looking over a large boat that was in port. We also had the pleasure of seeing the Maunganui depart for Melbourne. Our next trip was by car to Dunsdale, and we had such an enjoyable time there that we went back a second time, We watched a mob of sheep being mustered and climbed a high hill, where the view was well worth the hard climb. We also rolled some big stones down the hill and watched the rabbits scamper as they went bounding down. We came home by a different route and so covered a large portion of Southland. Our next trip was in the central northern district. Here the air seemed to change. The wheat and oats swayed ni the breeze for miles around. The large sheep runs going back into the hills made me wish to explore further. I enjoyed two swims in the Oreti, one at Caroline and one at Benmore. On our second trip to Bluff, we went by car and called in at the Children’s Health Camp on our way home. We arrived there just as the children were sitting down to tea, and to see all the good things piled up on the table made me hungry too. All good things come to an end, and the nearer school came, the more I looked back at the pleasant time we had, when we covered such a big portion of Southland. I can assure you I am very proud to be a Little Southlander. Your loving cousin, JAMES GIBSON. —Prize of 1/6 to Cousin James Gibson (11), 60 Robertson street.

—VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED—--136 Grace Street. Invercargill. Dear Cousin Betty, My holidays were all spent in Invercargill, as I have an invalid father, and mother cannot leave him . to go far away. I enjoyed every day of them, even the rough stormy days, although I could not go outside. During these wet days mother taught me to bake. I let father sample my baking first, and he said it was very good. Most of the fine

days I spent in gathering cocksfoot making enough money to pay for my school necessities for the new school year. We gathered if from a private farm, and .to our relief the owner carried it home for us in his motor-lorry. It really was a beautiful day’s outing and, as the farm was near the Scenic Reserve, we were away from the noise and bustle of the town. When I was not at the bush I spent my time with grandma and grandad who live in McQuarrie Street. lam very fond of them.

—3 marks to Cousin June Rillstone (11), 136 Grace Street.

—VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED—--216 Nelson-Street, - Invercargill

Dear Cousin Betty, The holidays are now oyer, and we are back at school again. Although Mr Weatherman was not very kind to us I enjoyed my holidays just the same. , To begin with my daddy- has been very ill in hospital so we could not have our holiday in Queenstown, but I spent three weeks in the. country ■with, my Auntie, who has a lovely dog called Glen. Every day I took Glen to the creek-4 to have a bath. It was great fun, and often I was as wet as Glen.-Some-times Uncle took us for a ride in the car, and when it was wet I stayed in^ the house, and made

dresses for my new dolly that Santa brought me. I hope you had a happy holiday too. Your loving Cousin / Heather. —3 marks to Cousin Heather Baillie (7), 216 Nelson street. ,

very pleased that I am a little Southlander. , , . / The weather was not of the best during the holidays, but. we were , lucky to have good weather for our trips. We had two trips to the Bluff, twice to the Dunsdale, and one trip up past Caroline. To describe all we saw and did would take too much time arid paper. On our Bluff trips, we ’ spent the days paddling fishing and eating,, for the sea. air gave us a good appetite. ■ My little brother managed to fall into; the water while paddling, and he had to go around with his coat on until his clothes were dry, but he was none the worse for; his ducking. While we were up. at theDunsdale I climbed the biggest-hill I had ever climbed and J I r was\tired when I reached the top. - However,- it was well worth the hard dimb.\ * I had never seen so many bush-cover-ed hills and I could see for miles up and down the gorge. Our tripto Caroline was very happy too.. The day was too short but we managed to squeeze in two swims. We had a lot of fun on the river bed, a boy s paradise, with many stones which we threw until our arms began to ache. We came home: a different way, seeing some more of .Southland. I- am sure I will never be sorry I did not leave Southland for my holidays. . Your loving Cousin, Colin Gibson —3 . marks to Cousin Colin Gibson , (10), 60 Robertson street —HIGHLY COMMENDED— Box 28,. Edendale, February 4. Dear Cousin Betty, _~ A Happy New Year to you. We will all be feeling refreshed and ready to do another year’s work for

—VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED—- . 193 Ritchie street, Invercargill. Dear Joe, , I went to spend the week-end in the country. As you will understand, because I am a town boy, everything interested me. I went for a walk round the farm with my friend. We came across a green ant carrying an egg. The egg had a hole in the top, and as the ant was passing us it put it down and a little green ant crawled out and went away with the big one* Through the bush we wandered looking for more adventures. We saw lots of different kinds of birds. The one that interested me most was the yellow hammer. It is very like the sky-lark, only with yellow mixed in .with the grey. At the edge of the bush we found one of the cows with a young calf. What a time we had separating her from the herd to take her home. She objected to being taken away and charged us. We ran for our lives and were just in time to roll under the fence out of her reach. Needless to say we went home without her. I remam, Yours truly, Lex. —3 marks to Cousin Alexander McCleery, V.A.C. (10), 193 Ritchie street.

—VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED—--60 Robertson street, Invercargill. February 4.

Dear Cousin Betty, Before the school holidays commenced I was sorry to hear all my mates talking about the places they were going to for their holidays, because as far as I knew we were not going away at. all. But now the holidays are over I do not envy them at all, because I have travelled over a big part of Southland which I had never seen before,- and I am

you. . We had a lovely holiday, camping in our caravan through the worst stonri for 40 years. On January 14, we all set off at about 10 o’clock for Riverton, an attraction to most holiday-makers. Our caravan followed us all the way, and when at about half-past four - we Uncoupled it, it was in the camping grounds, in a cosy nook. ' >■' Cooking on the open fire was tremendous fun, and when the por- ►

ridge was smoked we said, “Why pull such a face? We are in camping style now.” Despite the bad weather, we always managed to wrap up and take a walk in the cool fresh air from the sea. We were well supplied with visitors, as I think every day of our eight days saw a visitor at our door. All too soon came the day to leave the place where we had spent a happy and, a much looked forward to holiday.' Unfortunately we had , a puncture on our way home, which delayed us one hour and five minutes. But our spirits were. not dampened, as we were still in holiday mood. I remain, Your loving Cousin Clara Lobb.