“SIALE." OF NIUE, SENDS SEASON'S GREETINGS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 291, 7 December 1929, Page 21 (Supplement)

“SIALE." OF NIUE, SENDS SEASON'S GREETINGS

Tufukia, Niue Island, 21/11/29. Dear Wendy,—Thank you tor giving me such a warn, welcome to the Hut. The ship came in on Sunday morning, about half past seven, in the middle of a tropical thunder storm. Our brother was on board, and daddy went down to the wharf and then out to the ship. By the time the boat bringing the mail and my daddy and brother ashore reached the steps the storm was over, and we all ran down to meet them. How glad we were to see “Boy” again, and how excited he was to be back home. We have been, counting the weeks until the Wendy page comes. We like to rest in the daytime while it is very hot, and then we read all the letters of the other Wendyites. Our school days are different from the New Zealand school days. We start school at seven in the morning and finish at 12 mid-day, so we have the coolest part of the day at school. There are nearly 200 children at this school. The classes are Primer I. to Standard IV., and we have the same lessons as the New Zealand children <Jp. We have our drill and inarching first, then all the children go into the big room and we have reading from the Niue Bible by the big boys and girls. Then we sing Niue hymns and English and Niue songs. After this we have the ordinary lessons. On Wetmesday the big girls make native baskets and hats. I have made some mats and baskets, too. I like the basket-making. We use the ribs of the coconut leaf. Then we bind them with strips of leaves of the fa tree and then decorate them with dyed fou. The fou is the thin bark of a tree which has been soaked in the sea. My daddy says it is like the lace bark of New Zealand. I hope you all spend a verey happy Christmas. With much love to all.—From “SIALE.” Oh, how splendid of you, my dear, to write so soon to let me know you have received a copy of our Hut pages. How excited you must have been, too, to see your brother who had returned home from college in New Zealand. Your letter will interest our members greatly. They will be eager to read your next. You see, life in Niue is so very different to our usual routine. ■ How very interesting it must be to learn to make mats and baskets as taught by the Islandere. Many thanks for your kind wishes, dear. We all hope you spent a happy time also.—Wendy.