CHILDREN’S CORRESPONDENCE COLUMN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIV, Issue VI, 9 February 1895, Page 143

CHILDREN’S CORRESPONDENCE COLUMN.

Any boy or girl who likes to become a cousin can do so, and write letters to ‘COUSIN Kate, care of the Lady Editor, Graphic Office, Auckland.' Write on one side of the paper only. All purely correspondence letters with envelope ends turned in are carried through the Post office as follows :—Not exceeding ioz, id; not exceeding 4oz, Id; for every additional 2oz or fractional part thereof, id. It is well for correspondence to be marked • Commercial papers only.'

Dear Cousin Kate. —Dur stay at the seaside terminated yesterday, but, oh, I did have such ‘a good time!’ We picnicked in a little cottage, and went out boating or fishing every day, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. On New Year’s day we sailed to Te Wahapu, and I became so sunburnt, but now my face has become as brown as a Maori’s. On January the third we rowed to Paihia, which is such a lovely little place, and on returning home it rained so hard that we were drenched through. To heighten our discomfiture the plug came out of the boat, so I was obliged to keep my finger in the hole until we reached home. I was much afraid that the fish would come and take a bite all the while. We spent two days at pretty historical little .Russell, and I climbed up to the flagstaff to admire the beautiful view. There is really some magnificent scenery off Russell town. Lungbeach is a lovely shore behind the town. The waves roar and toss and roll so grandly ! I presume most of the cousins are acquainted with some of the history of ancient Kororareka (Russell). We attempted to pull up to the Waitangi Falls on the fifteenth, but the tide was too strongly against us. However we took a good survey of Waitangi, the place where the memorable Treaty was signed. There is a fine hall standing there now. On Wednesday 16th, the little steamboat Ida took us to Kerikeri. We left Opua at six o’clock, Russell at seven, and arrived at our destination at a quarter-past nine. From thence we walked two miles and a half to the waterfalls, which descend a height of eighty feet. The river being in flood, the volume or fall of water was increased, and really the falls presented a most beautiful sight. There is a natural cave underneath the ledge from which the water rushes, in which some forty Maoris once took refuge from their enemies, but they were discovered and murdered there _ and then. The bush in one part of Kerikeri contains heaps of the bones of those slain in the great old Maori wars. Well, after watching the play of the falls, we trudged back in the burning sun to partake of luncheon under an ancient totara tree. I afterwards learned that this was where the ferocious Maoris had held gruesome cannibal feasts ! Talk of savages ! I heard such awful accounts at Kerikeri as to make me think the ancient Maori was as cruel and revengeful as any other barbarous race. I was shown three or four other places (and heard their history) at Kerikeri, but I have not space to mention them here. Did you know that insignificant little place bolds the oldest house in New Zealand, Cousin Kate ? Well it does. The building was erected in 1818 and is still sound and habitable. Near it stands the large stone erection, which was in the early New Zealand days the store house in which the missionaries kept supplies for the European population. It is a wonderfully strong and interesting house, built much like a fortress. I heard that the 58th regiment was quartered in it once. I have filled half an exercise book with accounts of my ‘ adventures ’ at the places we visited, but I cannot tell you all I should like to, Here, as it would occupy too much space. Have you ever * gone pippying ’ Cousin Kate 1 Oh it is such fun ! I went, and managed to get half a sackful. I should like to tell you about these places : Cherry Bay, Motorua, Waikare and more about Waitangi, but it would be too long, and very likely you couldn’t be bothered reading it. I cannot imagine what Cousin Lilia’s failure in cocoanuticing is to be attributed to, unless she used the wrong quantities. The icing should be white and hard. About Christmas Day, Cousin Kate—well, I did nothing unusual, nothing worth mentioning; just went to church in the morning and spent a nice lazy day altogether. I have not tried jam-making yet, but know that it is very hot work. Don’t yon think it would be nice if the fruit would keep till winter to be converted into jam ? The badge arrived safely, and I think it very neat and pretty, Cousin Kate, ' , ere you not glad to get home again after camping out ? Although we picnicked in a house, I was glad to come home to comfortable quarters, stiil I do not think it was possible to enjoy a holiday more than I did at the seaside. Before we went away I had my pony’s shoes removed, and we turned her into a good paddock, where she spent her holidays comfortably. She is so fat and frisky now, and we had a terrible • job ’to catch her. I have altered her name to * Dottie.’ During our holidays I read five books, and am deep in ‘ A Tramp Abroad,’ by Mark Twain. It is a splendid book ; and I have no doubt you have read it. Well, I

think it is about time to stop now. Kind regards to all the cousins and love to yourself,—from Cousin Lou. [Dear Lou, you deserve a long answer, and you should have it were space no object. Many thanks for your very interesting description of your holidays. What a * real good time ’ (Mark Twain) you must have had ! You will nave to write a book called *An interesting up-to-date history of Russell and its neighbourhood, from personal observations and oral traditions, enlivened by modern adventures.’ lam quite sure it would be excellent reading. If I could screw up space for it, I would give you half a column a week in the children’s page, so that you would have it printed, and all the cousins could enjoy reading it. How would it do next holidays when there are fewer letters? Alas! I know not the pleasures of pippying in New Zealand. We called them cockles in England.— Cousin Kate.

Dear. Cousin Kate —I think it is quite time I wrote to you again, as you wrote such a kind letter to the cousins asking us all to write as often as we can. I wrote a story for the competition, but left it until it was too late to copy it. On Christmas Eve I went to town, and did not get home till nearly eleven o’clock. I went for a picnic down * The Sands ’ on Boxing Day, and I enjoyed myself very much. On New Year’s Day it was the Regatta, and unfortunately it was very showery. There were a good few people down in the afternoon, but it came on to rain so heavily that nearly everybody went home. My father put his yacht in for one of the races, and it came third. In the afternoon the rowing races took place. The Nelson Rowing Club was very successful, winning four races out of five. The * Stars ’ from Wellington won one race, and the Blenheim did not win any. You can imagine how pleased the Nelson folk were at their success, because I do not think they expected to win half so many races. Igo to the Maitai River bathing hole, and my cousin is trying to teach me to swim. I like bathing very much, and go for one as often as I can. When our school prizes were given out I got the first prize for having the most marks. The prize is a copy of Mrs Browning's works. We go back to school in two weeks, after having five weeks’ holiday. Now I have no more to tell you so I must say good-bye.—Yours affectionately, Cousin Maude. Wakefield Quay, Nelson. [Please next time you write, fold your paper in half before you begin. _ It is very trying to the printers written right across the immense page as yours is. Also remember to leave the envelope open. We bad to pay 4d on your letter because of that. Now, having scolded you, let me praise you for writing at all, especially such a nice, long letter. Please congratulate your father on his yachting success from me, and pat all the Nelson folk on the back for having done so well. Where is the Maitai bathing hole ? I rode up the side of the river once or twice, but do not remember it.—Cousin Kate.]