CHILDREN’S CORRESPONDENCE COLUMN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue XIX, 7 May 1898, Page 591

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 enclopc ends turned in arc carried through the Post Office as follows:—Not exceeding Aoz. |d; not exceeding 4oz. Id; for every additional 2oz or fractional part thereof, id. It is well for correspondence to be marked ‘ Press Manuscript only.’ Please note, dear cousins, that all letters addressed to Cousin Kate must now bear the words ‘ Press Manuscript only. If so marked, and the flap turned in, and not overweight, they will come for a Jd stamp in Auckland, but a Id from every other place.

THE ‘GRAPHIC’ COUSINS’ COT FUND. This fund is for the purpose of maintain ing a poor, sick child in the Auckland Hospital, and is contributed to by the • Graphic ’ cousins—readers of the children's page. The cot has been already bought by their kind collection of money, and now £25 a year is needed to pay for the nursing, food and medical attendance of the child in it. Any contributions will be gladly received by Cousin Kate, care of the Lady Editor, ‘ New Zealand Graphic,' Shortland street, or collecting cards will be sent on application.

Dear Cousin Kate, —1 feel so ashamed of myself for not having written you long before this, but better late than never. 1 am a boarder at Mrs Bowen’s school in Christchurch I like Christchurch ever so much better than Wellington. I have my bicycle down here and often go for rides. We always have a teacher with us when we go out. We went to Hinemoa last Thursday night; I enjoyed it very much. Yesterday afternoon we all went down to Sumner and had afternoon tea at the Cottage Tea Rooms. Has Elsie written to you lately? I feel very angry with her. I have only had one letter from her since I have been away. I never see the Graphic down here, so 1 don’t suppose 1 shall see my letter and your answer to it. There is only a little over a fortnight’s more school, then I go back to Wellington. We will have a month’s holiday. Every three weeks we have what is called an exeat, i.e., we are allowed to go to stay with friends from Saturday till Monday. We had from Thursday night till Wednesday morning for Easter. I went out to Opawa and had a very good time. On Easter Monday I was taken to the races at Ricearton, and on Tuesday I went down to Sumner. We had perfect weather for the holidays. What sort of weather did you have? We have a very good time down here. I like it very much. Now I have begun to write to you, I can’t think of anything to say, and yet 1 ought to have plenty of news for you. Do you know I have a full set of the new New Zealand stamps. Father sent them down to me a week ago. Wasn’t that nice? Next Friday there is to be a sale of work and a musical and theatrical entertainment at the Choral Hall. We are all busy making things for the sale of work, ft is in aid of the Children’s Convalescent Home at New Brighton. The ground has been bought, and the home is to be built and maintained by the members of the Ministering Children’s League. The Ladies Constance and Eileen Knox have been asked to attend. They are very anxious to come both in the afternoon and evening. 1 believe it will be a great success. We went to hear Madame Amy Sherwin twice when she was here. I must now conclude, as the gong for tea has just gone.—With love from Cousin Laura, Christchurch. [ I was delighted to hear from you again. 1 think Christchurch so Hat, 1 always feel when there that I must climb to the Cathedral roof to get some air. Curiously enough I stayed in the same street in which you are for a fortnight’s change of air at a nice lioarding-house. I forget the number. The level roads are grand for bicycles. We had lovely weather for the holidays. 1 spent them at Rotorua. You are lucky to have all those new stamps. There was a

new one on one of my letters to-day, and I see the office boy has removed it. I must run downstairs and interview that young man. You are working for a good object making things for the Convalescent Home for Children. I hope you had a good sale. As Lady Constance and Lady Eileen Knox were interested in it, the success would be assured They seem very good about anything of that kind. Do write again.— Cousin Kate.] Dear Cousin Kate.- -For many years 1 have been a lover of the ‘ Graphic,’ and especially the children’s page. Some of the cousins used to write such long, interesting letters, but I am sorry to see that those cousins have one by one ceased writing, though I do not doubt that they still take the same interest in the ‘ Graphic,’ and only think they are getting too big. I am writing to ask you to enroll me in your long list of cousins. I have often been going to write before, but had nothing to say, and am still in the same plight, for the only topics we rustics have for conversation are “ The Crops’’and “The War,” and I doubt my capability of saying or writing anything interesting on either subject. But 1 must describe myself a little before I close, so that you will know me if we chance to meet some day. lam 16 years of age, am of medium height and have a slight tendency to embonpoint. My hair and eyes are brown, and I’m not ugly. People think I’m clever, but I’m not a bit. I will try and write a more interesting letter next time. Cousin Kate, if you’ll accept me as a cousin. Till then, Believe me yours affectionately, Rose Budd, Mauku. [I am glad to hear you take such a kindly interest in our Cousins’ page, and am very pleased to add you to the number of cousins on the roll. I think that the reason they do not write is because they fear they have nothing to say. But that is no reason at all, and if they said it as nicely as you do, why, a capital little letter is the result. Please send your photograph, also would you like a collecting card and a badge? The latter is sixpence. Have you any brothers and sisters ? Do you ride much ?

—Cousin Kate.] Dear Cousin Kate.—We have just had our Easter holidays, and I enjoyed them very much. They seemed very short to me. There is going to be a large exhibition for all the schools. It is going to lie held in the Government Grounds. I suppose there will be a number of people there to see the exhibits. I have three tiny wee dolls all the same, with long fair hair, and I dressed them each in different coloured silk—pink, green, and white —with little Dutch bonnets to match. I went to the opera, ‘ Djin Djin.’ yesterday afternoon, and enjoyed myself very much. I hope you and all the cousins are well.—l am, Your loving Cousin Ella, Ponsonby.

[I am so glad you and your brother thought of writing with your photographs. Please remember to write on one side of the paper onlv next time. How pretty your dolls must be ! Are you going to send anything to the Exhibition ? Perhaps I shall see you there. — Cousin Kale. J Dear Cousin Kate.—A limit a week ago I had my Easier holidays. During the holidays the weather was very fine, and I enjoyed myself nicely. We will soon have our examination at school. Our little dog does not run away with so many things now. I went to many places during the Easter holidays. About a week ago 1 and some friends went to see the volunteers in camp, and it was very interesting to watch the volunteers drill. We enjoyed ourselves very nicely. I hope that we get some rain, because the Western Springs are very low. —Cousin Alliert. LI think everyone (wants rain, but the City Council should have had water brought to the city before the supply got so low. There seem to have been many visitors and many volunteers at the Easter camp. I was away at Rotorua and enjoyed my tew days there very much. The little Maoris were such fun ! But the smell of sulphur was not nice. lam glad the dog behaves better ? What is his name ?— Cousin Kate.]