CHILDREN’S CORRESPONDENCE COLUMN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue VII, 16 February 1901, Page 330

CHILDREN’S CORRESPONDENCE COLUMN.

Adv bur or girl who likes to become a cousii »n do so. and wrile letters to 'Co isin Kate, •are of the Lcdy Editor. 'Graphic Office. Auckland.

Write on one side of the paper only. All purely corresponuetK-e I. tiers with en- ■ lope ends tinned in an carried through the I‘ost Office as follows:—Not exceeding joz. jd ; not exceeding loz. Id ; for every additional 2ox or fractional part thereof, id. It is well for correspondence to be marked * I’reas Manuscript only.* Please note, dear cousins, that all letters addressed to Cousin Kale roust now bear the wools * Press Manuscript only. If so marked, and the dap turned in. and not overweight, they will come for a Id stamp in Auckland, but a Id from every other place. COUSINS' CORRESPONDENCE. Dear Cousins.—This is an extract from the letter of an Auckland cousin describing the Wanganui Caledonian sports. I think it very elever, do not you? Dear Cousin.—At last I have seen life. I have been to the Caledonian Sports. Oh. lassie, why were a ye there? The grounds are just like the cycle track at the Auckland Exhibition: a great amphitheatre, the sides asphalt, the centre grass, sand hills all round, upon which thousands of people were seated, digging their heels in to keep themselves up on the sand. Among the diggers was myself. looking, in my own estimation, extremely nice. Aye mon! it was grand the fun. Never have I seen such a display of “braw legs." It was a case of “turn awa yer head, and dinna look." but I did: and never did I see people so verra pleased with their "ain seis." In the centre was a platform. This was for the pipers and the dancers. Round this were seats for the judges. Oh. those judges; all canny Scots. Lassie. Howcan I make you see them? All arrayed in kilt’s, with every kind of "Scotch cap" (I suppose I ought to say bonnet'. some with long tails, some short, broad crowns, narrow crowns. tartan bands. long feathers. and Tam-o'-Shanters. The performers spread out their bare legs and locked pityingly upon the clothed multitude before them. The musical and dancing competitions lasted all day. A pipe solo first. Up got a giant in a green cap. velvet coat and green petticoat, with what should have been put in the length added to the width, green and black stockings. and a "wonderful and fearful -bawl of his grandmother’s dangling from his shoulder. First the pipes must be tuned. a violin going through this performance is sweet music comliaretl with the bagpipes. I would much prefer hearing a solo from our old Tom cat. but I suppose that shows mv deprated taste. However, the Scotch people lay back and looked as though they had reached the verra gate o* bee-ven. Next .amf a sword dance. My sister, words fail me—a red man. red hair. face, tartans, legs, and the most wonderful head-dress, the pipes struck up, the swords cross-

ed. my red man bowed, and then — Oh. lassie, I've had more respect for the legs of a man since: the knots those were tied in, the skips and twirls. I seemed to see nothing but legs, with verra little “trews.” Indeed I have half a suspicion that he forgot to put any on. but I wouldna swear till it. After treating the swords as though he scorned the very earth they lay on. skipping up and down between them on his toes, my mon consented to come till earth: if the angel Gabriel had visited earth, those people eould not have watched him more eagerly. How they clapped. Then came a cat on hot bricks’ affair. Certainly the Scotch are very light dancers: it is all on their toes, when they are not in the air. The piper got so worked up this time. I did not know whether he or the dancer would fall off the platform first: it was not much larger than a table. The piper's legs were verythin. It looked verra funny: this bare, bony limb stamping up and down, beating time. The gem of the whole thing was a Scotch reel; four pair of bare legs, different tartans, as well as pipers, all waving before my dazzled eyes. How they kept on the platform I cannot say. They twined in and out: they skipped round each other; they tied themselves in knots: all on about five foot square. In all there must have been thirtv dances during the day, all Scotchmen, except two girls, in kilts of course. Would you credit it: a small Maori girl won the prize for dancing, excelling all those men? I think she must have been reared on oatmeal. How the Maoris did cheer, my friends the Scots did not. There were many other performances going on at the same time, but they had no charm for me: my eyes were riveted on the "laddies in kilts.” My Dear Cousin Kate. —You will be thinking I have forgotten my premise to remember you in the New Year. I am glad you thought my scrap-book good enough for the Christmas tree which I am sure must have been a great success. I was very much disappointed at being unable to attend, especially after your great kindness in sending me the tickets. We did not spend a very long holiday this year, but though short we - enjoved ourselves very much. On December 27th we left town in the 9.30 train for Te Awamutu. where we arrived, after a tiring journey, at 3.30 p.m. We stepped from the train to the coach and rode three more miies to Kihikihi, our destination. The rain was pouring down when we arrived, but after tea it stopped for a time, and so our friends took us for a lons’ walk, which we enjoyed greatly. The next morning was beautiful, so my brothers and I went out again, arriving home just in time for dinner. After dinner we ail went out again, but before we had gone more than half a mile great black clouds began to sather overhead, and a few drops of rain fell, but these soon stopped, and so we went on, thinking that the storm had passed over, but presently lightning flashes and peals of thunder told another tale, and so we thought it best to make our way homewards, which we did. We had scarcely reached the garden gate when the rain began to pour down again in torrents, lasting til] late in the evening. and so we had to content ourselves with books for the remainder of that day. The next morning at 7 we left Kihikihi again for home, wishing to be in town again for the Xew Year, feeling satisfied that we had spent a pleasant holiday, although we did not see quite as much

of the place as we might have done had the weather been finer. The day the Contingent went away. I did not go far from home. At about four o'clock I walked down to what we call "the cliff” at the end of our street, and watched the troopers until the Cornwall left the wharf, when I hastened home and sat on the balcony and watched the steamer until she rounded the North Head. 1 went to the Albert Park and saw the procession on Saturday, but could not get very near to the statrft-. but intend going up some eveniqg to see the wreaths. How very sad is the death of our beloved Queen. I thought the mourning number of the "Graphic” very nice, as also is this week’s edition. Now I will leave off writing, for although my letter is long. I find there is very little of interest in it, so good-bye. with fond love to yourself and all the cousins.—From your loving cousin Ethel Ada. Auckland. [Dear Cousin Ethel Ada. —You are quite wrong in saying there is not much of interest in your letter. It was all most deeply interesting to me.

and will. I am sure, be so to all the cousins. I was most heartily glad to hear from you again. I began to think all the cousins had deserted me. —Cousin Kate.]