COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 17, 27 April 1907, Page 39

COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE.

Cousins’ I.etters xzfi flfffti vbgkqj Dear Cousin Kate, —Thank you very mueh for the nice badge you s nt me; it just matches my dress-. I have a pony of my own, its name is Lassie, it has short mane and tail, and it came in second at the jumping in the Wanganui show, and 1 like it. My birthday was in March, and I will tell you the presents I got. 1 got a saddle cloth, a bridle, a cup ami saucer, a box of chocolates, and two handkerchiefs, a game of fairyland, a piece <>f ribbon, a lovely manicure set, and Golliwogc. Don't you think I got a nice lot of presents. I think I am going for a ride this afternoon with my sister over the paddocks. I cannot think of anything, more to say, so goodbye, from your new cousin DAISY.

[Dear Cousin Daisy,—l am glad you liked your badge. What a good thing it was that it matched your dress. It would have been horrid if it had clashed with it, wouldn't it? 1 should you did like your pony. Lassie is such a pretty name I think. I suppose you were very proud of her when she camp in second at the jumping competition. I should have

l>een if she had been mine. What a lucky little girl you were to have so many lovely presents on your birthday. —Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —Thank you very much for your nice letter f have just got. Have you ever been out for a motor ride? We went out for one yesterday. We rode past Taradale and out by Hastings, ami just as we were almost home the tires went down. I think

it was a good job that we were nearly home, don't you? Have you got fine weather up in Auckland? It is raining down here. On Easter Mondav I went

for a picnic with a lady and her little girls. We went to the beach, and at the end of the day I went and tumbled in the sea. Our darning teacher has come back, ami is teaching dancing again. I am going to learn. I just love it, don't you? I

learn music too, and I think that is nice, but I hate practising. I don't think I know anybody that likes it. Well, I am afraid that I have hardly told you anything. I must say good-bye now. with much love to all the cousins and yourself, from MARJORIE.

I Dear Cousin Marjorie,—Yes, I have often been out for motor rides, but. so

far, have been very lucky, and have never been in a breakdown yet. 1 love it. don’t you? and the quicker they go the better I like it. You were very fortunate to bp near home when yours broke down. Did you have to walk home? We had beautiful weather in Auckland for the Easter holidays, but the last two <or

three days have been wretched —hot, muggy, and showery. I hope your dip in the sea did not do you any harm. They say salt water never gives one a cohl, but I think it must be bad for on© to be wet through for any length of time,

don’t you? I am very fond of dancing and music too, but 1 was like you when 1 was young, and hated practising. Of course I am sorry now when it is too late, and I wish 1 had practised better, even though f didn’t like it. Don’t you give it up though, because you will be sure to be sorry when you are older if you do. —Cousin Kate.] •fr 4- 4Dear Cousin Kate, —I was very pleased when I saw your answer to my letter in the “Graphic,” ami I hope you do not think I have forgotten yon. Father brought, home a collie puppy to-night. We have, got a new cow and calf. Mother went to hear the Besses o’ th’ Barn band play in the Victoria Park. 1 am sorry the holidays are over. My two sisters have gone up to Taupo to spend their holidays. 1 think this is all the news. Love to you and all the cousins. —Cousin EILEEN. [Dear Cousin Eileen, —I am glad you liked my answer to. your letter, and I hope 1 shall be able to write such nite answers that you will be wishing Io write to me every week. 1 think I like collies better than’ other dogs, don’t you? They always seem to be so intelligent and affectionate. Have you got a name for yours yet? I went to hear the Besses o’ th’ Barn band too, but not at C ietoria Park. I wanted to hear them there, but was prevented, and afterwards, when 1 h ard what a crowd was there, I was very glad I hadn’t been able to go. Did your mother enjoy it?— Cousin Kate.] 4- 4- 4Dear Cousin Kate, —No doubt you heard the famous Besses o’ th’ Barn B ind while it paid us its long to-b.'-remembered visit? I heard them twice —onec in the theatre and one evening in the park. Don’t they play beautifully? Really words cannot be found to describe the wav they played the different lovely pieces. 1 felt that 1 could have listened almostfor ever to one of Handel’s pieces, which they played magnificently. Where did you goon Easter Monday? We all (with the exception of Gwen, who went to Waiheke. and father, who was visiting the Exhibition) went and had a most delightful time on Rangitoto. Seeing that the weather bade' fair towards a fine day, we started out to catch the early boat. Imagine our disgust when arriving on the wharf we found the bo.it overcrowded, no one else being allowed to get on board. To make matters worse we saw our friends were, with happy faces, quictly sitting on board, and about to depart. They did not discover us till the boat had started, and then, while joking at our deplorable position, urged us to catch the next boat, which we thought did not leave till 1 p.m. Much to our delight, however, a much larger boat than the former came along about ten minutes later, and the left-behind Rangitotoilcs, with the same type of St. Helierites, were in a few more minutes comfortably seated, and off we gaily starfe.l. We were delayed a little longer by having to call at St. llelier’s Bay. but the sea being smooth we bad an excellent trip, even better t han our friends, who were in the crush. At length we found ourselves landing on a small jetty, which led to a very pretty path winding up the mountain. We started quickly forward, hoping to catch up our friends ere they reached the summit.

I don't think a much prettier walk than that is to be found anywhere near our city. On either side of us were the lovely native scrub, and trees, with berries of almost every kind, just ripening and turning their natural colours, were .lotted everywhere, and as we aseci .led higher the more plentiful they became. Every time we turned for a backward glance we would get a glimpse of the smooth,, sparkling ocean through the green foliage. When about three-quarters of the way up we suddenly turned round a bend in the gravelly path, and there we were, face to face with our friends, who were just clearing up their luncheon baskets. They at once started the billy boiling again, and in Jess time than it takes to tell we were seated ar*l laughing gaily over our delay, while we greatly reduced (he weight of our baskets. We were now told that ten minutes would take us to the top of the mountain, although we had by far the steepest part to ascend. So, with the others’ assistance, all lunch baskets were stored away near our selected spot, and away we started again. At last wv gained the summit, and, oh! the view, it was magnificent. We were surrounded by the sparkling sea. which looked more like a huge looking-glass. To the south, by the city, with its great mass of buildings, and far beyond it, we could just see Man ilka n Harbour: to the oast lay Motutapu and a few other favoured islets and pretty little bays. Tiritiri lighthouse could be seen with the aid of glasses, and Coromandel peninsula was just visible to the north. On the western side, Lake Takapiina shone out very prettily, and all the beaches ar.d bays too numerous to mention added greatly to the picturesque scene. The wind was blowing over so much that we were glad to sit on the side of the crater ami rest. I did not attempt to go tn the bottom of it. but it was great fun watching the others run down. My little brother ran so hard that he could not stop as quickly as he desired. and hr just slid to the bottom on his feet. After being on the summit for about two hours we wished to return to our baskets, for the fresh air had given us large appetites, so with a great rim we started off. and were back in a quarter the time it took to coin?. After satisfying our hunger, snapshots were taken of us, and we played games, asked riddles, and told humorous stories until we found that we only just had time to run and catch our boat. Really the run back to the boat did not seem half long enough, and we got to the jetty before the boat was in sight. I think I saw Cousin Hilda at the foot of the mountain, but I was not sure so I did not- like to speak to her. We had :i delightful journey back, ami reached home shortly after dark. Do not you think we had a jolly time? Please. Cousin Kato, could you toll me the height of Rangitoto? Arc you going to the Chrysanthemum Show ? I hope to go Thursday afternoon. I wonder if I shall see you? I hope you won't think this letter too dry and long.—With best love to all our happy band. I remain, yours sincerely, Cousin ES*<IE. | Dear Cousin Essie.—Your letters arrived so late this morning that I have only a very few minutes to answer them in. so I'm afraid my answer will be rather short this week. Yes, I did hiiftr the Besses o' th' Barn, and eiijoy<*<] the performance immensely. What a delightful day yon had on Eastei. Mondav. It is shameful to have to cCnfess it, but

do you- know-I have wwer t»eeii-up Rangitoto, though 1 have lived in Auckland fof years. I have ahvays -wanted to go, and 1 must make up my mind not to let aunt her summer go past without getting to the top. Tlie view from there must In' exquisite. I have been round it in a launch several times, ami have walked

across at low t:-le from Motutapu. but have never siicveede I in < limbing it yet. It is not a very arduous climb either, as it is only Odd feet high. I must really stop now, and will try ami write more next time. —Cousin Kate. J + + dr Dear Cousin Kate—lt is "iich a long time since I last wr<te to you. but you see 1 have not quite forgotten you. Father returned from the Exhibit on on Saturday, and he brought me home a gold bangle, ami Essie one, ton. For Wilfred be brought a model of the Victory. (the ship Lord Nelson was killed on). It was wrought out of a piece of copper obtained from the Victory when it broke up. My two sisters got a gold brooch each, with their names worked on. Wo have got about 500 postcards between us now. < )i> Easter Monday I went to Waiheke with some friends on an excursion trip. I had a lovely day. paddling on the beach and gathering ferns. We ate going to have our examination rt s hod on Monday; we did not have time to have it Ir-foreth© holidays. It is so windy < iitside. I think that Buster Brown is so very funny. It is time to slop now. Love to all the cousins. - 1 remain, I’emuii GWEN.

| Dear Cousin G won,—-It is. indeed, a long time since you vviote to m? last, but no doubt you have plenty of reasons for not having written to me before. W hat did your father think of th* Exhibition! I expect Christchurch will be very quiet now for a lime, after all the bustle and excitement of the Exhibition. 1 should like to have seen it but a great many people seem to have been very disappointed in it, so I comfort myself with the relied ion that I might have been. too. It is nice for you to have such (harming souvenirs of it. I hop? you will get Gti all right at your examination on Monday.

1 expect von were rather glad not to have it before? the holidays, as it gives you a little more time to prepare for it. Cousin Kate. |