LETTERS AND REPLIES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 2, 10 July 1912, Page 57

LETTERS AND REPLIES.

* Napier. /T\ ear COUSIN KATE,—Once more I I \ am writing to you. We do pot see I 9 anything of Uncle Mun in the (A / “UPrA-phic” now. We had our term holidays last week, and I enjoyed, them very muc3i. I stayed in town for three days with my auntie, but I think I would just as soon stay home, because there is more fun. Our school ball is to be held on the 20th of this month, and l am in the “Grand 'March.” I am glad that football is in now, because we often play. —Cousin ARTHUR. [Dear Cousin Arthur,—l am glad to hear from you again. I don’t think midwinter holidays are ever so jolly as the summer ones, do you There are so apt to be wet days. I am glad you enjoyed yours. You must let me know how the school dance goes, especially the ‘‘Grand March.”—— Cousin Kate.] * * ♦ ♦ Taonui. Dear Cousin Kate,—We have heen having home awful weather down this way. A week last Sunday the water was about two feet deep over the road just below our place. It is the Palmerston Winter Show at the end of this month. I suppose we will all lie going. Our violets are just coming out in flower. Some of them are almost as big as a pansy, but they do not smell so nice as the little ones. I had such a darling little yellow kitten given to me. 1 just love cats and dogs. The other lovely cat that I had has disappeared. I think a dog or something must have killed it. — Cousin WINNIE. [Dear Cousin Winnie, —If only New Zealand could give Australia some of our rain, what lovely places they both would be to I've in. As it is, we have far more rain than anyone wants. A violet loses half its beauty when it has no scent, I think. I ein glad you have got such a nice little hittea.— Cousin Kate.[ 4* 4* 4* Levin. Dear Cousin Kate. —I received your welcome letter and badge, which I wish to thank you for. It was very kind of you to send it ko soon. I have a pet dog called Toss. I ani very fond of him, and he is J?ry fond of me. I will tell you about him some other time. ’ I love all animals. 1 learn music.—Cousin ELMA. [Dear Cousin Elma, —I am glad you liked the badge. You do not tell me what kind or dog Toss is. What a quaint name you have given him. What do you do at home * n your spare time? Are you fond of sewing?—Cousin Kate.] ifc 4: 4: _ Okain’s Baj’. Bk J P Cousin Kato,—l would very much S * l ’ eco,n e one of your cousins. I am of age. At school I am In r>o S' oll I,ke I do. I IM ‘ t kitten. Can you find a name JLf •!> We are going to have a vZ t S?. n £ crt sa<w> - Nex t time 1 write to 2 I’J! ? J you all about it. May I have rn« ba(lffeT ’~ Co » fl1l > ALICE. Cousin Alice, —1 am very pleased T ti.ilu ai * member of our society. I bluffy would do for your kitten. Co'Hl^ K ’tej’” Te B ’' UC * W ‘ ,h * * * , Banka Peninsula, four <22rf , \ Kate *~ Ml| y 1 ono Pole, and I would llk« to write t»

you as other girls do. I »m ten years of age, and in Htandard HI. During the smuttier my school mates and I used to play rounders, but now we play hockey. My home is in the country, and sometimes ray sisters and I spend the day in the bnsh. I .will -tell you more next letter. Would you please send me a badge?—Cousin LIZZIE. [Dear Cousin Lizzie,—l shall be very pleased to have you ou our long list of cousins. Unless you take the “Graphic” each wek, I can’t see that it can be much good joining; you would not see your letters and answers. Hockey seems a very popular game this season.—Cousin Kate.] ♦ 4* ♦ El th a m. ‘Dear Cousin Kate,—Would you kindly send me a badge, as I want to become one of your junior cousins? lam fourteen years old, and in the sixth standard. I have only been in the North Island six weeks. I used to live in the South Island, among the cold lakes. The scenery down there is much prettier than the scenery I have seen in the North Island. I have been to the Ngaire Gardens once, and think them very pretty. The weather tn the North Island is different to the South Island. Coming across on 4Sie boat I was not sick. Have

you ever been to Queenstown? It is noted for Its scenic attractions. —Cousin HILDA. [Dear Cousin Hilda.—l am very pleased to enrol you as a member, but you will be ft senior cousin if you are fourteen. I have never been to the Queenstown district; it must be very lovely. El I ham is not much of a place, but lovely Monnt Egmont saves ft from being ugly.—-Cousin Kate. J 4* 4? 4* Stratford. Dear Cousin Kale.—Being greatly taken up with your correspondence In the “Graphic,” I feel that 1 would like to become one of your senior cousins. The cousins’ letters are of great interest to me, and I hope that you will find a space in your column for mine. lam now of the age of sixteen, and am learning the trade of tailoring. I like,it fairly well, but one gets tired of sewing all the time; in fact, I think most people tire of their long-learnt trade. Don’t you think so? Two years ago I passed with proficiency the sixth standard, an.l •I could have gone to the High School if I wished, but my ambition was to earn my own living. I daresay you felt the earthquake shock of the 2Cfh Inst. Most people. I feel sure, got ft most distressful shock. They are, iudeiHi, uncanny things. We are having miserably cold weather— so cold, that we must wrap ourselves up welt when going out. I suppose Auckland weather Is quite the reverse to our Stratford weather. Would you please send me a pale Wne badge, as I think that is my favourite colour.— MV A.

(Dear Cousin Eva,—l am very pleased Indeed to add vour name to our long list of cousins. J think it Is’ a splendid thing for a girl to be Independent, but I also hope yog ar® gaining some knowledge of hou«o--keeptug and cooking; a woman is only half a one unless she can manage a bouse, fiveu

though she m:»y never have to do if, U is bound to be useful. We felt the earthquake very sharply here; it was very uncanny. We bad tfie coldest morning of this winter this week, it was just below sOdeg.; it is very rarely as low as that. Write again soon. —Cousin Kate.] 4* 4* 4* Normanby. Dear Cousin Kate, — M.y I become one of your cousins? 1 am in the sixth standard and I am fourteen years old. I have been readlug your letters in the “Graphic” and I am very much interested in them. We have just formed a hockey club at school and 1 am secretary. My sister has a bike and I often go for a ride on it. The people in Normal.by have started skating here and I would like to learn. We are having a holiday from school on Monday as it is ■the King’s birthday. We are having very •bad -weather lately. The days and nights are also very cold. We have a horse but I cannot ride it yet as she stumbles.— Cousin ANNIE. Taranaki. [Dear Cousin Aimle. —You may become one of my cousins, and I shall enroll you with pleasure. -Hockey seems to be gaining in favour every year. You are sure to get the skating craze. How can you cure a horse from stumbling? It is* such a dangerous thing.—Cousin Kate.] ♦ ♦ ♦ Huntly. Dear Cousin Kate. —Just a few lines to let you know I am quite well and hope you are the same. I have joined the Hockey Club and I have lovely fun. I like school very much. Miss Jory. one of the school teachers, took us to the Hamilton show. It will be my birthday next month, I

will be 11 years old. On Wednesday, sth, a little buy got run over by a train, he got his baud cut off by his wrist.—Cousin IVY.

[Dear Cousin Ivy.- Thank you. lam very well and glad to know you are the same. Hockey is a grand game for a winter’s afternoon. I read about that dreadful accident and I see the poor little chap has had both hands amputated, I think It is so pathetic. Fancy a boy without hands! —Cousin Kate.] 4: * * Hokitika. Dear Cousin Kate, —I received the badge, and many thanks for It. 1 am the laziest cousin who has ever written to you. What do yon think we got on May 15? A Kt by brother. We have not decided his name yet. I nm learning music. Wo have had a few* fine days lately. There Is no news •low!) here. Hokitika is in Wes: la nd. — Cousin LOUIE. (Dear Cousin Louie. —I don’t think you are really the laziest one, for some never write oven to say “thank you” for the badge. What n lovely surprise; yon will never be dull wHh a baby In the home. I only hope he will be a good one. You w ill have to start and make him some nice woollen garments to keep the cold out. —Cousin Kale. I 4- ♦ ♦ Palmer* tan North. I»enr Cousin Kale,- 1 went to the pic* turns on Thursday night, and I liked them very much because they were so funny. Wo have Jnx< begun school again after three weoka* holiday. Mother went to Wellington for a week, and when she came back Rhe brought me a box of paint* and a drawing set. and she brought my brother

a watch for his birthday Our new housh is nearly finished now. It has all the roof •a, and we will be moving into it in July. I think we are going to have a tenuis Ltwn hi front of the house. Won’t we be bu&y moving into it?—Consin NELLIE. [Dear Cousin Nellie. —You Palmerston North cousins seem just as keen on picture shows as the Auckland ones. 1 have been fen Auckland over three years, and kava been five times, and yet there are. I think, eight picture shows here, eo you see I ain one of the few people who do not like •fhem. What lovely presents tn received X shall expect a nice little sketch souie day. You will have a busy time. You children will enjoy it, 1 expect, but your mother will be glad when you are settled. —Cousin Kate.)

ratauMton N. Dear Cousin Kate,—lt is a long time eluce 1 wrote to you. 1 My cousin wr« eoiuiug to stay with us in the holidays, Lot she did not come. I have another garden now under the drawingroom windjw. it ha*- nearly all daffodils in it. I went o the pictures last night, and 1 ihiak they were the best pictures I have aeon to. I wetted to go to the orchestral conwt lest night, but we did not get the tickets Ln time, so we are going next lime. I see that Audrey Is writing to you now. 1 ki ow her quite well. She comes to piay with me sometimes. 1 have been reacting a book called “Mates at Billabonr,*’ and I have just finished it. Have you read it, Cousin Kate?—Cousin DAKYNS. [•Dear Cousin Dakyns,—You are such good, faithful cousins, you and Fredi, and Cousin Nellie is following your good example. I hope your daffodils are a great success. You are fond of music, 1 see. Palmerston North, I believe, is quite a musical centre. I have not read the book you mention. Have you read “The Blue Bird”? It is such a charming little book, and all about children.—Cousin Kate.J i i i Palmerston North. vear Cousin Kate,— I went to the pictures on Friday night, and I liked them Very much, and Cousin Dakyns was there too. My sister is going away to-day at one o’clock to Wellington for holiday, and will be back in a fortnight, i expect she will have a good time. My brother is going back to Christ College to morrowafter his holiday. One night we went to tea at one of my friends' home, and we had a lovely time. I went to the orchestral concert last night with my brother, and I liked it all except the singing, which I could not hear very well because we were too far away from the stage. XVe were iu the second to last sent.—Cousin FREDA. [Dear Cousin Freda. 1 expect you lots of fun while your big brother was home for his holidays. Do they hold the orchestral concerts iu the Opera House? If so, no wonder you could not hear well at the back. Our new Town Hall Is much bigger than that, and so often people cannot be heatrd, especially speakers; their voices just get lost. We have a lovely grand organ, and you can hear the softest passages of that.—Cousin Kate.J