YOUNGER READERS' SECTION ‘Te Ao Hou’ is pleased to publish original work in art and language. Art work would need to be in black and white. Poems, stories and short articles will all be acceptable. Another ‘first’ for our ‘Younger Readers’ Section' is this poem from Stephaney Walter, a Form II pupil of New Zealand's largest school, the Correspondence School. Stephaney lives at the lighthouse station on Portland Island, off the bottom of Mahia Peninsula, and as some of the family's nearest neighbours are Maoris, she and other members of her family have had the opportunity of hearing many local legends and stories.

Challenge Launch the canoes! Ho Tama my son. Why stare you at the sea with the eye of Kahu the Hawk? 'Tis but the flash of the sun On the wing of Kawau the shag! But no my father! I see a great canoe Like none that came before. Call the warriors here! Run not the sons of great Maui to the bush Like children to the folds of a mother's cloak. Let the sands shout to the beat of feet And twirl the taiaha like the tail of ti-wai-waka. As Kahukura took the fish net from the fairy-folk, So shall the sons of Maui take knowledge of new things From these pale strangers. Launch the canoes! Here now is a selection from essays sent in by 5th and 6th Form students at Te Aute College, Hawke's Bay.

Te Aute Athletic Sports ‘Silence,’ ejaculates the sonorous voice of Mr Waitai. Immediately silence falls. Looking around, I can see the nervous faces of the next runners and hear their deep breathing while the sprinters wait, crouching like wild cats ready to leap for their prey. They wait for that sharp crack of the starter's gun. Gina looks calm and collected. Peter does too. The other three are not so relaxed. Then, ‘On your marks!’ Bottoms go up. ‘Set! Go! !’ Gina leaps forward like a black panther, and Peter follows close behind. It looks like a close finish. The spectators cheer them on. The spikes pierce the ground as the sprinters come thundering down the hundred yard track. Gina is a nose in front of Peter. The tape looms up closer. The raucous voices of the boys cheer them on madly. Then with an extra burst of energy, Gina passes the finishing line in first position, followed by Peter. What a grand race to start off the day. The spirit of the Athletic Sports at Te Aute is very good. Every boy, whether he's fat or skinny can enter a race. The boys look forward especially to the handicap races. Every boy feels great when he's earned a few points for his house. Of course the most exciting races of the athletic sports are the house relays. The organizer of the sports is Mr Dwyer who keeps things running in a smooth fashion. He rather reminds me of one of those cool-cut American film directors who wear expensive suits and smoke thick cigars. The field events are interesting. The big brawny boys try their hand at putting the shot. One record is broken in this event by Kent Lambert. In the discus I am third and am rather pleased with myself and rather surprised too. Every year there is always a good reception for the high jump. This year's winner is Gina Tekulu. He stands there concentrating and looking seriously at the bar as if to say, ‘I'll tell you who's master.’ Unfortunately he doesn't break that record, but equals it. In a way I'm glad, because that record still belongs to a Maori. Finally the relays arrive. There is great excitement among the boys. They prepare to race: lane one, Ngarimu; lane two, Rotene; lane three, Ngata; lane four, Tatana. All is silent. ‘Bang! !’ Off go the first runners. Gina of Ngarimu House sprints out in