Week-end Chat COUNTRY AND TOWN.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 26, 23 October 1937, Page 13

Week-end Chat COUNTRY AND TOWN.

"READER."

COUSIN

ROSE.

Dear Everyone, — I thank several readers for letters. This busy week of Show gaiety has left little spare time, and reading and writing has been sornewhat put aside, except by the newsscribes jvho must always keep an alert mind and pen, apart from private interests. Tlie letter sent three weeks ago by "16," on answering tlie tele--phone, has evidently interested • both men and women, for a number of letters and commemts have been received: Dear Cousin Rose, — 66,666's speakingl And still I canot see that it matters in the least if a person at the wther end asks, "Who is speaking?" any more than when a rnaid is announcing you at an "At Home" and says, "What name shall 1 say?" There must be something I cannofc grasp, dear Mrs. Buggins. You are not bound to give your name if you do not wish. I don't. — Yours, etc, "66,666." Dear Cousin Rose, — Talking of telephone conversations, there is a habit that annoys me far more than the one mentioned by "16." It is this : I happen to be a busy womau, yet sometimes when busiest, friends will ring up for a long talk, and they begin as it were in the middle of it, not giving me a chanc© to say 1 have scones in the oven, or am late for tlie dentist, or liave got out of my bath to answer! 1 would suggest to those who like heart-to-heart talks, that they begin with tho query, "Have you time for a chat?" One can easily ring when convenient. I of'ten rather bless ill-timed talkers. Sfieaking of such people I was,amused to hear a man say to a woman : "I do hate egotists," and she, thinking it was a remarb about diet, said, "egg what?" — Yours, etc., "DIAL 9." Dear Cousin Rose. — I havo been

interested in the telephone letters. I do not mind anything as much as trying to get people for half-an-h&ur with the answer "bufp burp" showing they are engaged. 1 think itwould be rather a good idea if the 'phone automatically cut off after ten minutes, then if the conversation was really urgent, the speakers could rins again to. finish. — Yours. etc..

Dear Cousin Rose, — May I just say how greatly I enjoyed the written description of the New Zealand girl'# trip third class on the Queen Mary. I will save up to travel as she suggests, and 1 do not thinlt my saTings will take me very faT. However, it is a stimulating idea and one to keep in mind, to put aside for travel, or to C'xeliange jobs with someone from another land. — Yours, etc., "NO PERM NOW." A woman said recently, "How etrange it is that you are interested in earJy New Zealand history " This remark rather shows the general attitude of New Zealanders towards the knowledge, or lack of knowledge . of our land. Yet these same people think it part of their education to know how many wives Henry the eighth had, and who won Waterloo. Yet there is romance in our early history that has never been taught to New Zealand boys and girls. They have learned that King Alfred burnt the cakes in eariy English history, yet how much do they know of such little tales as this: — In 1814 three Maori Chiefs, Duaterra, Shungi and Korra korra, visited New South Wales and were entertained there by the Governort Governor King. When they retumed to New Zealand with the Rev. Samuel Marsden, on November 19, 1914, they were each given by the . Governor a-handsome uniform, a cow, and to Duaterra a fine maro. Also they were invested with authority so ■ that without their permission no sailor or person could land in the North Island, and no natives be taken away forcibly. Some diaries of the voyage tell that when they retumed here they had 35 person® on the small ship, also cattlo, sheep, pigs^ goats, cats, dogs, and a variety of other animals, described by a passenger who had a sense of humour as "bearing a perfect resemblanee to a Noah's Ark." How many readers have heard of the moat famous of theso Chiefs, Duaterra? • # • Some women were discussing (at an afternoon gathering last week) what their individual idea of a garden was. One liked a very neat garden with gay beds of Jlowers, an other liked best to have trees and no garden beds, while another liked a restful spot with flowers and a tree or so, not too neat to be obtrusive. "Somewliere to sit" was yet another expression of opinion. Will readers give their preferences? It will be very interesting to glean new ideas and to hear an interchange of opinion. Addross all letters, please, to