A DAY AT THE BREAKWATER.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1920, Page 3 (Supplement)

A DAY AT THE BREAKWATER.

THIRD PRIZE.

(Aline M. Wells, Waltara; aged 9 years.) One Sunday morning some time ago, being a lovely day, my father said tliat be would take us all to spend a day at the Breakwater. As the British-India ship Orissa was at New Plymouth for the first time, he thought it would add to our enjoyment, for we should most likely see over t it. Having decided to catch the next train, we made haste and packed a nice lunch, and set off townwards.

Wo just arrived in time to catch the tram. How beautiful the pretty gardens looked us we journeyed along! I'pon the green lawns daisies had sprung rip, looking sweet and gay in their white frilled collars. In the meadows under the trees the gentle brown cows lay peacefully resting, contented, watching their happy calves at play. The drowsy sheep gazed fondly at their funny lambs as they merrily skipped by their sides, and the dear little birds filled the air with their sweet notes of praise to God for giving them the pleasure of being in the bright sunshine. At last we arrived at the Breakwater. We decided to stay on the beach in the morning and visit the liner in the afternoon. What fun we had! We batlicd in the warm sea, and built sand castles with moats around them. Presently it was time for lunch. After we had finished we set off to inspect the liner. " I was frightened to go up those stairs they have for you to climb on a ship, because every time I looked down at the sea I thought I would fall, and so a big sailor lifted me up. As we were going along on the second deck Dad asked us whether we should like tq stay on board a ship for six weeks, like he and mother did when they came out from England. An officer heard what he said, and asked him if he knew Wivenhoe. Dad said he knew it well, and where he used to live was quite close to it. Dad and the officer began to he friends. My grandfather and his father used to he great chums. His name was Mr. Fclgate, and he was a very nice and polite third officer. After that he spent most of his spare time at onr house.

We watched the Lascar crew washing themselvn-. They looked so comical. One would*go round with a large bowl of water and poitr it on the others. They are very particular and clean, and before they ent they wash very carefully. They place the dish of rice oh the floor, and all sit round it, putting the . l?ft hand behind them, and with tho other take a morsel between their fingers, which they allow nearly to reach their mouths before they thvow it in, never allowing their fingers to touch their mouths. The busiest man on board was the*old Chinese carpenter, who is never finished, for when lie lias done all the work set him, he will find a job for himself. After that we'had some afternoon tea in our new friend's cabin. Mogul was the Lascar servant. Mr. Felgate gave us some books with pictures of the magnificent in Calcutta. He told us that when they were out at sea. they had a part of the ship cornered off, where they kept sheep, ducks and fowls. Fancy having a farmyard like that on board ship! Then Mr. Felgate took us round the engine-room, which my brothers enjoyed, but it did not interest me much.

At Inst it was time to say good-bye to our friend, and the Orissa, and we returned to , home sweet home after a most interesting day.