ADVENTURES ON KAPITI ISLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1920, Page 2 (Supplement)

ADVENTURES ON KAPITI ISLAND.

FIRST PEIZE ESSAY.

(Violet Hunt, Vogeltown; aged 13.) Kapiti Island is a large island situated about thirty miles from Wellington. It is a bird sanctuary, and a resident 'caretaker is in charge. By obtaining his permission you are allowed to land and spend a holiday there. During our Christmas holidays of 1916, we were greatly excited upon intliir promising to obtain permission, ftnd take us over to the island to spend a week. How the time did drag, till the day fame for us to set off, and the fun, carting tents, blankets and cooking utensils, not forgetting Ashing lines, to the launch, which was anchored in the Waikanae liiver. It was a large boat, that belonged to a fisherman, and Was named ''Rose But''. Very soon we had everything aboard, and then we scrambled in. Our party consisted of father, mother, my sister Ivy, Molly and -Gladys (two girl friends), and their brother Jack, who was fourteen, and, according to his own estimation, very brave, and quite prepared to meet with any adventure that might happen on the island. At last the fisherman said there was enough water on the [jar, and off we went. The sea was calm, and the sun shone brightly, and we were a happy party. The trip across from the mainland took up about an hour, and how pretty Kapiti looked out of (lie sea, its valleys covered with bush, nnd here and there a waterfall bounding down the fiice of the cliffs. We landed on a pebbly beach, close to the cottage where the caretaker lived. He was there to Welcome us, and was very pleased with ft parcel of books and papers which father, brought for him. We said goodbye to the fisherman, who promised to come over in three days' time with bread and papers. Then we pitched the three tents in a pretty valley, by the side of a Bmall stream. While they were being erected, we aet off exploring, whilst Jack took his line, and started fishing from a rock. Mother was going to light a fire, to boil the billy, and we were to return when they rang a bell. The joys of that first ramble will never be forgotten. It was very cool under the trees. Above our heads the tuis weye flitting about, and gave us snatches of their quayit songs, whilst the native piigeonis, perchod on the trees close by, were not at all afraid of us. We soon came to a glade in which was a natural bathing pool of clear, cool water. In a short time our clothes were lying on the grass, and we were splashing to our hearts' delight. When we had bathed for a while, we lay on the grass, and were enjoying a min-bath when the bell rang. Then there was a scramble to get our clothes on, for wo were feeling very hungry. We hurried back to the camp as fast as we were able, and when Jack saw us he cried: "Hurry up, girls, or the fish will 'be spoilt!" He was standing by the fire, looking as proud aa a king. On the fire, was our largest frying pan, full of fish, which mother was cooking. "You girls are going to have a treat —blue cod; I caught them all myself," said Jack, and, true enough, we did enjoy them, for, when we had finished there was nothing but bones left. Father said that Jack would have to go bathing, and the girls catch more flsh, but after dinner we were too tired, so we took our books to read under a shfidy tree. We did not do much reading, for we were soon asleep, and did not awake until Jack and father, who had been exploring, returned. Jack awoke ns, to say tbat they had discovered a cave in the cliff, about half a mile from our camp. In the morning we would explore, and look for pirates' treasures, which, he assured us, were always hidden in caves.

After tea, father made a campfire, round which we sat on big stones, and sang Christmas" carols, until Jack, saying he was sleepy, retired to his tent, after wishing us all good-night, and telling us girls not to feel afraid of the cave in the morning, for he would be there to protect us. ' He had no sooner entered his tent than we were startled by a loud yell, and Jack came running back to the fire, looking very frightened, saying there was a wild animal on his bed. We were feeling scared, but upon father investigating he found it to be nothing more dangerous than an opossum, which sat blinking its eyes at the light M father's lamp. When we laughed, Jack said: "Just wait; you girls will be scared of the cave to-morrow." Then We retired to our respective tents, and knew nothing more till mother awakened us in the morning by wishing us "a happy Christmas." We were surprised to find that even over on Kapiti Santa Claus had not forgotten us, for there were presents for each of us; also chocolates, oranges and bananas. While we were admiring our presents father and jack called us to have a bathe in the sea. Very soon we were in the water. Oh, how fresh and hungry we were after our dip! After a good breakfast of fish, which father had caught that morning, we made preparations for our visit to the cave. It took us about half an hour to scramble along the beach to the site of the cave, for the way was very rough. We were much amused on the way by the number of goats which were feeding on the steep slopes of the cliffs. At last we came to a small bay, and Jack, much excited, pointed out a round hole in the face of the cliff, which, he said, was the pirates' cave. Father explained to us that the cave was a narrow hole, for the distance of three yards, which We would have to go through. It then opened into a large chamber. We had all brought candles, which we now lighted, and Jack bravely volunteered to lead the way. Father and mother said they would wait for us outside, as the cave was quite safe, but rather hard for them to crawT in. So off wp started. T was following J»ek, and Ivy next, We seemed to

have crawled a long way, when Jack said: "Here is the large cavern," and then exclaimed, "Go back, quickly," and immediately put his foot back into my face, putting my candle out. 1 backed as quickly as I could, and Ivy got her face, in the way. There was great cpnfusion, and we girls were horribly frightened, and very glad when we found ourselves in the open air again. Jack was looking very white, and told father he had seen a pair of big, glaring eyes looking at him in the "big cavern. Father asked him if it was another opossum, and, taking a candle, he crawled in to investigate. We all breathlessly awaited his return, when all at once out rushed from the cave an old goat and two small ones!

How we all laughed! Poor Jack looked very foolish, especially upon father returning and telling him the cave was full of pirates. None of us could be persuaded to enter the cave again, so we spent a very happy time by playing games on the sand, until it was time to return to our camp, and so ended another.day of the most enjoyable Christinas holiday of my life.