A HOLIDAY AT AUCKLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1922, Page 5 (Supplement)

A HOLIDAY AT AUCKLAND.

MEETING OUR RELATIONS. (By Joyce Barber, Hurleyville.) . My happiest Christmas holiday was the one I spent last Christmas in Auckland. A friend of ours took us in his car to Stratford, and we caught the boat-train to New Plymouth. The train journey was lovely, and my little brothers did not want to get out when we got to New Plymouth. But when they saw the boat all lighted up they forgot about the train and were very anxious to be on hoard. Mother put u« all to bed at once, as she is not a good sailor, and she thought we would be the same, but we were not at all sick, and thought the journey to Onehunga was far too short. After having breakfast on hoard we had to collect our luggage, and we had plenty, as there were seven of us, counting mum and dad. We then caught the launch running to Waiuku, and had the most glorious run for five hours, stopping at all the little places, and putting off cream cans and sacks of stuff, etc. We arrived at Waiuku about three o’clock, where we were met by my auntie and uncle and all their children. The) 7 had quite given us up. as the launch was very late, and the}’ had waited since twelve o’clock. There Was great, fun meeting our relations, for mum and dad had not seen them for thirteen years, and my sisters and brothers had never seen them at all before. They had to bring e waggon to meet us all, as the car was no good for sixteen of us. After a lovely drive for ten miles, we arrived at auntie’s, where a late lunch was ready waiting, and which we all enjoyed, for we were very hungry,, after our sea trip and drive, although we were eating fruit all the way up in the launch. Auntie let us take it in turns picking strawberries, for she had a nice patch of them for tea every other day, with cream. After we left Waiuku, we went to Hamilton and Cambridge, and had a lovely time, driving about with friends, everything being new and strange to ns. On our way back we had ( a car to take us to Frankton Junction, at two o’clock in the morning. It was lovely and moonlight, and rabbits were darting across the road in front of the car all the way. We arrived back in Auckland about half-past six in the morning. After having a good look round, and visiting the museum, art gallery and park, etc., we caught the Rarawa back to New Plymouth, after spending the happiest holiday I ever had in my life.