A DAY AT THE BEACH.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1922, Page 6 (Supplement)

A DAY AT THE BEACH.

(By Tosswill Woollaston, Raupuha, Toko Road, Stratford, aged 12 J years). When we live inland, and hardly ever see the sea, there seems to bo no other place so pleasant by which to spend a holiday. On a fine day its sparkling little waves and blue waters seem so enticing that we cannot resist paddling in them. The pools among the rocks, with i their waving seaweeds and beautifully tinted anemones' and starfish, with many small creatures which form their prey, afford us a most interesting study. The annual school picnic was held last year at Ngamotu beach. It was soon after daybreak when I rose that ■ morning, and I hurried through my work, for I had to be at Toko at 9 o’clock to catch the At about a quarter to eight I started off with my brother on our pony. She started well, but when she reached the school she stopped and bucked, as she always does when she thinks she has to go further. At last, however, she took it into her head that she must go, so she began to canter along. Arriving at Toko, I saw that the train had just come in, so I hurried down to the little station. It was early, and there were few people there. The carriages were not very full, so I scrambled in under the cover of one, and took a comfortable seat. The train waited for quite a long time, and the carriages soon became filled with people. At last, all being ready, the train started. It went quite fast, for it had two engines. I had a pleasant journey to New Plymouth, admirinig the pretty trees and scenery I saw. Going quite near Mount Egmont, I obtained a splendid view of it. Having travelled a long way, I began to look out of the window to see if I could see the sea, and at last I saw between two hills that distant, watery horizon. The train sped on, and after a time I was surprised by suddenly coming in full view of the sea. It presented a very majestic sight; its beautiful breakers were lashing the. rocks, and further out at sea there were some white horses. When the train arrived all the people went down to the beach. The first thing I did was to have my lunch with some friends. When I had finished I went down to the sea, whose waves were breaking,on the sand, and the seagulls were flying around happily. It all seenfed beautiful and strange, but a day by the sea is not easily forgotten, for I could remember other times when I had been there. I then hired a bathing suit and had a bathe. I made Several attempts to swim, and once or twice I nearly succeeded. It is said to be much easier to swim in salt water than in fresh water. Having had a nice bathe—for I stayed in the water for nearly an hour—l went to have a look at the wharf. On my way I picked up some shells, and I saw a small seagull. It had a very long neck, which it stretched out like a shag does when flying, and it had black tips to its wings and head. Flying about twenty feet above the water, it suddenly changed its course at a right angle, and darted down into the water, to come up again with a small fish in its beak, and not the least bit wet or ruffled. The tide was beginning to come in when I reached the whajpf, and I saw three ladies trying to get on the steps, but every time they made a rush a wave would come up and stop them. They continued trying for about ten minutes, but there is nothing like perseverance, and at last they all reached the steps, all with dry feet but one, who was not quite quick enough. I walked along the wharf, and saw a ship unloading coal. The engines of the cranes made a great noise, and all the men were very busy.

Thinking it would be getting late, I came back. As I was walking along the beach some men landed a boat half full of fish near me, and I had a look at the fish. There were many kinds, among which was a scarlet one with yellow spots on it. When I arrived at the place where the crowd was I had a paddle and watched some people throwing rings. One boy won a. watch and a ten shilling note. After that it was time to go home, so I found my brother and my baskets and had afternoon tea with my friends. I did not have to wait long after that before the train came.

Shortly after leaving Ngamotu, when the train was on the coast of a projecting piece of land, I looked back at the harbor. The sun, which was setting, transformed the water’s appearance into that of a rippling sheet of silver. I remember, also, that when I looked out on the sea for the last time it was of three colors—a deep blue or purple on the horizon, next to which was a strip of green, and near the shore it was pale blue. A saying, “There is usually a fly in the ointment,” proved its case that day, for all went well except one thing, I had a pleasant journey home, and when I arrived there it was too late to milk, so I went inside, and then I discovered the “fly.” I had bought my dad a piece of chocolate, but it had melted on the way home! It would have needed little imagination to know what my pocket was like.