Illusion.

The living colour of foliage, green on green, almond on moss and jade jewelled against deep bronze with here and there dashes of brilliant emerald. A bank of rangiora creamy with blossom, guarded by slim lace bark trees. Underfoot a wide sloping ledge of sun-splashed sward.

I move nearer.

The grassy turf gently sloped to the edge of a pool. The water was still but for tiny ripples where frogs might have been. Sunlight caught these movements in the water with a golden light and each stood out, shining, from the lacquered surface of, the pool.

The bush was still. The birds seemed drowsy in the noon-day heat.

Quietly I stepped even nearer.

A glimpse of scarlet had caught my eye. Looking more closely I saw what it was.

Under a group of tree ferns to the right of the pool, lay a girl with arms out-spread. One hand lay curled upwards towards the sky. Her head was turned away. I moved closer but she did not stir. The scarlet of her bathing suit gleamed amid the green of trees and grass. She was asleep. I walked away feeling I must not disturb her.

Once I looked back and all the colours seemed to leap before me.

The pool, black with gilded lines; the high granite wall clustered with brilliant greens which tumbled in verdant profusion to the mossy bank below, where lay the girl, still sleeping, a tiny glow of vivid scarlet.

Slowly I turned listening even then for the calls of tui or bellbird.

Swinging back the great door I stepped out into the street. I had just seen the picture declared by the critics as the most outstanding of those exhibited in that year's academy.—Gwen Harrison.

Turuturu Mokai.

Mr. O. N. Gillespie mentions Turu-turu Mokai in his recent article in the Magazine. Few remember that this place was the scene of a massacre of pakehas in the early days. The settlers, while farming their areas during the day, all withdrew to the stronghold at night. This was defended by regular troops, who, of course, kept a guard posted all night.

The Maoris must have considered the taking of this fort for a long time before their wits devised a way to capture it. The fort was situated at the top of a long rise, and it was thought that the Maoris would be seen in ample time to give warning. No notice, however, was taken of the sheep grazing in all directions outside the fort. No notice was taken, when, in the half-light of dawn, several of the sheep had approached close to the walls. When these sheep threw off their sheeps' clothing and showed themselves, if not as wolves, at least as something equally dangerous, it was too late. The sentries were shot before they realised what had happened, and by the time the rest of the settlers had awakened, they had to fight hand to hand with Maoris who were entering in increasing numbers.

One man only survived and he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his efforts to bring help from Patea. Now that time has wiped out the bitterness, both Maori and Pakeha must admit the genius of the attack.—C. McB.

* * *

During the past year (1936) I travelled about 4,260 miles by New Zealand Government Railways trains, in the North and South Islands. About 652 miles were covered by excursion trains, the total fares costing about 22/-. The trains ran from Taumarunui to Rotorua, return, Christchurch to Timaru return, and Dunedin to Inver-cargrll return. The fallowing locomotives were used to haul the trains:—

In the North Island: AA class, No. 649, AB class, Nos. 702, 705, 816, 830, K class, Nos. 901, 904, 907, 908, 909, 910, 911, 912, 913, 918, 919, 920/1/2/3, X class, No. 588, Wab class, Nos. 796, 801, WW class, No. 567. South Island: A class, No. 422, AB, class Nos. 689, 727, 782, 804, 812, Q class, No. 345, Wab class, No. 789, F class, Nos. 13, 163. Electric locomotives, Nos. E7, and E9.—M.B.

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