Dot's Little Folk

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24410, 23 September 1940, Page 10

Dot's Little Folk

Inaugurated Uulu 16,1886, 0 by thte OTAGO WITNESS

TO ALL Dear Little Folk,—l am afraid that a great many of you will have been disappointed at the non-publication of letters which you sent in some time ago, but I must ask you to be patient.- Our space Is now limited, and it has been impossible to insert them so far. However, you may rely on my doing my very best to publish them as soon as possible. I have been considering the best means of saving space, and have decided that, in future, I shall make my replies as brief as possible, so if they seem curt and abrupt you will understand that the only reason for this is to save space. I can assure you that I shall just be as' much interested as ever in hearing about the doings of my large family. I have also decided that, in future, First Letters will not be answered separately. Unless there is some specail reason for doing so, but will be taken as a whole. You can help by keeping your letters short. There is no room for long ones at present, and it will be more satisfactory If you condense them yourselves and not leave this for me to do. _ I would remind you that the Essay Competition in connection with Animal Welfare Week closes on October 7, and I hope a great many of you are entering for it. Here is an opportunity for you to write at greater length than you can do in the page at present. With all good Wishes.—Your loving ESSAY COMPETITION The first wcfk in October will be Animal Welfare Week, and. in connection with this, the Otago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is arranging an essay competition to be conducted through the Little Folk's page. This competition is to be' divided into three senior, an intermediate, and a junior—in each of which there will be two prizes, and it is open to all young people under 17 years of age living in the society s districts, namely, Hampden to Clinton, Central Otago, and the Lakes districts. The following are the particulars and rules:Senior Section (14 and under 17 years).— "Influences Emanating from Kindness to Animals " (not exceeding 500 words) First prize, £2; second prize. £l. Intermediate Section (10 and under 14 years).—" Benefits Derived from Kindness to Animals" (not exceeding 400 words) First prize, £l,ss; second prize, 15s. Junior Section (under 10 years).—" Kindness to Household Pets" (not exceeding 300 words). First prize. 12s 6d; second prize, 7s 6d. Each essay is to be signed by a nom de plume only, and the age given. With each entry a sealed envelope with nom de plume only on the outside must be enclosed, the name and address of the competitor being placed inside the sealed envelope. .....''... ' The entries close on October 7, and should be addressed to "Dot, c/o the Editor, Otago Daily Times, Dunedin," the envelopes being marked " Essay Competition " LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLK Motto: We write for the benefit of others, not for ourselves. FIRST LETTERS Dear Dot,—l like reading your page very much and would like to join your band. I am 11 years old and in Standard V at school. I sit beside Pansy. I cycle three miles to and'from school every day. My brother, who is nine, rides a horse. Fairy Flute, Pansy, Greenbottle. Michael Finnigan, and Little Pinocchio all go to the same school as I do. I also know Crocus and her sister. My favourite subjects are arithmetic, English, and sewing. There are 19 going to our school, and there are only five girls. I play tennis at school with Pansy. and Little Pinocchio's sister. The other two girls are too small to play; They are Fairy Flute and her sister Kathleen. Fairy Flute was •taying with me during the holidays, and we. had lots of fun. With lots of love to the Little Folk. ■;. . cii . ;. ■.. HOLLYHOCK '(Tuafteka Mouth). [I bid you welcome to our band, Hollyhock, and am glad you enjoy readina our page.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot,—May I become a.member ut your happy band of Little Folk? I am 13 years old and am in Form I at school I am very interested in reading the letters of other Little Folk every Monday. I also like reading books. My mother is an Old Writer. I have a sister and a brother who have left school, and there are five girls and one boy at school. With best wishes to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. ARINI (Tapanui). [Certainly you may join, Arini. Enclosed with your letter was another one unsigned. Will you ask the writer to send her name and nom de plume.—DOT.] ¥ * *[■ Dear Dot,—May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am 11 years old and am in Standard IV. I enjoyed reading " The Little Castaways." I walk one mile and a-half to schdol every morning The birds are beginning to lay again and we will soon go bird-nesting., We have native bush all round our house, and I will tell you about the native trees and the native birds in my next letter. Love and best regards to the Little Folk, not forgetting your own dear self. THE BUTTERFLY GIRL (Tapanui) fl am pleased to have you as a member The Butterfly Girl, and look forward to hearing about the native trees and birds, but I hope you will not go bird-nesting and take the eggs.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot,—May I join your page? Mum and my uncles are all Old Writers I have three brothers and two sisters The baby is only eight months old and I am nearly 10. I help mum in the mornings to get our dinners ready to take to school, as we go to Milford School, and it is too far to come home. We have three cows and two calves, ducks and fowls. I have a pet cat and a canary. The cat is named Billy and the canary Douglas. My brother has a hen canary and two baby ones. We live two and a-half miles out of Temuka and the same distance from Milford Lagoon. Dad goes down there fishing, and on Saturday no got a lot of whitebait, which was lovely when it was cooked. Love to all the Little Folk. VALENCIA RAISIN'S DAUGHTER (Temuka R.D.). [I bid you welcome, Valencia Raisin's Daughter, and am glad you are following the example of your mother and uncles and joining our membership.—DOT.l * * * Dear Dot,—May I join your happy band Of Little Folk? My age, is 12 years, and I am in Standard V. We are playing tennis at school. Chris and France Skinner came over to our place In the holidays, and we had a good sod fighr BUSTER BILL (Tuapeka Mouth) [You are welcome to join, Buster Bill.— DOT.] * * " Dear Dot,—May I join your band jf Little Folk? I am 10 years of age and am in Standard 111 at school. I have three sisters and one brother. Betty is 18 months younger than I am, and Elton is three years younger than Betty. I have two pet cats. Their names are Nigger and Tommy. ANOTHER MUSIC LOVER (Chaslands) (Certainly vou may join, Another Music Lover, but your nom de plume has already been taken, so I have had to alter it.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot,—l have been reading your page for a long time, and I thought how nice it would be if I was one of yout Little Folk. Will you have me, please? I am 10 years old and am in Standard IV. I have a sister, who is called Boney Kneezy, and she is in Standard 111. I have a pet cat, whose name is Whisky, and to me he is the best cat in the world. On cold mornings he is so warm, because his fur is about two inches thick, and he purrs all the time. HIAWATHA'S CHICKEN (Tarras). [I am very pleased to have you as one Of my Little Folk, Hiawatha's Chicken Whisky must be a lovely cat.—DOT.] ¥ # # Dear Dot,—l have been reading your Little Folk's letters for a long time, and I thought that it would be nice to join, If I may. Can you tell me where I will be able to get a badge ? I am nine years old and am- in Standard 111. I have one sister, and her name is Hiawatha's

- Dot invites letters of not more than 300 words In length from her young friends throughout the Dominion on any matters in which they are interested. New members must enclose their name and address. These will not be published, and are for registration purposes only. Little Folk should write on one side of the paper only, and In Ink, and should address their letters " Dot, care of Editor, Otago Daily Times." Every letter must state the age of the writer for Dot's private Information. The retiring age is 21, after which Little Folk become Old Writers Dot's Little Folk's Badge, with pin, for use as a brooch, is obtainable on application to Dot. Price 2s 6d, in stamps or postal notes.

Chicken. I have a cat, a dog with two pups, a lamb, and a pony for my pets. The things I like doing best are reading, sewing, swimming, and riding. BONEY KNEEZY (Tarras) [You are welcome to join, Boney Kneezy, and if you send a postal note or stamps for 2s 6d a badge will be posted to you from this office.—DOT.] BEST LETTERS (JUNIOR SECTION (14 years and under). Dear Dot,—l am going to tell you about my brothers and sisters. Both my sisters write to your page, but they have not done so for a long time. My oldest sister is Gramophone Joan and my second sister is Just Paddy. One of my brothers is in Standard 11, and my other one has just started school We are having our holidays just now, and are sorry school is ended. We have a cat called Sandy. He is grey, and eats little chickens when he gets a chance. With lots of love to the page from GRANDMA'S LAZYBONES (Maheno). [Perhaps now that you are writing to the page, Grandma's Lazybones, your sisters will do so again. You must like school very much, but holidays are nice, too. It is a pity that Sandy eats chickens, and you will have to keep him away from them until he is cured of this habit —DOT.I ¥¥ . ¥ Dear Dot—Last Thursday night we went to the opening of our new Centennial Hall. The Mayor of Oamaru (Mr Familton) and Mr Rodman came to open the hall It. was a concert and dance, but we did not stay for the dance. The hall was not big enough to hold all the people, so they were looking in at the doors and windows. Well, we have four lambs at present, but won't have many until September. We have our fortnight's holiday now, but I do not know if I am going away. There has been beautiful weather here lately, except for a good shower of rain on Wednesday. Love to all the Little Folk and yourself. A SWEET DAPHNE FLOWER (Oamaru;. [The opening of the Centennial Hall, A Sweet Daphne Flower, must have been an interesting event, and I am glad it passed off so successfully. If you will read the paragraph headed "Overseas Correspondents" you will see what to.do in order to get in touch with a pen friend in some other country—DOT.] * * * Deal Dot,—l think my sister is going to join your happy band. I am always glad to see my letter printed in the Otago Daily Times. I fed wee Vera last night I love feeding her, and she takes the bottle always. I shall try to make up a poem for the page next time I write. It is a lovely day to-day. My sister and I are going to make a playhouse for our dolls. My sister calls hers Mary, and I call mine Betty. Dad was chaffcutting yesterday, and my sister, brother, and I had to take .down the afternoon tea. When we were down there, first we had a game of hide-and-seek. I After that we had a game of tig, but we got tired of that and began to jump on the chaff bags. Then we went home and had tea. and after a while the men came back. After tea we all did the dishes, and played cards till about 9 o'clock, and then we went to bed. This morning we went out rabbiting. Love to all the Little Folk, not forgetting yourself. LITTLE STAR FAIRY (Central Otago) [You have evidently enjoyed the holidays, Little Star Fairy, and you were fortunate to have had such fine weather. Did you get the dolls' playhouse finished? -DOT.] ¥ # * Dear Dot,—On Wednesday there is to be a fun fair. There are to be mystery parcels, and the children are going to dress up in fancy dresses". I have a sixpenny ticket for a free pass to the pictures for six months. The money raised is for the bomber plane. Next week we are going up to a friend's place, where there is a small pony which I hope to ride on With love from LITTLE WILLIE (Otautau) (1 am sure you would have a lovely time at the fair. Little Willie, and I hope that it resulted in a considerable sum of money being raised.—DOT.] ¥ # * Dear Dot,—The serial story was very interesting, and I am sorry it was not longer. At school on July 11 we planted a dozen birches for Arbor Day, and there were two pupils to each tree. Last year we planted a small oak tree, and we can almost see it growing, as it is quite a good size now. For our school concert next term I am practising the sailor's horn pipe dance, with three steps in it. each one being done twice. We are having our school holidays just now, but I am not going away. While I am at home I am going- to make myself a garden. I learn music now, and I like it very much For our break-up last term we went down to the beach and had a picnic, and played all sorts of games. BIG BLUE IRIS (Wanaka)

I You will find it very interesting to watch the growth of the trees you planted, Big Blue Iris, and I hope thev will do well. How are getting on with making vour garden? It was a good idea to do this during the holidays.—DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot,—l was pleased to see my first letter in the paper. I have a black bantam with brown round its neck. My auntie gave it to me. Thirteen children go to our school. Mv favourite sport is hockey We play football, hockey, and cricket at school Onr i= in the hosr>it*i: he got a piece of steel in his eye while at work. We hope he will soon be home, as we miss him. Love to all the Little Folk and yourself LITTLE DAISY (Livingstone) I You would be pleased to get the bantam. Little Daisy. Has it laid any eggs yet? I am sorry to hear about your father's accident, and hope he will soon recover and get home again.—DOT 1 ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot, —I have been very busy lately knitting' articles for the navy and the refugees, but owing to the holidavs I now- have more time to write. I have to wear glasses now. This is a delightful time of the year, isn't it? Little calves and lambs are frisking and frolicking hither and thither, and when we look around us we can see wonderful blooms of soring flowers, and green hillsides surrounding us Do you play basketball? I like it very much. I was in the team which won the competition between the eastern district teams I am in- Standard VI this vear, and I hope to pass. If I do, I shall attend the Palmerston District High' School the following year I belong «o *b- i':t W" "-OM"' 1 ' Co , -nri"nv if tbe Girl Guides Next week I shall be sitting for mv Child's Nurse badge Already I have mv t?nderfnot. second class and knitter's bad-?e We had to parade at church last Sunday In the summer we have great fun at Gu'de rallies, camps, and hikes You should see the queer meals some of us eat if we have cooked them ourselves I am ve-v fond of music, and I play the piano With best regards to a!', the Little Folk and yourself. KITTY CAT (Goodwood) [You seem to have a great many interests, Kitty Cat, and your time must be fully occupied. I hope to' hear about some of your experiences at the Guide camps and rallies.—DOT.l ¥ K ¥ Dear Dot, —1 was pleased to see my lirst lette-' in the oaner, and in answer to your question mv favourite books are fairy tales. My three sisters are home for the holidays." I am staying with a cousin just now. When I arrived here we made fi I'ttle "I'-vli'-us" My cous'n h<»s two big dolls called Margaret and Amelia. I like playing with Margaret best because she is bigger than Amelia. Margaret is dressed in oink, ?nd she has a pink knitted bonnet with a pink rose on each side, The dress is made of taffeta She has pink bootees to match the dress and bonnet The other doll is dressed in white knitted clothes. I shall tell you about the rest of my holidays next time. FAIRY FLUTE (Tuapeka Mouth). [Fairy tales are very delightful, Fairy Flute, and transport us to a magic world. Margaret must look very sweet in her pink dress and bonnet with bootees to match. I look forward to hearing about the remainder of your holiday—DOT.l * * * Dear Dot,—l am spending my holidays at my grandma's at Mosgiel, and I am having a very enjoyable time. To-day I went to the pictures with my friend, and it was a very nice picture. Grandma has three pets—a budgie and two canaries. The budgie can talk very nicely, and it is green in colour. It has its wing clipped in case it flies away when we take It BLUESKIN (Mosgiel).

[I am glad you have had such a nice holiday, Blueskin. You would be interested in your grandmother's pets, and the budgie, in particular, would keep you amused. —DOT.] ¥ * * Dear Dot, —1 am so sorry that 1 have not written sooner. Since I last wrote to you we have shifted, and I have another baby sister. I am 10 now. My father's birthday was on August 23. I am knitting a hat for the Red Cross just now. We live on a farm, and have about 30 cows, 200 sheep, 20 hens, two dogs, three horses, and a cat. Some afternoons we take the small children up the hill, and play races down it. We have a lot of flowers and bushes. With lots of love to Peach Dumpling, White Lily, The Mountains of Mourne, and yourself SILLY BILLY (Owaka Valley). [How pleased you would be, Silly Billy, to get a new baby sister 1 I hope she is doing well. You seem to like your new home, and you will be interested in all the different animals. Remember in future that you must not write on both sides of the paper.—DOT.] ¥ # * Dear Dot,—ln the holidays I have had my friend David over to play with me. We played hide-and-go-seek in the trees. We climb the trees in my place, too. BLACKIE My Blackie is so sweet, He-follows me along the street, When from school I come each day, He likes to welcome me and play,. And even sits and begs for meat. Love to all the Little Folk and yourself. MATCHBOX (Mosgiel). [I am sure you and David would have a splendid time in the holidays, Matchbox. It is fun climbing trees, but you will have to be careful not to fall. Thank you for the nice little poem. For a Little Folk of your age it is very good indeed.—DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot,—Yesterday the Guide Company went for a hike three miles away. We were all allowed to ask a friend, and if there was anybody staying at our homes to take them. There are 12 to 13 Guides in the company, and about 20 went for the hike. The captain boiled the billy, and we got the firewood, and so forth. About 2 o'clock we all went away up steep hills. After walking two or three miles we arrived at a waterfall. To get to it'we had to blimt through sci.ir and fern and also briar in parts. On the way back we had to go a different way, because there were a lot of rocks which were too steep to climb up Before getting back we had to cross a creek. Some of us fell in or got a wet foot. On arriving back we boiled the billy and had a game of rounders. After an exciting day we started off for home, and some of us went a different way. We went aloi.g the railway line and through a paddock. They tol.l us it was shorter, but we did not beat them. On arriving home, we were all very glad to have a rest. With kind regards to all the Little Fol not forgetting your own dear self. GOLDEN SUNSET (Lawrence). [What a lovely day's outing you must have had Golden Sunset. Thank you tor telling me about it.—DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot—i thought it was time 1 should write again. This week I am sending in a poem. I hope you like it We are having very nice weather just now. We just came home from our holiday last Saturday, and we enjoyed it very much The people over the road from where we were staying had been out whitebaiting, and they brought some over to grandma's. We came home in the train, and grandma came with us To-day I am going up to my Auntie Helen's farm to get some eggs On Monday we went up to town to see the tap dancing. My cousin was in it, but she did not win anything Here is the poem I made up:— The fields are full of daffodils. And blue the violets dear; The baby, birds are chirping, too, With voices sweet and clear. . Springtime fun has now begun, And we are in that, too; The crocus now is coming up AH in her robes of gold and blue, The lambs are frisking to and fro, And children all at play, I like the sunshine better than snow. I like it every day. With lots of love to the Little Folk and your own dear self, SONIA (Macandrew Bay). [1 am glad you had such a good holiday Sonia. Did you like the whitebait? You will be pleased to have your grandmother staying with you. Thank you for the poem, which I like very much. I hope you will try to write another one. —DOT.] ¥ * *•" Dear Dot,—Have you noticed how lovely the wattle trees are now? We have several in bloom at Warrington, and although they are growing a long way from our home we can smell their scent. Recently there' was a send-off to four of our local boys, which I went to. I suppose I was too young, but as my father! mother, and sister went I had to go too, as mother does not like leaving me alone at home. Are you going away for your holidays? I don't think I am. I enjoy staying at home, don't you? We have only a few birds left now, besides my sister's canary, as they die quickly in the cold weather. We have two talking budgies, but If they know you are listening to them they stop. Altogether we have six birds. Hove you any birds, Dot? With love to Winter's Rose, Blueskin, and all the Little Folk and your own dear self. NIMBLEKINS (Warrington). [The wattle trees are very beautiful at present, Nimblekins, but one does not see many of them in town. I am sure you will have enjoyed your holiday at home, as the weather has been so beautiful, and you live in such a pretty place. I have a blue talking budgie, and he is a great pet. You must remember in future to write on one side of the paper only, and it is better to use ordinary writing pad paper—DOT.l ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot,—We are having holidays now, and I am enjoying myself very much. Although I am staying at home, I have plenty of mates and have some good times. One day we went for a picnic over the hills. We followed a stream to the Kaltangata Lake. We also played " I spy with my little eye " and tackling. Then we had lunch, which, we enjoyed very much after a long walk. After coming halfway home we gathered about 400 toi-tols for arrows. One day I went to the pictures. The first was a Donald Duck one Next was a boxing one. The last was a detective story, which I liked best, with Jane Withers in it. It was funny when a train chased a car. Afterwards the car turned over. To-day we spent an enjoyable afternoon at the Benhar playground on the swings, slide, see-saws, merry-go-round, and ocean wave. Love to all. SIR ECHO (Benhar) [1 am glad to hear, Sir Echo, that you enjoyed the holidays so much. Certainly the weather was all that could be desired, and you would be able to take full advantage of the opportunities you had for picnics and games.—DOT.l ¥ * * Dear Dot,—Here I am again with you all, and as happy as can be. Last week, when I was at the mine, I found two rabbits' nests They each had five baby rabbits in them One of them has a small piece of white on the top of its head. There are 20 children at our school now. I send best wishes to all the Little Folk and vour own dear self. WHISKERS (Shag Point). I You would be very interested, Whiskers, in the two nests you found with baby rabbits in them. I wonder where the mothers were.—DOT.] ¥ * ¥ Dear Dot,—lt is holiday time, and 1 have visitors. My sister's name is Florence and my brother's name is Harold. My birthdav is in September. We have three cows and a calf. Harold has just been away for a holiday I am going into town on Wednesday. 1 have to get a new coat. We have a shop as well We have no boy just now, so Florence has to stay at home to work. SUNSHINE (Berwick). II hope you enjoyed your trip to town, Sunshine, and managed to get a coat to suit you.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot.—Here I am again after a month's spell. This time I want to tell you some more about the mine. The men who work down below have a small lamp to see with. It was invented by a miner, Frank Guy. and is called the Guy's dropper pit lamp. Down a mine they have levels to work A level is a piece which is cut out of the side. If a mine goes downhill it will most likely have water in it. The water drips through the roof and oozes out through the floor. The men have a pick to dig the coal and a big shovel to put it in the boxes, which are made of wood. They have a winch with a long wire rope to pull the coal out. After this is done the horse pulls it down to the place where it is screened. After that it is carted away on lorries to houses, where it is used for the fires. As there is no more, I will close, with love. DAD'S LASSIE (Shag Point). IThe coal mine must be an Interesting place. Dad's Lassie, and you have given a good account of the work that is done there.—DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot,—l was very pleased to be able to join your band. I forgot to tell you that my mother is an Old Writer. We are having our school holidays, and the weather is lovely. My two brothers are busy putting up the tent, and they are going to sleep in it. Our teacher is going away, and we are sorry, as she was

very good to us. 1 live very close to the Blue Mountains, and we often go there for picnics. There are lovely native birds there and plenty of fallow deer, but they are very timid. With kindest regards to yourself and al] the Little Folk. FAIRY SUNBEAM (Tapanui). [I am very interested to learn that your mother is an Old Writer. Fairy Sunbeam, and am glad that you are following the example she has set you. You are very fortunate to live in such a beautiful locality, and I hope you will tell me more about it.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot—How are you getting on? 1 have one doll, one teddy, and a dear wee celluloid doll. The teddy's name is Leslie, and the doll's name is Margaret. I call the celluloid one Jean. One Sunday morning we went to Cromwell in our car to see Molly's babies. Molly has two babies. One of the babies is called Peter and the other Eileen Elizabeth Bates. Eileen is four weeks old. SWEET ROSEBUD (Fruitlands). I You will be fond of your teddy and dolls, Sweet Rosebud, but I think you would find the live babies even more interesting.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot,—One day during the school holidays my mother and father took me to Dunedin to see the Museum. The first room we visited contained the stuffed skins of fish and different kinds of animals from the jungle. Hanging from the roof was a huge whale, and it stretched from one end of the room to the other. There was a very big sunfish there, too It was found in the Otago Harbour. On the second floor we saw snakes in little bottles, insects in bottles, and some things that belonged to the Maoris. At one end of the room there was a Maori meeting house. We /ent to a little slit in the wall and looked in It was very dark, so we turned on the light. It was very nice inside. After looking through that room we climbed back down the stairs and went away. The Museum is a very interesting place, isn't it? Kind regards to all. DANCING WATERS (Milton j. (Yes, the Museum is a very interesting place, Dancing Waters, and you have given a very good account of what you saw there. Which section of it did you like best?—DOT.] V * * Dear Dot,—Would you like to near about the district in which I live? Middlemarch is the chief township and is situated in the centre of the fertile Strath-Taieri Plain. Its inhabitants number about 400, and the township is about 600 feet above sea level and 52 miles from Dunedin by road. It is bordered by low hills on 'three sides, and on the west side is the Rock and Pillar Range, which is about 4800 feet high. The plain is a rich dairying and agricultural district. A great number of fat lambs is also sent out of the district each year. The township itself has three general stores, and a district high school, where about 128 pupils attend. Attached to the school is a dental clinic, and we also have baths a short distance away The homes are very scattered, so it is necessary to havetwo school buses. We have a passenger bus, too, going to Dunedin every day, which enables residents to go to town and home the same day. Last winter we were fortunate in getting the electricity into the district. The Strath-Taieri district is also noted for its healthy climate Kind regards to yourself and all youi members, not forgetting Pearly Chimes from GOLDEN BELL (Middlemarch). I You are fortunate, Golden Bell, to live in a place which possesses so many advantages, not the least of these being its open spaces and healthy climate. Your letter is very neatly and correctly written and well composed.—DOT.l * * * Dear Dot,—The holidays are coming to an end quickly, Dot, and we have only four more days before we go back to school. My youngest brother and I went up the hill about 13.30 this morning with morning tea for my father and two older brothers. I stayed with them all the time, arid led the horse for dad. I led him up a slippery hillside, and when bringing him back I was frightened he would fall over. I reached home just on 3 o'clock. We have one duck, which we are giving to a friend to take to "Paddy's Market" at Lowburn. near Cromwell. With kind regards from A QUEENSBERRY LASS (Central Otago). [Holidays, like all good things, pass very quickly, A Queensberry Lass, but you will have the Christmas ones to look forward to now.—DOT.]

Dear Dot,—l have for the last two weeks been staying with Mother's Chatterbox in Timaru. While I was there I visited the Women's Community Centre, which was built for a centennial memorial. It is a place for babies, and mothers can leave their children there while they go shopping. It contains cots, tables, and chairs for the children. There is a nurse in charge, and she feeds the ones that are not able to feed themselves. We went for a bicycle ride out in the country, eyeing all the beautiful sights along the roads. There are many beautiful new houses built in Timaru. Every day my cousin and I went' to town. My aunty has no water, and she cannot do her washing very often. My cousin has a budgie, and she is trying hard to make him talk. She has called him Peter, and every night she lets him out of his cage to fly about the kitchen. He climbs \ip our arms and on to our heads. Peter can say " Pretty boy" when ever he likes. He clings to the wire of his cage and catches his swing with his beak and swings it backwards and forwards. He imitates its squeaks. One day as Mother's Chatterbox vas playing the piano Peter perched on her shoulder, and as she played he nodded his head and chattered away, and when she stopped he put his head on one side and looked at her as though to say, " I want some more, please." We have some budgies at home, but they don't talk and are not as tame as Peter. After seeing Peter I am determined to get a young bird and tame it too. With lots of love to all the Little Folk. FLORADA (Oamaru). [You must have had an enjoyable and interesting holiday in Timaru, Florada. Budgies are fascinating little things, and when they can talk they are a great source of amusement. —DOT.] •V- •/• •¥ Dear Dot,--For the last few clays the weather down here has been excellent, and It was on one of those sunny days that I visited Jones's Bush with the Guides. We arrived at 10.30, and set about making a fire. Two girls fetched some water from a clear, rippling stream nearby, and we soon had a large billyful of stew cooking. ' Each girl had brought an orange with her. This was hollowed out, and in the skin we cooked some custard. We ate our dinner in a mossy dell, and when the dishes were cleared away we played games. A stout creeper hanging from a tall tree made a good swing. About mid-afternoon we made some jam rolls by rolling some dough around a green manuka stick and baking it over the embers. Here is a little triolet that I made up: A tree alone upon a hill. Its branches spreading wide To see would one with pleasure fill— A tree alone upon a hill. By rippling stream and busy mill, No one would dare its beauty hide— A tree alone upon a hill, Its branches spreading wide. 1 shall not be writing very often in Ihe future, as mother said that we should use as little paper as possible. Kind regards from MORRIE (Milton). [What an ideal place you chose for the picnic, Morrie, and how you must have enjoyed it! The methods used by the Guides in preparing a meal out of doors are very novel, and might well be adopted by others. Thank you for the pretty little poem.—DOT.] ¥ * ¥ Dear Dot, —i must thank you for u he book for painting the pictures of " Gulliver's Travels." I have a black and white cat, and I do not know what to call him. Could you give me a name for him? I shall close now, as paper is very short. MABSIE'S DAUGHTER (Berwick). [Call the cat Bimbo, Mabsie's Daughter. I have inserted your request for a correspondent in the Little Folk's Letter Box.—DOT. I * -v- .?• Dear Dot.—l have only one doll, and her name is Elizabeth. I have seen " Pinocchio," and I thought it was lovely. I also saw "Swiss Family Robinson." I went to Larnach's Castle with my sisters, and it was very interesting, but I was very tired when I arrived home. Love to you and the Little Folk. RATA BUD (Dunedin). ("Pinocchio" was a delightful picture, Rata Bud. and I am glad you saw it. It is a long walk to Larnach's Castle, and I do not wonder you were tired, but there is a great deal to see there.—DOT.) .y. .-/. -YDear Dot, —1 must tell you about my walk to Larnach's Castle, which took place three weeks ago. We followed a road up and came down through paddocks to Macandrew Bay. On arriving at the castle we looked round a bit, and went in and paid our entry fee, which is sixpence for children and one shilling for adults. The caretaker's wife showed us round the inside of the castle, which was all very interesting. When we came to the bathroom we saw the very bath Mr Larnach used. It weighed 20 hundredweight and was real marble. After leaving there we went up a little stone staircase, which led us out to a balcony, which was HOC feet above sea level. After looking through the castle we signed our names in a book at the door. We went outside and saw the pond and the wishing well and the gardens. We then left Larnach's

Castle. Mr Larnach's motto was " Without Fear," or " Two Wild Cats." I send my love to Barney, Miss Sunshine, H.M.S. Achilles, An Irish Colleen, Rata Bud, . Dinky, Pussy Willow Bough, and yourself. I RATA BLOSSOM (Dunedin). LYou would enjoy your visit to Larnach's Castle, Rata Blossom. It is a very interesting place, and the view from the balcony is superb.—DOT.] * * # Dear Dot,—l have not got any pets at all. We used to have two birds, but they both died. I shall be sorry when school takes up again. I did not go away for my holiday, but I am having a good time at home. I am sitting at a table next i to a girl who is writing to your page for the first time, and we have been thinking out a name for her. Love to all your Little Folk and yourself, DINKY (Dunedin). [Although holidays are very pleasant. Dinky, I think you would soon get tired of them if they lasted too long, and would be glad to get back to school.—DOT.] « * V Dear Dot,—My brother has gone back to school, so I have to milk the little cow. I get a shilling a week. I learn music, and have half an hour's practice every day. We are going to have a Sunday school concert soon, and I am to perform in it. SUNSHINE (Berwick). [1 hope the concert will be a success. Sunshine. What part are you taking in it ?—DOT.] * * # Dear Dot,—l am going to tell you about our sale of work. It was a great success and we took a little over £36. We had six competitions, a door prize, and mystery parcels. My dad won a swing in a competition, and he put it up on our lawn for me to swing on. Love to all from SCHOOLBOV (Oturehua) [I am glad your sale of work was so successful, Schoolboy. It was very nice for you that your father won the swingDOT.] * * * Dear Dot,—This time 1 am going to tell you about an unusual sight we saw the other night. Just after dark we were called to come and see what dad had discovered. On the bank of a small creek, where a few ferns grow, was quite a number of glow-worms. This was the first time I had ever seen any. They were still there the next night. With love to yourself and all the Little Folk, especially Little Black Sanna. SLEEPY HOLLOW PRINCESS (Wylie's Crossing). I You would feel thrilled, Sleepy Hollow Princess, when you got your first glimpse of the glow-worms.—DOT.] * -V- •* Dear Dot,—How are you? 1 only went back to school to-day. I had influenza during the holidays, and mother has been very ill, but is up to-day. When a friend was down on leave from Trentham he told us it was sad on mail days when some of the soldiers never got anything. Do you not think it would be lovely if some of the Little Folk were to write to those poor men and help to cheer them up? Mummy said any of the chaplains would send on a letter. When the children come out from England we hope to have one in our home. Daddy has built a small glasshouse for tomatoes. With kindest regards from LUCKY BIDDY (Dunedin). TI hope you and your mother are now quite well again, Lucky Biddy. It would be very nice if some of the Little Folk would write to lonely soldiers.— DOT.] NEW MEMBERS Dot extends a special welcome to the following Little Folk who have written to the page for the first time this week:— Hollyhock, Arlni, The Butterfly Girl, Valencia Raisin's Daughter, Buster Bill, Another Music Lover. Hiawatha's Chicken, Boney Kneezy. OLD WRITERS' NOTES Another very enjoyable social was held in Wilson Hall on Monday last and while the attendance was not quite as good as last month everyone present enjoyed the . evening immensely. It was suggested by committee members, subject to confirmation at next meeting, that another social be held on Monday, October 14. Old Writers are invited to attend the next monthly meeting of the association in the Daily Times Library on Monday, October 7, at 8 p.m. VALENCIA RAISIN (Mrs E. G. Holdem, Orakipaoa, Temuka R.D.) would like letters from any Old Writers. INDIAN CHIEF, hon. sec. 129 Forfar street, Clydehill, S.W.I. Phone 10-257. OVERSEAS CORRESPONDENTS Little Folk wishing to correspond with residents overseas should write to Miss M. A Vernon, c/o Dot, Otago Daily Times, Dunedin, enclosing stamped, addressed envelope for reply, and stating age hobbies, and requirements, and also in which country correspondents are desired.