LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 83

LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Motto :— We write for 'the benefit of others, not for ourselves. (JT"No letter to contain more than 450 words. Dear Dot, — Some time Baa passed since I last wrote to your page. Our school has started again, and the first day was a very pleasing one for us all, for we saw our old schoolmates once more. The farmers up here have not had a bountiful harvest, fcr^ it has been dreadfully hot, and there is a scarcity of water. Some people cannot get enough water for domestic uses, let alone irrigating, with it. I have still got my bodge, and am very fond of it. I had a very enjoyable Christmas and New Year. The iMolyneux River has very little water just now, end if this weather keeps on it might go dry. Locksley has not written to your page for a long time. I have two brothers in Duaedin. One of them is The Chargs "of the Light Brigade. I attend school regularly. I have three cows to milk and three miles to walk to school every morning. I spent my Christmas holidays in Roxburgh, whioh is a great fruit-growing place. I hope you had * merry time at Christmas. With love to Loeksley, Lord Roberts IX «n<3 Postcud, — Tours truly, H.M.S. DREADNOUGHT. Dear Dot,— Thank you for the badge. '. am having a grand holiday. lam staying at Orepuki just now, and we are having lovely -vtea.tb.er. I -was staying at Pab.ia ior » few weeks, and we had lovely weather there too. There are a lot of D.L.F. up here; I know Golden Curb, English Myrtle, May Bloseom, Santa Claus, and Tomtit. A lot of sawmills ha-ve been burnt down here. We went to the Pahia sohool picnic yester- > day, and there was a good few people 'at it. We are going to stay at Invercargill for a little while." My brother is going to stay at Fairfax for a week. We went down to Suahine » few weeks ago to see where the sawmill was burnt down, and we followed: tjie trolley line up a good bit to where the hawler was,, and we then went homo. — Yours truly, JACK HORNETI Dear Dot, — We, axe having lovely weaMiar down here just now, and -nearly all the farmers have started to cutHheir crops. The L.P. down here are thinking of having a picnic, but they always put it off. I think the beat thing to do would be fto put a notice in iiut L.P. column. I did not go away for Christmas holidays, as I could not get, but went away after New Year. " I went as far as Edendale, and while there I spent a most enjoyable time. On my way down I met Texas Jack, but I did not get a chance to speak to him, as the train only stopped a Cew minutes. I met a -few of the Edendale L.F., and I can tell you I had a long enough chat with thfcm. Eden-dale' is a. farming place, and it has a very large cheese factory, containing 11 vats. On© day I hacl a tide down to Wyndham, which is about four miles from Edendale. Wyndham is only a small place, but it has some nice buildings. I did not see any L.F. down there, but 1 , don't suppose I was long enough there. — Yours truly, . - USELESS. Dear Dot, — J£hi3 19 my first letter to your page, and I hope you will have me as one of tout D.L.F. lam 12 years old, and am' in the Fifth Standard. We had six weeks holiday from school, and I enjoyed myself very much. We went down to the beach one day, *nd had grand times.- It was windy, and there were great big waves. We -went into the bush in the afternoon, and got some supplejacks and ferns. . There were mom» lovely big ferns, growing in among the trees. When we were coming -home in the. ' train at night we were -waving oujg,. sticks or supplejacks. I lost one of mine before I left the beach. I Sieve) read such «," lot of nice letters in the Witness, and find, them very interesting. We bave a lot of pears, apples, and plums this year, and some of' them are "ripe. Some of the cows we are milking are beginning to dry off. We have 21' horses, and such" a Jot vi sheep.— Youra truly, f MOCK ORANGE 11. [There is already one Mock Orange writing to the page, so I have had to put "II" after your name, but I do not think you will mind* that: I hope to hear from you again.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— l suppose the &F. will think t have forgotten the page altogether; I am going to try and write a little oftener than I have been doing. It is raining here just now, but I hope it will clear up by the inorning. I have had a good talk to Stan, Octava, and Areta. Stan and I are working in the same' place, and we have grand times when business is slack talking about the L.F. Page. They all seem) to like this pretty place, but I don't see anything 1 interesting About it. I suppose it is because I have Jjeen living here so long — I have, .been here tar 12 years. I met an L.F-r about a week «co and he was such, a nice fellow; his norn &c plume is Phyllis Dare. My brother Snet him on the launch one morning when he jras going down to the Falls. I was speaksng to Tenor Horn the other night for a ■while, and we had a grand' time together xound on the: breakwater* I go in for a kmim. nearly every night after work, and have % good splash, which does you no h*rm>. I Sot glad to see you *re getting one or two «fao«> new writers from this pretty little place. •WaJcatipu Boy h away withr the launch tofcigut, and won't be. back till the morning. Slot of the boys and girls about here ask me what is .the good of being a« L.P. Well, Itbink there is a lot of pleasure in it, and fosXdes, when, you- go 4o* sprang* place, Where you don't knotf a soul, if you are an §i.y. you can get a badge and wear it, and Won have the chance of coming across plenty IM .- L.F. When I was away I went to the {Taombury show, and I saw an L.F. there. If apofce to him, and he would not answer &*, so I never spoke to any more. I met

Lord Wolseley while 1 was in Invercargill, and he asked me to go to the Literary and Debating Society's meeting, but I forgot all about it when the time- came, and I was very sorry afterwards that I did not go. I collect stamps, and I have about GOO different kinds. If there are any L.F. who collect stamps, I would very much like to exchange some with them. I must come to a close now, as it is getting late. My address is: " Bobbie Desi, care of Post Office, Queenstown." — Yours truly, BOBBIE DEAR. Dear Dot, — It Is a good while since I wrote my" last letter to you, so' I thought I would write and tell you about our holidays. First we had our school bTeak-up before Christmas. We eaoh got a prize of a nice book ; the name of mine being Silver Chimes, and it is very interesting. My brother got , one called " The Adventures of Roley," which | is also a nice book. The Sunday school 1 break-up took place the Sunday before Christmas. There were a good many ipeople gathered together in the church. The children sang some nice hymns and anthems, and after a few speeches we got holidays for a month. The first part of my holidays was spent at home, with some of my cousins, and we had splendid sport boating in th© lake, wading, bathing, and amusing ourselves in lots of different ways. One week of my ■holidays was spent at my aunt's, ot M. I told mother when I came home that I had bsen working. She told me I had succeeded in dirtying all my clothes, which I thought was a sure sign of work, because nobody can work and keep themselves* perfectly clean. The two last weeks of my holidays were spent at Puerua and Poit Molyneux. The day grandma and I set for going it was_ a w-et morning, and it gradually got worse till the | rain came down in torrents. We had a six-mile drive, and after we reached our destination we had not many dry spots on us. I think our coats were wet for a few days afterwards. We stayed at Puerua, and then went to Port Molyneux, where we were treated with every kindness. We met a number of nice people, whom I -will never forget, because they helped to make our holiday more enjoyable. I had a bathe in the sea, and thought it grand. It was a. nice sight seeing the* fishing boats come in with their loads of fish. The fishermen clean the fish and pot them in barrels, packing them with fern to keep them fresh and cool. Qnt) day a lady and I walked to the lighthouse and had a look round. So ended! my pleasant holidays for this year. Now school has started again, and we will 'have a fe-ir months' bard work. My love to Blue Rocket and Fairy Glen.— Yours truly, OLIVE ROSE. Dear Dot,— l said I would write after the holidays. I had -a. grand time. I was once at St. Kilda,' St. Clair, and the Gardens. It was lovely at the beach, and there were such a lot of people there. My two little cousins fell into the water not long after we got there, and the little girl was miserable and cold for the rest of the day. I was at Port Chalmers for ft week, and I went ; out to the Heads in a steamer oalled the Lady Roberts. It wa3 a Saturday, and the Navals were firing off large guns at a- target -that the steamer had fastened on. a good! way behind the ship. When the cannon went off it made a terrific noise, and shook the ground ; the blaze seemed right in our faces, and the smoke was terrible. We were only about 20ft away from the guns, and it was more than we could stand, so we moved farther up the hill. There are such a lot of red cod at Port. I have a baby brother since I wrote to you last, Dot; we call him Leslie. My little" sieter will not let .him sleep, and. she gets in beside him first thing in the morning. One day she t>ut him to sleep, and she was quite proud of herself. — Yours truly, BLUE Dear Dot. — What hot weather we are having just now ! It is -just the right kind of weather for harvesting! We have one paddock of oats led in. Our school picnic was last Friday. Although it was -a showery kind of day we enjoyed ourselves all the same. I saw a few L.F. at the picnic. One of my mates'camte home with me, and stayed ! for a few days, and I got him persuaded to write to you; his norn de plume is Little j Mack. I stayed at my brother's in Waikouaiti for a few days during my holidays. I went to a picnic at Waikouaiti Beach, and; . saw a penguin, and some of us boys chased, it for a while, and in the end we caught it; but a man told us to leave it alone, so we let it go, and it went into the rocks. falso went to a.' J play one night, and enjoyed it very much. I saw Another Primrose's letter in the Witness a week or so ago ; she said she was staying up at Flag Swamp. I saw her a few times, but did not know then that she was » D.L."F. lam back at school again. The school garden is looking very dry, and is overgrown with weeds, after our long absence from school. We have a parrot which is a very good talker. We milk 30 cows, and I milk when I am not at school. When I am at school I carry the mail for eight different people. I was -thinning turnips during the holidays— Yours truly, ' JVI A -L. [I hope you were not cruel to the penguin. Mat. They are clumsy birdaj and can't get along -very fast, and this one was probably very much afraid of you, poor thing! I am glad to heair that you desisted at once from chasing il when you were asked to.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— How long ago it is since I wrote these two words. I cannot accurately tell you, but I am sure it is well on. for ' two years. When I start my letter I generally think of a lot of news to give you, but it generally flees from my memory ere I write a few lines. The last time I wrote to you I asked you if I might write to you something about the country, and in your" footnote you kindly gave me permission to do so. I will therefore try to give you a description ox the country I live in. The birds are the things I take the greatest > interest in. The dotterels are my favourite birds. They make their homes here during 1 the summer months. They are dove-coloured ; in plumage, except for a brownish red patch 1 on the breast. This is more conspicuous on 1 the mole bird than on the female. They lay : on the most stony ground to be had. Their 1 eggs are the colour of the stones, with dark 1 brown spots, and it is very hard to dis- ! tinguish them from the stones. The young • are very much the same colour as the eggs, i I cannot say exactly how long the mother bird : sits, but I fancy it is for about a fortnight. . The other birds — hawks, seagulls, and shags — > I am not well enougn ' acquainted with to ! give you an account of their habits; and, of i course, Me Spairow ia well known to every- .- one. . The wild flowers that bloom up here • are not very pretty, but we have what I , ' think is one of the most beautiful of New • Zealand's wild flowers— the good old flax bush. , There are up miUa'here, so consequently the flax nas not been, touched. It ia beautiful \ to Jjee it out in flower. It ia sometimes like l a blaze of ftre; perhaps, dear Dot, you have i seen it out in flower. We have on© or; two - kowhai trees in our ground. Always at the 1 country farmyard there are the pets. Perhaps if you visited my home you would ■ run *oross a pet lamb, or maybe a pet calf. ■, The la-mb and the calf, I may. here say, are

great mates, ' and very seldom apart. There c are also the hens and chicks, ducks and duck- s lings at this time of the year. The hawks v very often carry off one or two of -the little 1 ducks. My letter is not as interesting as s I would have liked it to be, but perhaps the s next one will be better. — Yours truly, t ANICE. r Dear Dot, — We started school again last l Monday. We had grand fun in our holi- | days. We hung up our stockings at Christ- j mas, and Santa Claus brought me a nice 1 workbasket. I was glad he brought that, 1 because I like sewing. We have a dear f little kitten, but we cannot find a nice name 1 for it. We have some chickens too. — Yours 3 tiuly, CLAREMONT. 1 Dear Dot, — Santa Claus brought me a nice * book at Christmas; it is called "For Queen 1 and Empire," and it is all about the Boer c War. lam very fond of reading. I have four nice little puppies. I still go out rab- ( biting. I was at a. conc-ert in my holidays; 1 it was a very good one. — Yours truly, ] KAKAHU. ] [Have you read your book yet, Kakahu? I "* And has it any pictures in jjt? — DOT.3 "" • > Dear Dot, — Since I wrote my last letter 7 to you the members of our camp have been \ reduced to the small number of three, «jut of the nine that T previously mentioned. Of , the remaining three, Scots Grey and niyßelf , are members, the other being a non-believer in D.L.F. affairs, who has defied all our : efforts to convert him. We expect to finish j our job, at the Romahapa School in a few ; days, and as a consequence much speculation • has been made as to our destination; but as yet we have arrived at no definite conclu- ] sion, though one at least hopes that it will '■ be to town. Altogether we have had a i very good»time at Romahapa, and have -made the acquaintance of quite a number of D.L.F. ; Last Tuesday we spent a very pleasant evening with Bush Roamer and her people. This ■ morning being Sunday, a great discussion took place as to who was to get up to make the breakfast. After a long and heated debate, during which both -sides thought they had the best of it, my fasting abilities gave ■ way, and I got up. However, revenge is sweet, , and- the bacon was cooked to a cinder. During breakfast I came to the conclusion that a- cook must have a skin as thick as the rind on the bacon to sustain the comments made upon his work. With kindest regards to Texas Jack, — Yours truly, RED WING. Dear Dot, — Welcome r«in fell to-day, but it was not welcomed by me. I was coming from Kawarau Fa lie, and was caught in it and drenched through. I heard that Gipsy Queen is trying- to get "the Queenstown. D.L.F. together and take a photo of them. I proposed to WaJnatipu Boy and New bury to try and get up a D.L.F. picnic. I think we - shall succeed, because there are a large ; number of badges about Queenstown just now. Bobbie Dear has broken his badge, and he and I are sending for another each. I ' hope Gipsy Queen will photograph us soon. Newbury and I went to Ben Lomond one night, but when the moon got up we found that instead of being at the top we -were still near ' the bottom. We were so disgusted with ourselves that we set to work and did a stiff bit of climbing. But before we got half-way I got knocked up, and he had to put me to bed under a tussock. I must have slept for three hours, and when I woke I got a terrible scare; the moon had gone down, and it was pitch dark. I made my way -to the hut, ana to" my surprise here was Newbury sitting at the fir© having breakfast. ■ I was so hungry, that I ate everything they had. — Yours truly, TENOR HORN. Dear Dot,— lt is a long time since I last wrote to you. lam at home now. We have not been getting the Witness for some time, and I have not been able to ccc how the D.L.F. have been getting on. I must tell you of a picnic I was at called the Factory Picnic. It was held at Warrington. We had a splendid trip up; we left Milton at 20 minutes to 8 and arrived at 20 minutes to 11, the band playing most of the way. We had lunch, and went around about the beach for a look round. It was a lovely day. and I think everyone enjoyed it. We had great fun coming home in the train. We 1 reached Milton at 9 o'clock, at night, and I had a- wallr of four miles to go home. But I did not mind: next day being Sunday, I had not to get up so early- I saw a letter in the Witness from Ethel lately; I think I know who you are— are your initials M. B. ? and do you li\ r e in the district of A.? If you do, I know you. .We are having very dry weather lately, which ia not pleasing the farmers, as rain is needed badly. With love from Elm Alt, Olive Rose, Diamond Dick, and Ethel, and the l-est of the little folk,— Yours truly, FAIRY GLEN. Dear Dot,— Here we are again — just when we were least expected, I suppose. Well, we have, been trying to ride a bicycle lately, and are getting into the way of it a bit; but one of us ha-s a nose tha'fc looks as if it was made for a much larger face— the result of running into a- telegraph post and j preferring- to sit on the ground. The latter is much safer, no doubt. We can ride a ' horse which is very quiet; it only crawls, . however, and we have a good mind to try and push it faster. We live in a very j pretty place, quite close to a little township. , There is bush a few miles away, and it is very pleasant to have picnics in it this hot weather. Our ponies are getting on fine, and we go out for rides. We generally work in the morning in the house, but as there are no little ones we have not very much to do. There are a great many fires just ( now ; I hope the bush near ua does not catch fire, aa it is er> pretty and makes the small township look pretty too from here. We and some other girls went for a picnic into the bush, one day. We from home, at about 9 o'clock. and got into the wood in about half an hour. After having lunch we went to a big hill covered with shrubs and trees and rocks, and began to climb to the top. When we got | about half way up one of the party missed her footing and slipped, rolling down the hill. Another went to stop her from going to the bottom, when ahe too slipped, and went after the first one, T^ho fortunately drew up on a ledge in time to stop the second Jill. After this -we went on to the top without mishap, where we found the Terr«in3 of a fire smouldering — evidently where someone had taken picnic lunch. At the sight Jbf smoke o» top of this hill -a nervous girl 'who wag , net very old cried out, "A volcano I A vol- , eft-no! Run for your lives!" and off down j the hiH she started, leaving us a^ the top I shaking with laughter. The reet of us went j down the hill, but could' not; see our little mate anywhere, so we parted in twos to look in different directions for her. Presently we heard shouts of laughter and a yoic* calling, ''Here she is I" We hurried off 1 as nar4 as our legs could carry us for the 1 «potj where a. eight met our eyes which would. 1 ha-ve sent you into fits of laughter. She was in under a rook with all the eatables , that we brought with us all round her. j When asked about it, she saidi that she Ltaought she would not starve when the ashes 4

;ame down from the volcano. Besides this, 3he said many funny things, but what made as laugh most of all was that she had got tier face so black with scrambling past burnt 3crub. When we explained things to her 3he too enjoyed the joke. As we were very tired, we ate some lunch in the shade of the cock, and then went home, talking and laughing together. — Yours truly, TWO MISCHIEFS. Dear Dot, — I hare not written to you for a long time now. We are living in a fiverocmed house just now. We are milking four cows. I am in the Fourth Standard. I Have about two miles to go to school. I went to town on Christmas Day, and I had some fine fun riding on^rjoy bicycle and in the tram cars. My father is working on the railway, and he comes home for his dinner.— Yours truly, SWAMP HEN. Dear Dot, — Christmas has come and gone, and I hope you and all ihe D.L.F. spent a happy one. It would have been very quiet here if it had not been for the Ashburton Pipe Band making a stay during Christmas week. Their visit will be long remembered, as they made themselves- very sociable, and quite at home with everybody. I will tell you now how I spent my Christmas holidays. On Boxing Day I went to the sports* at Wekefield. The sports were not very interesting, but the travelling in the train was better. Wakefield is a- little farming plac© 17 miles op tfcrantry. Every place you pass through presents the same aspect — hills at the back, and the farms on. the plains below. On the Saturday night during Christmas week I went to a concert given by the. Ashburton Pipe Band, -which was very good. On New Year's Day an excursion boat ran to Motueka. I was going to Mo~ tueka, but was disappointed to find in the morning of the day mentioned a very rough sea and the wind blowing hard. So, being a bad sailor, I put off my trip, /and went to the sports in Trafalgar Park, where a very enjoyable afternoon was spent. We are havink very dry weather here — not a rdap j of rain, since Chrißtmas Day. The fruit is very scarce, and never grew to any decent size. The bush fires have done a lot of damage, and are still raging. One of our local townsmen has lost two sawmills already. A very distressing accident happened on the Tadmor railway on Anniversary Day. While the train* was passing the Appleby crossing it ran into the Motueka coach, and killed a young woman and injured the driver and two other passengers. Why the Oriver Aid. ru>t »c« -the trmin coming no one knows. The time-table had been changed on account of the holiday, and the coach-driver saya he did not know. I suppose he never expected the train at thai moment, and therefore the accident happened.— Youra truly, MELO. Dear Dot,— This is the first letter I have •written to you, and I hope it will arrive eafely at your office and appear in print, because if it does not I shajl be too frightened to write (another one. One of my sisters writes to you; she vs the youngest. Our orchard is looking beautiful ; some of the apples are ready for eating, and we girls go and sit under the trees ou Sunday and eat apples all th eafternoon. The crops are getting ripe very quickly now, and some folk have a lot of theirs out and stooked. I have just come from lying under an apple tree, the apples of which are ripe; and my sisters and I were wishing the wind would blow so that, we could get some nice apples to eat off the tree we were undeT. , What has become of Tartan? I have not seen a letter, from him (or her) for a long iim#. I like his letters very much, especially when they are written in Scotch. I have an autograph book, and I bave a good lot of au'tos in it. I have also a birthday book of Burns. I got both books on my birthday; the fdrmer I got on my fifteenth and' the latter on my -sixteenth birthday. lam still 16 years of age. Pretty old to start and write letters-to you, is it not? But "better late than never." — Yours truly, RUBY PRIMROSE. [It is not at all too old to start writing letters to me, Ruby Primrose; you wiU have over three years still to write, and I hope you will" make good use of them. — DOT.] . Dear Dot, — We are having good weather down here just now. All our picnics' and sports_ are now over. lam in the Third Standard, and am nine years old. v We are milking three cows-, but we expect two more in soon. We have half a mile to go to school. I know s good few L.F. about here now.— Yours truly, SUNBEAM 111. ; Dear Dot, — As several of my correspondents I have asked me to write the story of my trip in the Hinemoa, to the southern islands I will do my best, as far as memory goes. It was my intention from the first to give an account of it, but unfortunately I lost my book in which I had everything written. Well, ' as it is rather a lengthy account, I shall not linger. On November 3, 1907, I/joined the Hinemoa as steward, signing on for a month's I cruise. On November 4, at 9 a.m., we departed from: Bluff with « full list of passengers.- Our first stop was at Pegasus 'Bay, Stewart Island. Arriving there at 2 p.m. the anchor was dropped, and we remained there 1 for' five hours-. A party went ashore in search of curios, and many curious objects were found. At 5 p.m. all returned on i board for dinner, as we .were, leaving at 7 p.m., and the captain (who, I might mention, is very popular) thought he would give them a chance to digest it. Punctually at 7 p.m. i the anchor was weighed, and the good ship was headed to sea. At 6 the next morning the Snares were sighted, and at 7 a.m. we were lying snugly in calm water. All the passengers went ashore in search of curios. The captain in the meantime visited the depot for castaways, and finding everything in its place, joined the party also. At 1 p.m. all were on board for lunch, but very few came down, owing to seasickness. At 2 p.m. anchor was weighed, and we steamed away to the Auckland Island-*, where we arrived at 8 a.m. next day. On nearing the land someone said: "I would not mind betting we will pick up a shipwreck this trip." Nor w.as he wrong, for a few momenta after the depot came ia sight, and we saw signs of habitation. One of the passengers remarked : " Oh, there must be some ship at anchor; look at the men on the beach." But we knew better. They had erected a flagstaff (the photo of which, was in the Witness not long ago), andi from it a flag «t half-mast was floating. Cheer after cheer was given, but the castaways could hardly cheer for gladness at being saved. We all waited in suspense to hear what terrible fate had befallen them. Wa had! not long to wait, lor the captain had been pujled ashore, and was back, again in good tyne. You already know the story of the fate ot. the sailing ship Dundonald. I need not tell that again. The second and. third mate and two A.B.s came off in the depot boat. They were poorly claa ana very thm, but they talked in high spirits. The captain, having seen to their wants, took leave of them! for a week until we had visited the other island. The poor chaps got very downhearted! at our leaving them, bi\t the captain assured them of our speedy return. Leaving Port Ross at 11 a.m., we steamed) to { Carnley Harbour, wher* we arrived at 2

p.m. the same day. After landing a parly we departed for the Campbell Islands at 6 p.m. At 6 o'clock next morning the Campbells were sighted, the anchor being dropped at 8 a.m. Landing ihe other pasaengeis, we lay at anchor until 7 a.m. the next day, when: we departed for the Antipodes and Bounties. I might say during the trip from the Bluff until we reached the Campbells- we had! lovely weather, but no sooner did we leave the Campbells than rough weather set in until we returned to the Campbells at 8 a.nr. two daya after. We larrived «t the Antipodes at 11 a.m. All the sailors were sent) ashore to catch parrots for the passengers 1 , and 21 in all w&re caught. We lay afl anchor all night and all the next day, until 5 p.m., when we departed for the Bounties', which jye reached at 6 a.m. the next day; I After seeing that the depot was intact we started on the homeward- journey. Not until after three days' hard steaming against boisterous weather did we reach the Campbell Island. Ticking up all the party and taking a- supply of sheep, we pushed on to th« Auckland's. At 8 a-.ni. we arrived in Carnlej} Harbour; as the other passengers were eager: to get on board, we were not long there. Ouit next place was Camp Cove (this is the depot? where the French crew of the wrecked ship Anjou were picked up some years back]. Ab 2 p.m. we dropped' anchor for the nighti, At 7 a.m. a start was made for Port Ross, which was reached at 10 a.m. There we 'a? at anchor until the next morning, when th* second mate camie off to pilot us to wheref the ship was lost. . We steamed up' and down, but no signs of her could 'be seen. While we wer« steaming ug and down," sailors went* ashore and dug up 'the mate's body, whioh we conveyed to the cemetery at Port Boss*. Everybody went to the funeral, which waa *« very pathetic sight. After the service was over, all returned to the ship. The castaways came on board early next morning, so we steamed direct to the Bluff, where w* arrived at 3 p.m. on November SO, 1907. This trip will be a memorable event to those oru the Hinemoa, never to be forgotten. As this ends my account, I will not venture to say any more, but will close with love tq all.— Yours truly, N KIA ORA. [I am glad you wrote and sent us your account of the trip. Kia Ora. Even though^ we have read other accounts in the papers, yours h«s an , additional personal interest for us, and many D.L.F., I feel sure, will b« grateful to you for writing it.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — I have never written to yoti before, but I Lin ofton r-e.d the JL..F. letters, and I thought I would like to become on« of youi L.F. I know a good few D.L.P^ about here. 3>o you like poultry, Dot ft Mother had a few hens sitting on eggs, and] when it was neaily time ior the chicks to coma out the mischievous little pup ate the egg* Wasnt that bad luqk, Dot? I have a cat witk two kittens. Do you like pot plants^ Dot? I hay« a little geranium in a- pot. I have a brother who plays the bagpipes* They do make a row when they are inside, but they are nice when played outside. B think I shall close now by giving the L.F«. a riddle: "What is it that you don't want; but wouldn't give it away for all the world Vt With love to Estrella and Buttercups andl Daisies,— Yours truly, a - . THE MAORI GIRL, f [Henceforth vpu irill bo »bl« to conride* yourself one of us, dear; you are fully ad* j mitted -now to our membership. lam vex* . fond of pot plants, Maori Girl,' and »m glaJ to hear that you like them too. I» youa geranium in the house, or on a windowsill» or altogether outside ?— DOT.] j Dear Dot, — Since I wrote to you last th© name of our district has been changed from! Sandstone to Kaweku. I think Kaweku ia a prettier name than Sandstone, don't you, Dot?., Our school has been opened three weeks. I came home from Garston the Friday before it opened. We had four week* holiday, and I enjoyed my holidays verjj much. I had two mates at Garston- wita me. We had fine times. There wa» *" hill beside the house, and we went up iff every morning before breakfast. .Harvest i» here again, and the rf ariners are at work cut;-< ting their crops\and thinning their turnip*. I . have to go with -. our men's lunch every) day after school. I like going to school;; we get out at half-past 3 or a quarter to 4. — Yours truly, SANDSTONE. [It must be confusing to have the name o< one's district .changed, Sandstone; do youf still feel tempted to write "Sandstone" aft the head of your' letters? But, as a rule, thel Maori names are prettier than English) names, and it seems only right we should} keep them.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— lt is some considerable tim«j since 1 penned those two words to the D.L.Fi Page. I had intended for some time paso to write you a few lines, but I never got an», farther than "Dear Dot. 1 ' However, as all' the excitement of the. holidays is now over,' I'll try this time toy "score a try." Christ-? mas ana New Year have come and gone, andT the year 1906 is now upon us. Oh, dear/j how the years do fly pastl I'll be ol<* before I know- where I am- The weathetf, the last month, or so ha» been oppressively hot. .Tourists still continue to flock to ouifc little town. The weather being good, the*; hive 'a good chance of viewing our beautiful!; mountain scenery. The Queenstown , Bras*, Band plays twice weekly. Tenor Horn andT I are members.' ' When we two get together^ we have some ringing timed. Tenor HoraT reckons he is a good singer, but he can't aeo my top Q sharp. I favoured him with on« the other day, but it scared th* old Tenor* and by the time he had recovered from, bia surprise he found that I was down to / fla« agam.-yo,urs truly, NEWBURY. . Dear Dot, — t have returned after rathes a. short absence this time, and if you do notf wish to be troubled by a certain L.F. toot often you should uot insert kind, enoourag-' ing footnotes to her letters. For lack of anything more interesting to write about.' I will tell you of rather a pleasant auoS profitable day a number of us spent s"mei time ago. The appointed day turned outf bright and sunny, and we started! rather ear)y£ as we intended travelling a good many miles' up among the hills, for the purpose of pirk4 ing gooseberries As out hoise- was extremely ulow, I took some reading with, mej and that engaged my attention during the journey. The day was very hot, and omfngi those dry barren hills we had no shelter ( from the intense heat of the sun. Hud you;, been there, Dot, perhaps you would • Save been struck b jthe contrast between thosw hills and the beautiful bush-clad ones of Dunedin. W« aame upon #_neat little coW tag© with, green trees and vegetation about* it, giving it a pretty restfur appearance amidr its rough surroundings. Leaving our horßej and trap here, we made our way farther utt the gully. A clear little brook flowed at thai foot, and both,' sides were almost cohered! with, gooseberries. We were pleased to, »e«f some friends already there for th« • sam«i purpose as ourselves, so we could ,comb;n4 work -with pleasure by* chatting pleasantly while we picked. After having lunoh w«j set \o work, and picking gooseberries is no! a veijy pleasant occupation, for ttie bushes are sa well guarded with prickles that one^t clothes .and: hands axe. not improved throws

being among them. The best berries seemed to be the most difficult to reach, and we had to olimb steep hillsides, over rough rocks and stones, to gather them. In one place, in order to reach some fine large ones, several of us had to struggle through very prickly intervening bushes, but we -were fully rewarded for our trouble. After Home time had elapsed, we again boiled the billy, and gathering all the berries we required, prepared to raturn. The heat of the day was over, and a lovely calm summer's evening rendered our return journey a pleasant one. We are having very dry, hot weather up here now, and the hills have a brown, burnt-up appearance. A little rain fell last night, but the shower was too slight to have much effect on the extreme drynesa of the earth. It is by no means a sultry heat -we are having, and in the clear blue eky there seems to be no sign of the much-longed-for rain. The dryness of the season is becoming a serious matter for the farmers, and there seems to be a general lack of water. What a nice group was in the Witness, Dot; it jus-t needed yourself to complete it — don't you think that would have rendered it more attractive for us? I must now conclude, as I wish to have this letter posted to-night, and we cannot always post our mail here at a moment's notice. Love to all. — Yours

[In spite of your warning — or perhaps because of it — I must just add a footnote to this letter to say that Leila is always welcome. The gooseberry picnic must have been delightful, and less staining for your fingers than the blackberry picnics which are the delight of young people in England. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I have just seen, a letter of mine in print. There wias ' one I wrote before that one, Dot (during 0.W.W.); have you lost it? as it is not published yet. I have been waiting for it; I wrote it quite a long time ago. I think lam going back to Pukeuri some time this week; I shall be sorry. lam writing this letter on a beautiful spot up the hill, under a tree. I have a story too, called " Vaiti of the Islands." It it a good adventurous tale. It is so lovely up where I am Btaying — nothing but hills7-forestß, and wild stags. We have all the hills and range? to ourselves, with no bothering neighbours. My writing is. none of the best, as I am writing with my block or my knees. Can you ride much, Dot? I love it. My horse at Pukeuri won't get much to do while I am away! The other day my brother-in-law and I got two horses, and rode away to a place oalled "Birohwood" for some sheep. We had to take a big mob up and bring a bigger mob down home. The day was very hot, and the dogs had a lazy fit, for they didn't work ac they might have done. It was getting late in the afternoon when we got the sheep up to their destination, and there were a lot of other sheep on the road which we didn't want our sheep to get mixed up with. I had to gallop on in front at every turn to clear the road for our sheep, and my horse was soon sweating. When wo got ready to come with the other mob, the darkness was coming on thick and fast. We had not gone far when we came up with one of the men on horseback with a. lot ,more> dogs, which was lucky, as it -was a tremendous mob, and they were tryingtoclear out the whole - way down the trade ; ' we were always clearing after them. It was pitch dark when we got a few steps further, and one old ram fell lame, and would keep stopping; we had to keep it on the road, or it could not walk at all. I was sorry I had -not brought * thicker blouse, as the night was intensely cold, and my brother-in-law, who- didn't bring his coat, was even colder than I, as I am »a hardy ag a chamois ' deer, and well used to being out riding on cold nights. Of course, he is hardy .too, but he had a thin shirt on. The dust wag so thick that you couldn't see your hand in front of you. At last we got to the woolshed, and after, getting the sheep in we whisked away home. I wasn't very cold, but my eyes ' were bloodshot with the hard wind, although I had leant well over my horse's neck to protect them. We let our horses go outside j the paddock, and carried' the saddles home. I was frightfully hungry for my supper. I had been hinting all the way home that I intended eating one of the rabbits hanging to my saddle, skin and all. Yesterday I Had a good long walk to catch a horse. I carried a sack and a bridle, though, and rode home. I am afraid they are having drought, down country, as it is fairly dry even here, *nd we never have drought or very dry weather up here; it is too high up in the snow-clad mountains. I slept all day in the bush last Sunday. - The other day we took John Bull, Esq. (the ferret) out rabbiting,- bat he was so fat and lazy that he would not work, so we had to simply toddle him home again. Two of the young ferrets have ' disappeared from the cage; we can only answer for their disappearance by coming to the conclusion that they died, and Mrs John (their mother) ate them. We might go picnicking to-morrow on horses. The i other day I was after sheep on horseback, j and I had a great tug-of-war to get a sheep out of a bog. — Yours truly, i THE FLOWER OF DUNBLANE, j P.S.— The answer io the riddle, "What Australian city is like a stale egg?" is "Adelaide" (addle laid). I think I am' going to write a book soon; I suppose I ought to ! , -write to the D.L.F. Magazine foi a start, j What price are they. Dot? [You must have failed to see the notice, Jessie, that ordinary letters arriving in O.W.W. are not published. This notice appeared several times, so as to give D.L.F. sufficient warning not to write at that time. Your letter must have been one of those destroyed. I think it would be as well to practise writing to magazines before you begin on a book. You might find the length of the book discouraging, and you are very 1 young yet. Hope, the D.L.F. magazine, costs 6d.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — I am going to tell you about a ramble I had in the bush with some friends. We were going to see the Margaret Falls, ■which were about a mile and a-half in the bush. We saw some lovely ferns on the track, especially beside the creeks, which were as clear a* crystal, and running over pebbles, while overhead there hung great green trees. These creeks we saw oame from the fall, crossing the track over and over again. After we had travelled a good way we came to a small fall, about five feet high, so we knew we were getting near the big fall. When we got further along we heard the roar of the fall and the spray on the trees at a little ttieiance. A few steps farther brought us to a flail of water about 100 ft high. Oh, Dot, % do wieh you could have seen it; it vas just lovely. The water dashed down the rocks and mad*- a great deal of epray at the bottom, which w*t the moss a good way off. After we had been 4h«M a few minutes ts»* ooye got some water that bad gone over tnjf fall, and got 'the billy boiling fox lunoh, ana I can tell you, Dot, I was ready for lunoh. U no oneelae wast I was aa hungry a* a hunt*b While the billy boiled two of mr brother* went to the top of the fall, which, of course, wa* very »t*ep. Before i th* telrj boiled they were at the top; we

could just catch a glimpse of them tat the top waving their caps. Before we had got the tea made they were down again. When we had finished our lunch we proposed to go to the top of the fall, too. My two brothers were to lead the way, and four of us went, they making six. We left three at the bottom. We found it very steep indeed before we got to the top, but we got there in time ; and when we got there two of the friends that were with us were afraid of breaking their necks going down again. But we slipped and slid down again. When we got to the bottom, we had been away aa hour, while my brothers had not been half an hour. On our; way home through the bush we got a basket and a billy full of ferns — at least my friends did. At last we reached home, very tired, but happy, after our long journey. — Yours truly, LITTLE MISS VANITY. Dear Dot, — As it is drizzling this, afternoon, and as we can't very well go for a walk, I will write to you. In the last letter I wrote I said we were gathering all the different kinds of flowers, grasses, and seeds we could find. We got 50 one day. and over GO another day. A fortnight ago Grey Valley, West Coaster, Blue Violet, and I went over to the river, crossed the beach to the island, then across another stream, and on to an island we had never been on before. We went along the edge till we could see Ahaura in the distance, and when we were coming home we found a, number of different kinds of flowers and berries growing on the sand that we had never seen before? The farmers aboui here have all got their oats cut, but now all stacked yet. Some of our apples are getting ripe, and one or two of the fowls fly Up into the trees and spoil them. The sow was in the orchard, and we had. to put her out, as she was breaking all the branches she could reach, -36 as to get the apples. Blue Violet's cat had two kittens — one a black and white and the other * grey. We have only kept the grey one, and West Coaster was saying she thinks it will be rough. It is such a fat, roly-poly little thing. I will now close, with love to all.— Yours truly, WATER LILY. [How big are these islands you go to- visit, Water Lily? You have spoken about them in your letters before. And do you have' to I go in a boat to them?— DOT.] I Dear Dot, — I am going- to tell you what I saw one Sunday when I was taking a walk. I was walking at the edge of the bush, and I saw a big white cat lying asleep in the grass, so I called my dog, and she looked and smelt the oat, and tried to make it rise, but it was very sound asleep, and did not wake up till I touched it with a stick. Then it rose and ran as fast as it could, and my dog after it; but it scrambled up a tree, so I came home and left it there. I em learning dressmaking now, and; I pass the Witness office every day. — Yours truly. NIGHTINGALE. [I suppose you come into town for your dressmaking, Nightingale. Do you go backwards and forwards from homte every day? That means a great deal of time passed in tne train.— DOT.] ' Dear, Dot, — This is my first letter to your page, and I .hope you will accept me as> one of your Little Folk. lam staying -with my aunt at a pretty little seaside place. Nightingale is ■> my nearest mate, and we have good times going to the Post Office every day. Well, dear Dot, I shall have to bring my letter to a dose, as it is bed time.— Yours truly, . -MERRY GOLD. [Perhaps you will be able to write a longer letter next time, dear.— DOT.] "Dear Dot,— l have been staying with my cousin Greta lately. Our school opened- on tW 3rd of this month. # I passed my examinations, and an* now in the Seventh Standard. My brothers were up at the Blue Mountains on Saturday, and brought home some mistletoe. I thought that it would be done by now. When 1 was up at Greta's I enjoyed myself thoroughly. I used to ride for the cows every night on the pony. I see there is also another Greta, writing to the page. We are having » new infant room put up, and when it is finished theie will be more space. My littl« sister will be five years old to-morrow, and then she will have to go to school and learn lessons like the others.— Yours truly, ZELL. Dear Dot,— This i& my first letter to you, and I hope you will make me welcome. I have taken a great interest in the letters lately, and I thought I would write too. I know a few D.L.F. Dear Dot, do you like ferns? I do. There are a great many growing about where I live. I left school aDout two years ago. X know Aorere and Luoeda, and a few others. Dear Dot. did you enjoy your Christmas holidays? I enjoyed mine very much. — Yours truly, A SAILOR'S LASS. [Yes, you are welcome, Little Lass- lam fond of ferns; I think every New Zealander ought to be, don't, you? — since the fern is our New Zealand emblem. — DOT.] Dear Dot,— l went to the Riverton D.L.F. picnio," and I enjoyed myself, but it waa too hot for games. I was at Invercargill for my holidays, and I went to the club with Shasta.- ** Have Animals Intelligence?" was a good debate. I was for the side that animals have intelligence. I did not write a paper, but I think they have intelligence; do not you, Dot? The interclub debate was< good; I read the papers-, and I think it must have been hard to decide which side was the better — they were both so good. Our school teacher is going away. Everybody will be sorry to lose her, she wa» so popular. You might feel tempted to use your scisaors, so I will say good-bye. — Yours truly, AORERE. Dear Dot, — We have just returned from a very enjoyable holiday. We were away a month and a day, and in that time stayed at Dunedin, Christchurch, and Timaru. The place is looking very dry just now. The river that we used to swim in is dry. My sister has made many attempts to write to you, but has not finished a letter yet. I went- to St. Clair nearly every day, and I liked it very much. My two sisters stayed with Topsy Turvy. There are not many birds laying now. The trees are all dried with the heat. — Yours truly, LASCA. Dear Dot, — This is my first letter to your page, and I would like to become on« of your band. I have a {lumber of cousins writing- to the page, and I know a few L.F. about here. I take an interest in reading the D.L.F. letters, so I thought I like to become' one too. I have a cockatoo which can say anything y<ou ask it. lam in the Seventh Standard, and am 14 years of age. There are & good many children going- to our school. Tne weather • has- been very hot and dry here lately. The people are busy harveeting just now, and some of the mills ore out threshing.— Yours truly, " XZARITZA. [I have written your name in my hook, Tzaritaa, and you may now count yourself one of th* D.LJP.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— l suppose I ami too late now to wish you a happy New Year: but I hope you had a real happy one all the same. The annual school excursion, in which several

schools took part, was held at Colac_ Bay ! yesterday. The day was splendid, and after having a very pleasant journey in the train, j we arived at our destination. I immediately ' took off my hoots and stockings and went ■wading in the sea. After a while I found my mate, and we went far a walk round .to the point. When we came to the point it was so hot that my mate and I decided to go into the bust for a stroll. We walked round a little farther until we saw a, track leading into the bush. We followed this track, which went up the hill, and down the other side of it too. Just as we were about half way down the hill, what a beautifu l si<*ht met our eyes as we stood there on the edge of the rock! Just at the foot of a- hill, situated on a slope, was a tworoomed cottage; the walls and chimney of it were over-grown with wild ivy and convolvulus. At the back of the house was a high hedge, and in front of it was a grand crop of potatoes. Under the shade of this hedge was a long, low, garden seat, neatly covered by ferns and lawyers Oh! how grand it was to sit there in the cool and listen to the various birds aa they sang their sweet songs on the boughs of the trees overhead. From the gate was a path which led down to a stream, in which two cows were cooling themselves, while two others were standing by quietly eating the grass in the field. There seemed to be no one in the house, but by the surroundings one could easily tell it was some one's nome. After enjoying this splendid view for some time, we started on our walk through the beautiful bush. When we had nad a long walk we came out on to the beach and gathered shells and seaweed. We got some large pieces of seaweed, the colour .of which was red and white ; it grew on the stones in the bottom of the sea. We wa-lked round to the camp, and put down our things, and had a short rest. Then we went into the bush, but by a different way thiß time. Just as we entered the bush a picturesque scene met our eyes. Tall ferns stood entwined by thick supplejacks, and under these were several fallen trees, which afforded us a very comfortable seat to sit and have a quiet chat in the coal. I*m sure tha-t if anyone who was at the picnic did not enjoy themselves it was their own fault (unless they were sick), as there is an ideal beach, and a nice bush, and it was a. beautiful day. I think there was a, good deal of cream needed next day, as sunburnt faces were very plentiful. What colour are your carnations, Dot? My carnations bloomed, the week after I posted my last letter to you. The colours of them are dark double red, double white and pink, and one has a pink centre and the edges are dark crimson. The geraniums are a dark double, red and single Eink. Our school closed on the 20th of •ecember for six weeks' holiday. Just then we thought it a long time, but it does not seem long now that we are back to school and t hard at work for another term. Several nice prizes were awarded for arithmetio, sewing, and dux— both boy and girl,— besides the prizes in the various standards. Blue got first prise in her class. I got first prize in nsy class, and two. others, one for home work and the other for good attendance. Could you or any of my chum* give me a Maori n»m» -which, mould meaun an extensive and far-reaching view? I shall be very much obliged if any of you could. When are you going to write to Dot, O'Kaiterua? lam looking for your letter in print. I received the post-card safely. Many thanks. I think I will stop now, with love to O'Kaiterua, Nemesia, Lone Star, Violet' Daisy, Happy Ike, and ! [I have written a note to Dr Jiocken, who is an excellent Maori scholar, asking if he will give me a Maori word with the meaning you desire- I shall put his reply for you in "Answers to Correspondents" when it reaches me; you can look there for it this week, and next. You ask about my carnations, dear: I have several pink shades, two crimson, two yellow, two white, and same mixed" ones, but I have not that pink with the crimson edge that yoiu speak of, which I should think nuust be very pretty.— DOT.]

Dear Dot,— We are milking four cows and feeding three calves. The cows' names are Lily, Daisy, Darky, and Nigger. lam sometimes allowed to milk Darky, as she is the quietest and easiest The weather has been very hot up here. Most people's tanks are dry or their wells empty. Some flowers are parched out of the ground for the want of rain; they cannot get a good nold of the soil. Have you seen the .double Canterbury bells? My motliair kaa white, pink, pale blue, and a dark blue that looks just like a little cup and saucer. Several schools had an excursion to Oolac Bay on the 6th of February. The train left here at 10 minutes to 8, and arrived there shortly after 10. As soon as -we got off the train we got together and made our way to the picnic grounds. As we came along to them we noticed several coppers of boiling water. TShere we had some lunch. After lunch taosb of the girls and boys took off their boots and stockings, ' and went for . a wad* . in -the sea. We had grand fun paddling in the sea-. I w went away- round the beaoh till I came to the rocks. Then I went climbing about the rocks. The train left Colac Bay at five minutes past S, and arrived here sEortly after 7. , There was no school next day ; we weTe very tired and sleepy next morning. Since I began to write a nice rain is falling, and I hope it will last long enough to do some good. — Yours truly, BLUE KIBBON.

Dear Dot, — Since I wrote ta you- the name iof our district has been changed from. Sandstone to Kaweku. Kaweku i» a Maori word meaning stony ridge. We are harvesting just now, and I like to watch the men, cutting the crop. We have a lot of geraniums out now, and they are very pretty. We had a lovely shower of rain yesterday, but it is clear to-day. My brother's birthday is to-day; he is 15. I enjoyed my holiday very well. My little friend came down for » month, and she went away on the 18th January.— Youra truly, KAWEKU.

Dear Dot, — We have had our holidays now. We had sis weeks. The day the school broke up we all got books. Mine is called " Henry Esmond." Tne races were held here about a month ago. I went, and enjoyed myself. I did not go away anywhere for a holiday this year. I hod 78 dozen birds' eggs, but I sold them. I got 13s 3d for them. My sister had 40 dozen. I like gathering them. We often go for a bathe in the creek. I can swim a little. It rained very hard here on Sunday. There are a lot of flowers out now. I had a little rabbit, but it got aw»y. It used to eat clover and lap milk. I had another, but yesterday my cat got it. My mother took it from her, but she got it again, and when my mother found it the cat had its head eaten off, ao that was the end of it. I went to a picnio a few days ago. The train left at 10 minutes to 8, and we reached our destination at 11. Then we had lunch> and than took off our boots and went to wade in the sea. It was * vary nioe day, and the sun was shining brightly. I gathered ft lot of shells and seaweed* and gay* them

'to A Telescope. She took « lot home. 'M* teeth anfi my he»d were acning Beady «U day, and I was very glad when it came w train time. W« reached home about hartpast 8 o'clock, Tory tired and eleepy> We! had ft holiday the next day from «choa>. With lov« to A Telescope, Nem*sia, «nd yourself,—Youw truly, VIOLET DAISY. . Deai Dot, — I w*s at Oainwru lately, bu« not in time to go to the D.L.P. picnic. I should have liked to go, 4 hough I do not know many D.L.F. living there. The liii.P. Page seems to be getting larger and mor* interesting every week, and personally I look upon rt as the most interesting part of the? Witness. What a collection of N.D.P.'t there is in the D.L.P. Pagel 1 wonder h<m you keep them in your mind; but I suppose) you heve them all down in a lwt, wad da not remember half of them. Have yon ever read "Lysbeth," Dot? I am Teading it now for the second time; I think it )■ m lovely book. I sometimes wonder which' book I like best of all that I have read. but come invariably to the conclusion th»€ I cannot choose between several that I like very much. What did yon think of the heat wave in Australia? I would not have cued to have been there at the time. — Yours truly. FIVEASH. Dear Dot,— l like our new place rauoh befc ter now th«n I did at first, but I haven*! met one D.L.F. yet. I did not go away any. where for a holiday at Christmas. I waa going to the New Year sports at Imrercar- - gill, but I had to stay at horn* with aver* * sore throat. I went to the sport* here on Christmas Day, and X had a good *im«f and on Boxing Day » few friends and myself wwii to the Balfour sports. We l«ft by thtt I .o'clock train, which gets to Balfour about half-past 1, and we did not get home till a-quarter past 9; so I think we had a goodl enough day. After we got off fcho tram X had to drive two girls home with me, and it was good fun. It was so dark tnat ws would hardly see the road; it was * good thing for us we had a quiet horse. We ara looking forward to our sohool excursion; it is always held about the end of this month. We live about three miles from the, sohoor, and my brother has to ride his pony, Jtte has jus* been going to this 1 school since th* beginning- of the year. We have a nice bush at the back qf our hill; some of out friends are ooming out from D., and we are. going to have a picnio in it. I have three pet lambs this year, but two of them ara quite big now.— Yours truly, PRIMROSE 11. Dear Dot, — This is my first letter to you, and I hope to get an answer from you. I have a white cat-named Topsy and a yellow collie dog named Rowdy. We had a good time at Christmas; I went to the races, but it was very hot, and I was glad to get home again.— Yours truly, NELLIB BLY. [I suppose you had a very hot Christmas where you live, deer; I think it was hot everywhere this surrimer. But the heat i« passing now; have you noticed what a feel* ing of autumn is in the air Already? Writ* again some day, Nellie.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — Things seem to be looking up with the farmers' this year. Most of them are harvesting, and have great crops, so there should b» na scarcity of feed this time. Bais does not seem to care much about this place, ' as it only looks down upon us and passes on. Canterbury seems to be having a bad time of it with fires. I remember once running to see ft fire in Chxi»tchurch; -but, not knowing the-plaoe, I followed the crowd to a bridge over the- Avon, -where they all stopped; and all that I -could see was a brigade engine get-"' ting water, so I came back again - disappointed, learning next morning that the iire was in another street. A very, large picnio ' was held at Mount Stuart on Saturday tram the Hillside Workshops. I went up in the afternoon to it, but did not meet a soul 1 knew. People say, Dot, that the sea coast is about 13 miles from here, but I have no« got so> far as that yet. I think you will need a microscope io read this letter, t&oogb that isn't the pen's fault; it I*o the shaky hand behind it. — Yours truly, APPRENTICE. Dear Dot, — This is my first letter to the page, and I hope you will let me join your happy band. I know a few L.F. about here. English Myrtle end> Rachel asked me ,to write, and when I saw their letters in the Witness to-night I made up, my mind at once. I was at the OrepuM races, and it was very pretty to see the horses running- round the course. After the races were over most of the people left for the train, and all looked as- if they had spent a happy day. At night there -vrms «■ danco, -wbiel* I wen* to. I li*6C a lovely time at it. We are milking 19 caws just now, Dot; we send the milk to the factory, about 1 mile away. There are two ' motor cars up in Orepuki now, and the roads are not very nice for them. All the farmers and gold miners are wanting rain, as the ' water is very short.— Yours truly, CURLY HEAD 111. [You are the thard Curly Head in • j»t family, dear: I *vet clad to give you a wrfoome.- Dei' English Myrtle and Rachel know you are writing, or will your letter . be » surprise to theni?— DOT] Dear Dot, — I always read the letters in your columns,, but I never have much time to write letters, so I have never written to your page. I go to a High School, and so have a good number of lessons at night.. My youngest sister has written once, but she noticed that someone else had the nune non» de plume, and has decided to change her name when she writes again. I know very few D.t.F.: I know Duchess of Sutherland; Tongala, and Ardleigh, but fhey may not know me. I live near the Blue Mountains, where the favourite PJ<=?ic resort is the Whisky Gully Falls. The Pomahaka River is also" near us, where many angler* find plenty of sport fishing. As this is my first letter to the pa^e, I will no* write any more. Hoping yor will receive me as a member of your band,— Yours teuly, ' X Jtvu V IA X A» [Certainly, I will admit you, Traviata, ii you think you will have more time now to write an occasional letter to. us. The river you speak of is famous for its trout, and a well-known fishing resort; it is also a beautiful little stream, isn't it? I remember well how much I admired it when I stayed close by it.— DOT.J Dear Dot, — It must be about a year sine* I wrote tot you lapt. A friend of ours got three cows " tutued" the other day ; one died, but she saved the other two. We are tohave a Sunday school picnio soon, and I. am collecting tor it. There is not much new in Ettrick, Dot, «a I shall say no mov** —Your* truly, DOT^S LITTLE- QIBI*. [I should be very much, interested- to hear' how the cows were «aved' that at* Hi* tuta; - was it by blood-letting? I understand teat ,is the only effectual remedy for tatu-poiaoa-in*.—DOT.] Dear Dot,— We had a shower of rain j«s> terday, but I think it just oooled th* frouad. The gran is nearly all withered up for waal of rain. Our fruit trees have suoh a lot Of fruit on them.; eoxne of the tree* are touofcinf the ground. My brother left two little puppiM at pw place, about two month* *«*

and between them they have killed four hens and one- duck. My sister Nellie calls one but I don't think there is anything brave about him. The only time that I think he is brave is when he ie chasing fowls. You ought to see him when the cows are aftei him, He is brave then, running toway with his tail between his legs. Oh, y««, lie is a very brave puppy! My little fh«xg« wants to write you a letter, Dot, so shall soon. bay» to stop. There are two *hildr«n here to look after, and.- I have some trouble with them. Dear Dot, have you read any of Joseph Hooking's books? •I have read five, and I like them Very much. -—Yours truly, PRINCESS MABEL.

Dear Dot, — I am a little girl, seven y«ars of age, and as my aunt was writing to you to-nigbi, I thought' I would write also. Sh« is writing this for me, and I tell her what •I want to say to you. 1 have one little brother. He is four years younger than I. Harry (a friend of mirs) keeps his cows .for two or three days without feeding them. So one day my teacher spake to him about it, «nd he let them out at once. — Yours truly, A PRETTY PUSSY.

[It is a pity Hairy did not think how cruel that was to his cows to keep; them in confinement without feedings them ; I hope he will never do anything so dreadful again. He would not like it clone to him, would he ? —DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I would like to join your happy Iband, and I Hope y,ou will have room for these few lines. ,We live in the bush of lisbury, which ia a nice place. There are a Tot, of DX.! I . ' about Tisbury. I have two sisters writing to the page. I ami eight years old, and am- in Standard 11. There are a good many ferns in the bush. I like going- to school ; I have a mile and a-quarter to go to it. — Yours truly, AN ENGLISH CADDIE.

[I heard a rumour about a D.L.F. picnic *t Tisbury, Laddie; you will be able to go to it now, if there is one. — DOT.] • Dear Dot, — Since I wrote to you last I have left the Evans Flat Schctol. Igo to the Convent in Lawrence, a little town situated about four miles from where I live. I | must tell you about the play I went to last Tuesday night — " TJnde Tom's Cabin." Have j you ever seen it played, Dot? It was lovely. Poor little Eva — whet a dear little girl she was! And poor qld Uncle Tom! I did _tkink that Mr St. Clair was cruel. Topsy, the little black girl, acted very well. It was all . very, sad. Topsy generally sent the sadness away. Poor old Uncle Tom looked very feeble. I saw 'him fall down, supposed to be dead. 'He thought a great deal of poor " Little Miss CEva," and seemed so sad when she died. Some people say that that play really did happen. Will you please kindly tell me if it flid? T would like so very, very much to see it ' acted again. My pets consist of a pigeon, two dear little pet lambs, two cows-, which I call Polly and Lady, and also, three calves, which I c«ll Baby, Smiler, and Beauty. I can do anything with Smiler; she is such a nice, quiet animal/ The weather here is very sultry ;' we' have _to cart all our water. My brother Jack is in Auckland. There is going to be a school picnic held on .the Evans Flat School Ground on the 28th of this month. I do.at think I. shall go to «chool that day. '-■ The flaxmill Iras stopped working, and we have no "boarders; it seems so very, very quiet. I would^ like yery much to. live in Dunedin. One of my sisters lives in Cargill road, South Dunedin.. There are a great number of D.L.F. about Lawrence, but there are not many about here. The crops, round here, are very good this yeai; most of them are cut. Dear Dot, lam yery glad that- to-day Is Saturday; I don't like niy long, tiring ■walk, especially when it is so very, very hot. I must now stop writing and help Lizzie, my sister, with the dishes. — Youis truly, A JAPANESE MILKMAID.

,[I do not think that "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is taken- exactly from life, dear; and yet during the time before slavery was abolished in the United States there were many negroes like old Uncle Tom and Topsy, and, alas! many overseers who treated the slaves cruelly. We cannot help feeling glad, when we think of the abuses of the system, that the emancipation of the slaves did take place. — DOT.]

Pear Dot, — I have noit written, to you since I deft the South Island, and that is about nine months ago. I went to" a picnic about a week ago, and there I enjoyed myself very well. lam 12 years old now, and lam still going to school.- Palme-Tston North has pretty scenery about it in some places. —Yours, truly, DOLLY VARDEN.

[Perhaps you will write us a longer letter next time, dear, and tell us about your new home.— DOT-]

Dear Dot, — What a long time it is since I have joined hands with you through th« medium of the D.L.F. Page! Fully 18 months have elapsed since my last letter appeared in print, and since tnen great changes .have taken place in connection with •the page. This time I think I will write you a short account of my recent holiday. I left home early and caught the first express for Dunedin one Monday morning snortly after New Year. Th«t afternoon, I attended to business in town, and then went visiting out at the Bay, arriving buck in itown early in the evening. To pa&s the time »w*y* till bedtime I strolled up the hill above the Octagon. Next day I went here »nd there in. town, and the time passed by •till 2 o'clock came, when I boarded the 'Mosgiel train. Arriving there I set out to find my friend Olive's place. Olive was to meet me at night, but I changed my mind and went out earlier than I had told her; 60 I just set out alone, and after a long -walk came to- her home, -where I was met ■with- a warm welcome from Olive's mother. Shortly afterwards Olive came home, and was rather surprised to find me there so soon. In the evening we went down to the factory to see it lit up by electric light. Next morning I rose early, and went into town tot finish up business matters, and came out again early, ready to have a good enjoyable time with my friends. I can safely say I did have a right merry time. In the evenings we always went out for a walk, or to see a friend, or up to the station to see the train. One afternoon Olive's mother and I went out to North Taieri, and although it was raining a little it was a lovely walk, ana the time passed all too quickly. That afternoon we had some grapbaphone selections, some of which' were very laughable. On the Saturday morning I went down to the factory, and was shown all .over it by a friend. It~ is lovely going through it; if I/were back- again in Mosgiel now I should go over tlie factory again. Tkexe- was only one place I disliked, and that was " tlie drying loom" — "hot room" I should call it. Saturday afternoon -Olive, hex sister, and I strolled up the street, and after a snort time found' ourselves in the Mcsgiel Ceylon xea Gardens enjoying a delicious plate of fruit Salad. After that Olive andl_were out again for" another walk, the evening passing all too SOOO. On Sunday afternoon Olive and I miked to Wingaiui, and fromk there to the sflverßtreajm footbridge. We had a rest jbtx*, *nd wero rather amused at th« various

antics of the little boys who -were paddling bare-footed_ in the stream. Tea-time saw us home again, and: afterwards we went to church. 'On th« Mbnday morning I was obliged to bid my friends good-bye, and was soon being carried southward to my home once more. The only fault I had 'to find with Bay holiday was that it was. too short. Well, Dot, I am afraid this is rather an uninteresting letter. It is a, long time since I first wrote to Dot, and well, do I remember the little letter when it appeared in print ■with my proper name appended. This will likej(y be my last letter to the page as a present-day wrjter, so I shall close by wishing you and all in connection with the page every prosperity in the future. I might P*n you * few lines, some time to 0.W.W., if I may. — Yours truly, LADY ESXmSI. [Have you, then, reached tbi retiring age, Lady Benussi? I am so sorry if you have. But you will always be welcome, as you know, for 0.W.W., or any other special occasion when Old Writers may contribute. — DOT.J AUTOS AND POST-CARDS. Fiveash, P. 0., Wendon, would like to exchange autos. with any Oamaru D.L.F. Primrose 11, care Mr James Earl, Lumsden, would like to exchange autos. with any D.L.F., especially those on the West Coast, Angeleaea, An. African. Daisy, and any others who are willing. Princess Mabel, 'New Field, _Mbkotua, via Invercargill, would like if Vieta, The Flower of Dunblane, »nd Dulcenia would write to her. .Prompt replies. Gauitheria wishes to exchange autos with. P»p*ro», Didn't You Knew, Midgie, Laddie,, Giulift, and Giulia's American Cousin. Address "them to Miss E. Pankhurst, Hekeia P. 0., via Kiverton ; but please do not use X.D.P. Little Miss Vanity, care Mr A. Campbell, Waikawa Beach, Fortrose, would like to exchange autos with Lampglass, Kia Ora's Mate, A Broken-hearted Lover, Love-in-a-Mist 11, Hazel, Blondel, Queen of May, and any other D.L^F. willing. Babiana, " Minnie Landrebe, Pukeuri Junction, wishes to exchange post-cards with any D.L.F. willing. Greta, Doris Macaulay, Waiarikiki Station, Mataura, would like to exchange post-cards with any D.L.F. willing (coloured cards preferred). Japanese Duchess, Lucy Macaulay, Waiarikiki Station, Mataura, would like to exchange autos or post-card's with Princess Ena, Areta, Lady Esler, Emerald. The Shepherdess's Fairy, and any other D.L.F. willing (coloured post-cards preferred).