LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 83

LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

if otto— We write for the benefit of others, not for ourse.ves. gp-No letter to contain more than 450 words.

Dear Dot.-Bush fires are raging all around «s and the smoke is so thick that the * holiday, «na hope to Me some 2 T ™i I h. re lot got ™tl» triP to B". Lomjnd Dear Dot,— This is my first letter to your »a<re and I hope you will accept me m one *f your L.F. T live- in the county, a°°ut thr^e miles from a township I* 1?™1 ?™ n ° w left school, having passed the Sixth Standard last November. The weather here is srery hot, and the grass is drying up «or the vrant of rain. The farmers about here are *noatly busy harvesting. I was at the school picnic at Colac Bay on the 29th, of January, and I enjoyed myself very muob wading m the Be* and gathering shells and seaweed. I was also at the flower show at Miataura on .the 12th of February, where I saw some teautiful flowers, fruit, etc. — Yours truly, WHITE HEATHER. [You are very welcome, White Heather. Do you know that you are a symbol of good luck? And have you heard the pretty little story about the late Queen, the Prince Consort, end a piece of white heather? It was before their mariiage, I think, and the Queen offered Prince Albert a piece of white heather. He was wearing military uniform At the time, and had so buttonhole in big

coat ; but, in order to wear his lady's flower, he took his penknife, made a slit in the coat with it, and placed the heather there. That was quickness of thought and gallantry combined, wasn't it?— DOT.] Dear Dot, — As my sister is writing to-day I thought I would WTite too. I received a letter from Rum-a-tum last month, and she asked me to tell you that she had not forI gotten you. She does not see the Witness now, as her friend has come back to New Zealand. The weather here has been very hot lately, but it is raining now, and I hope it will not stop too soon. I was at a circus in Gore on the 6th of February, and as I had not been to one before, the animals were a wonder, to me. It must require a great deal of patience to train the animals to perform as they do. It looked very funny to see the lion riding on the horse's back, but I suppose the lion was used to it. I was at the flower show here last week, but I only saw two badges, and I did not get a chance of speaking- to either of the wearers. Yours truly, PEARLY MAY. | [I wish I were you. little Pearly May, to be having the enjoyment of a circus for the fiist time in your life; it must have been a delightful experience for you. I think it would be almost harder for the poor horse to get used to having a lion on its back than for the lion to learn to ride, don't you? —DOT.] Dear Dot, — Another day is drawing to a ' close, and such an oppressive one it has been! We folk here think it has been quite hot enough lately, but what must tha people in Australia think? I pity them. Yes, Dot, this summer is both hot and dry here, but we are not So badly off as some other parts of the Dominion. A good day's rain would do a world of good now, but it doesn't look as if we are going to have any just at present. We want rain, and yet we don't. That sounds somewhat like a bull, doesn't it Dot? But it's the truth. We would like some very much for the good of the growing things, but not to fall on the oats, which are cut and stooked and getting well on fit to stack. There is a lot of smoke about from bush fires, and it makes things none too pleasant outside. It's really nothing to complain about, seeing how others have fared in this way, but we *are not used to any quantity of smoke, and so notice it. One afternoon a couple of weeks ago I thought I would like to go for a spin on the bicycle, l and started off. I went round the south j road to Nelson Creek, over what is known as Hatter's Terrace, through tbe township, and some two miles and a-half along the Bell Hill road. Coming back I came over Try Again Terrace. I was intending to. cross the cieek on the suspension bridge — I ciossed on. the traffic bridge going- up, — but on inquiring heard that the ford was dry, so came across it. The bed of the creek is just one mass of tailings heaps, and although there was a fair stream of water both above and below them, the ford was *s dry as a bone, and has been so for several weeks, the water soaking through the stones. The two Pactolu* and the New Trafalgar dredges are busy dredging for that precious metal gold, and the first two have done, and are still doing, very well indeed. They are the most successful dredges on. the West Coast. The Nelson Creek dredge is now working the old Band of Hope claim, on the hill. It is working in a dam, the water being brought in by a race. There. has> been a great deal of sluicingj^done at Nelson Creek in the course of its history, and gold is yet to be got by this process, though undoubtedly the best ground has been worked long before this. It is said that some millions worth of gold have been taken out of the creek bed and the surrounding terraces. It i^.such a rough place about there — ugly-lookii?g holes (some of great size), large I stones, and channels made by the old tailraces. In places one could easily fall some distance over the terraces, and I hardly like to think what would be the result. Try I Again claim is a place I wouldn't care to live on. I should think parents would be scared to bring up children there ; but very few accidents happen, and "familiarity breeds { contempt " Several young children have been drowned in water-filled holes there. The township itself is like most other goldmining places that have seen their best days, and cannot be said to be a beauty spot. Nelson Creek flows down a valley between bush-clad hills, and the old workings and tailings need to be seen, for but a few words cannot bring up in a person's mind's eye a realistic picture of this place and its surroundings. It is an interesting place to visit, especially if one takes an interest in gold-mining. Have you visited this part of the West Coast, Dot? There are several D.L.F. up that way, I believe, so I hope they will write us something about Nelson Creek soon, for they will know it far better than I do. So poor old Quago has come to life again' I hope he has quite recovered his good health again ; have you, Quago? How did they treat you on the planet of Mars, eh? Blue Violet has learned to ride the bicycle lately, and we have been to Ahaura a couple of times together. She tickled the humorou* side of me greatly today. She was riding along at not a " bad pace, when a cape she had thrown over the handlebars slipped off. and she called out "Whoa!" Laugh? Of course I did, for it seemed so amusing. Her "tin gee-gee" didn't obey her command immediately, either. Talk about dust! — the roads were dreadful, and the stones in a number of places were all loose, and so it was a bit rough riding. Oh, Dot, there are such quantities of blackberries this year — great black beauties, too ; such as. I hear, are not to be found "down south." i If you were a bit nearer I would send you some. As it is, I'm afraid they wouldn't carry 1 such a distance at all well. West Coaster's i Sister arrived home on Thursday night, after j having a year's holiday in Otago. She eeems to have had a good time of it. Now I will stop, with love to Little Nell, Jeannie Dear, 'Garthowen, Lavender, and my other old , schoolmates who are D.L.F., not forgetting yourself. — Yours truly, WEST COASTER. [You apologise for not giving us a realistic picture, West Coaster, but I consider that you must have given us a very faithful description of your wild mining country. It is most interesting to have the surroundings of other people brought so vividly before us.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — It is a long time since I last wrote. Harvest has started round here, and stacks' are to be seen in every direction. I know a few D.L.F. about here; one is Lady Olive, but I do not know the Flower of Dunblane can be. My brother started to write a few weeks ago; his name is Bunnie, and I saw it in among the D.L.F. signatures, I have another brother six years old, and he might write to you, too. This year I went for my holidays to Queen's Flat, which fa two mllea from Ngapam. With love to Lady Olive,— Yours truly, iJAUIAIsA. Dear Dot,— l thought I would write to you to-night, because my sister ia writing, too. The show was held here last Wednesday, but I did not manage to get to it. I did some drawing for it, but did not get a prize, j I got a second prize last ie*r fox drawing. J

! We have one little bla-ck-and-white puppy. He is very fond of catching the chickens and ducks and killing -them 1 . We sold 12 dozen birds' eggs and heads last Monday. — Yours truly, GRETA. Dear Dot, — I promised that I would write and tell you all about my holidays, so I will do so now. The day after I saw you my sister and I went by train to c place near Herbert, called Waianakarua. I have an aunt there, who asked us to spend part of our holidays. We stayed there a week, and enjoyed ourselves very much. The best part was going to picnics. One day we went to the beach, three miles, away. We boiled the billy and had dinner, and when we finished we went down on to the beach till tea-time. Then we went back and had tea; after that we went home. After we had. stayed there a week we went on to Oamaru ; then we went back to Dunedin. Altogether we had a very good holiday. Our crop is quite' green yet, and we shall have a late harvest. It is all the betteT to be late, as it got the benefit of the late rains. The turnips are growing splendid, too. The fruit is nearly ripe. There is an abundance of apples this year; also of pears and plums. The farmers around here are "shaking hands with themselves," for the weather is just splendid. There is one rainy day in every week, and it makes the turnips grow. We have a lot of our ground ploughed for next year's crop and turnipg. My brother has a wee puppy, which is very mischievous, and has to be shut up, for he chases the chickens and ducks. With love to Plum Blossom, Maid of the South, Una Trewinnon, and all the L.P., — Yours truly, JAPANESE DUCHESS. [Only after sending away Sister Christabel's badge did I see your note explaining about it, dear. That means you will have the trouble of sending me back one oi them, after all. I ami sorry I did not save you it.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — We are having very dry weather down here just now. We had a nice shower of rain on Sunday. All the creeks about here are almost dry. The harvest is much earlier this yejir. We have six weeks' holidays for harvest. We had our excursion to Riverton ; it is a. very pretty place. We -went for a ride in a motor and oil launches. I have a. ferret, and it is getting quite tame now. It was tamed a little when we caught it. Seven new children have come to school since Christmas. With love to Blacksmith, Polly, Polly's Companion, and Friend and Foe, — Yours truly, ENGINE DRIVER. Dear Dot, — It is nearly seven months since I wrote my first letter to the page. Time after time I was going to write this letter to you, but when the time came to write I could never think of enough to say, so I always put it off. I am going to try to tell you about my Christmas holidays. Well, we had six _ weeks' holidays altogether. I spent four weeks .at home and two at my aunt's place. I had a grand time at my aunt's, because I was always riding on the horses ; or if I was not riding, I was away for a drive with my cousins. One night fifteen of us went down to the river . fishing. We took supper down with us. My aunt took some cream down to put in the tea. She left it standing on the bank of the river, and one of the dogs came along and drank it all; so we had to go without cream in our tea for supper that night. After we had our supper some of us went home, and some of us stayed to try and catch some fish, but we only caught three between us. I think we must have frightened them away. We all went to bed feeling very tired that night. Soon the time came when I had to go home. I did not want to go home, but of course holidays won't last for ever. When I went home my mother told 1 me that we were going up the river; so in about a fortnight the day came to go up the river. We left home about half-past 10 o'clock, and got up there in time to have our dinner. So we boiled the billy and had dinner. After dinner was over we went for a romp in the bush. We got home again about 6 o'clock, just in time to the cows. I was not long getting into bed that night. I think I have written a long letter this time so I will close now. With best love to all the D.L.F. and yourself,— Yours truly, AOTEAROA. [Yes, that is a nice long letter, dear, and it tells me you had happy holidays— which I am always glad to hear from any of my Little Folk— DOT.] - Dear Dot,— After a silence of about seven months I once more take up my pen to write «, " few lines to tbe dear old page. This time I shall try to describe a trip I and seven others had to More and Son's sawmills, in the Longwood. It was a perfect morning when a party of us wended our way through the paddocks, and before long we" were all seated on a trolley, talking and laughing merrily. We did not find the trolley very comfortable to ride on, because there were no cushion seats. However, we j made the best of it, and had a real good time. On and on we went until we came to a siding, wheie the driver stopped to pick up a couple of trolleys. We travelled on again past two or three farmhouses, until we arrived at the edge of the bußh, where we had to stop end wait for the other "locie." The drivers changed locies, and after that we didn't have any more stoppages. The bu&h is very pretty all the way in. It is mostly birch bush along the line, and to make it look still prettier, there are clusters of bright red mistletoe peeping out from amongst it. The ferns thrive beautifully along the line. There are heaps of fuchsia berries growing along the line. Our school teacher was one of the party, and is very fond of fush»ia berries, and while we were passing a tree just black with them she said, "Oh, I do wish that old engine would break down now!" She is leaving here for Tuturau, *nd we are all very sorry, a3 she is so nice, and a splendid teacher. The Tuturau people can think themselves very lucky in getting such a. splendid teacher as they will soon find she is. Well, this is not getting on with our trip. It was half-past 12 o'clock when, we arrived at the Big mill, and 1 can tell you we were ready for our dinner, The lady at the boardinghouse -was kind enough to take us into the dining room 1 and make some tea for us, which we all enjoyed very much. After lunch Mr J. More took us through the mill. Next he took us round to the little mill, where two of our party had 1 ft- fight with shavings. We had a look through thft little mill's boarding-house, and in the iining room there is a real old-fasbioned fireplace. It has a wooden chimney, and at the back of the fireplace there are two big circular saws, and on either side are seats to hold three or four people each. After having a look round we made ou.r way up to the hauling engine. Prom there we could get a good view oi G-roper's Bush and Ermadale Station. Where we were it is about 300 ft above sea level. About fout miles over the hill from the hauling engine Orepukj is situated, and about 20 minutes' walk from the engine the Round" Hill Mining Company's water race runs past. It was abput 3 o'clock by this time, co we (witk our ferns) walked i

' back to the mill (o catch th« locfe. Before getting on th© loci* we went into my brothers and his mate's hut, and were very much surprised to find' it ao tidy. Coming out, we were soon seated on top of a trolley of timber, and it was just Al. It was fax more comfortable than when we were going j in. The driver stopped when we were about halfway out to grease the trolleys, so we 1 got off and had a feed of fuchsia berries". We arrived home at about 5.30 p.m., after spending a /cry enjoyable day. Well, Dot, I have given but a very poor description of our trip ; but if any of the D.L.F. are , staying in Riverton, I would advise them to pay a visit to More's mills, in the Longwood, and see for themselves. Love and best wishes to all D.L.F. and yourself from, — Yours truly, GAULTHERIA. [I am glad to say I have don© that trip, Gaultheria, and enjoyed it very, very much. I did not go to the sawmill you speak of, but to the Round Hill Company's race and claim ; but I suppose it would be the same route. Is the word "locie" used now for "trolley"? I do not remember hearing it before.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— This i 3 our first letteT to the page, though we have always taken * very keen interest in the D.L.F. column; we shall be very pleased to become members of your band. We live in a very outlandish place, and therefore we do not know many D.L.F., except the seven who write to the page from here. The holidays are all " over again for another year, and we are back at. school, and find that, though we say we never like it, we are glad to get back again to otir old schoolmates. Everyone up this way is comiplaining of the intense heat, and we agree with them in saying this is the hottest season we have had for some time. — Yours truly, TWO LASSES OF RICHMOND HILL. [Now that you have joined the writers, instead of being only readers of. our page, I hope your interest in it will become still keener. I am glad to welcome you among us.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — I am only a little girl, and I go to school with my sister. Pomahaka Sunflower is holding my hand. It has been raining all day, and it filled our tank, which was nearly empty. My father has all his oat 3 cut, and I used to help my sister out with the lunch. Well, Dot, I shall stop now, as my arm is getting sore. — Yours truly, DOT'S GIRL. [It is very tiring holding a pen when one is quite a little girl— isn't it, dear? Indeed, though I am quite grown up, sometimes my hand gets tired with writing. But you wrote me a very nice little letter, and I hope you will write again some day. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — My people are all away from home to-day except myself, and consequently I am feeling a trifle lonely. However, I am going to cheer myself up a bit by writing you a line or two. I haven't very much news to give you, so I will just send you a, short letter, and if you tlunk it is not worth printing you are welcome to burn it. We have been having very dry, hot weather here lately; last Friday and Saturday were almost unbearable. The small creeks are all dry, and the Pomahaßa River is getting very low. Most of the farmers are short of water, and are anxiously waiting for rain. We held our school picnic on February 7, and, unfortunately for the picnickers, that brought rain. It commenced raining about 1 o'clock, just as the majority of the people were arriving at the picnic ground, and it continued all the afternoon. Of course, the farmers were delighted with the rain. Some of them were so pleased tbat they wouldn't even put on their overcoats, saying that they would stand out in it until they were wet through ; and I believe they did, too. Others took shelter until the ram was over, and then werct home in the evening, growling because it didn't continue raining all night. j But I think they should have been thankful for what they got, as it rained for three or four hours, and surely that was enough for a little while at any rate. Well, of course, the rain spoilt the picnic as far as outdoor sports were concerned ; so we all went up to Mr Erskine'a barn, where we found ample accommodation, and after we had become seated on bags of chaff, boxes, etc., Mrs Erskine treated us to a number of graphaphone selections, which were greatly enjoyed by all. The remainder of the afternoon was spent 'playing games, chatting, and eating fruit, lollies, cakes, etc. Among the L.F. present I noticed Sunflower 11, Pomahaka, Lively Bill, Ten O'clock, and B. I. L., and they all seemed to be enjoying themselves ; what else could you expect when Lively Bill was there? Why don't you write again. B. I. L., and send your name and address? I notice Emerald has a long letter in this week's Witness re club grievances, and I think she deserves great credit for taking upon heieelf the unpleasant task of drawing the attention of the L.F. to the go-as-you-please style which is apparently prevalent among the club members. I hope her letter will have the effect of livening some of them up a bit and making them pay a little more attention to punctuality and the rules of the olub in general. It is no ute making rules if you intend to disregard them afterwards. I must conclude now, with beat wishes. — Yours truly, POPOTUNOA. [There's always a way of making the best of things — isn't there, Popotunoa? You I seem to have found it for your picnic, «nd 1 I «m glad you were not altogether done out lof your enjoyment that day. Why don't you write us a paper for the club, Popotunoa? I am sure you could, quite well; pick out a subject from the syllabus- about which you feel you have something to say, and just write exactly what you think. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — This is my first letter to your page; I hope you will accept me as on© of your band. We live about 14 miles from town. We are living in the bush; thera are two sawmills where we live. My brother a-nd I were 16 years old on the 10th of thia month. I am just as big as a. two-year-old baby, and my brother works in the sawmill. I am a- cripple. My sister is living up at i the mill, too; she has two nice little boys. | My name is Mary Martin. I don't know many D.L.F. down heTe. Melania is my sister. There are many wild ferns up here. My mother does all the cooking for the men. I think I have told you all the news just now for this first letter — Yours truly, LONGWOOD BLOSSOM. [You can write a very good) letter, dear, even if you are not able to do many things ,■ that other people can do. I hope you wfll j write often to us, now that you have be^un, > and tell us how you employ your time. Perhaps Borne of us could suggest amusement or employment for you if you tell us what j sort of things you can do.— DOT,] Dear Dot, — After an absence of about six months I again take up my pen to write a few lines to you. I am getting quite old now, Do^; I have only about a year left to "write to you, co I will have to try to make the mo&t of wSf opportunities. " I wish I could get intp town to attend the club meetings: but wishing will not get me there, so, I snail hare to be content with lending

' the reports, which I find very interesting l . I have often thought about sending in * paper, but I have not brains enough to write one. It is raining her© to-day, but I do not think anyone will object to it, as the 1 farmers have been short of water for » con* siderable time now. I for on© welcom© ify as our tanks are empty, and to-morrow ia washing day, and I am not in love with* ' carrying water. There was a bush fire here yesterday, spoiling th© beauty of Outran* Glen, Cornish was working here for about three weeks, and he took quite a fancy tot 1 our little town, or rather to the people in/ i it, as he was wishing he could have stayed' longer. I was at a picnio yesterday, and E met such a number of D.t.F. Among thos« I remember were Useless, Happy Wag, Apple Blossom, and The Gramaphone. The Gramaphone was kept busy amongst the girls and the swings. He pushed me so high that S iell off, but I did not hurt myself. I was telling someone at night about being on th« swing, and he said he knew I had been, fou he saw the ropes had been strained! I do not think I am quite as heavy as that, though. Two of our Momona chums, Anghajad and Gwen, were over at the &ta» tion to see the train off, and we had quite a D.L.F. gathering. I have been counting my words, and I find I shall have to draw this to a close. I suppose you will be think-* ing so, too, Dot. — Yours truly, LADY ROBIN. [I know the club -xtembers would be verji glad if you .did send in a paper, Lady Robin, Why don't you try 'to write one? Even at j short one would be welcome, and you cant always choose any subject you like for Open. Meeting, you know.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — This is my first letter to you, and I hope you will accept me as one oi your happy band. There are two L.P. herej who have persuaded me to write to you to» night. The weather has been lovely her« till last night, but it has rained all thia afternoon. I am staying in the country ati present, but my home is in Dunedin. 13 have very good times here, riding and driving. The air in the country is so much fresher and healthier than that in the town. B am the second eldest of a family of seven. My eldest brother, who is an engineer, has lately gone to London. — Yours truly, SISTER CHRISTABEL. [You are welcome to our band, SisieK Christabel. Your eldest brother must seem a very long way off, now that he is in London. Does he write you interesting letters about the places he sees? — DOT.] Dear Dot, — This is my first letter to your page, and I hope you will let me join your happy band. I was 15 years old on th« 19th of last month, and lam out at work. I know a good many D.L.F. about here. X> have five brothers and three sisters; oner I brother a-nd sister are twins. We are having] very warm weather down here, hut »c had! a shower of rain to-day, and it has done a. lot of good to the turnips and vegetable^ which were badly needing rain. Most of tha farmers are cutting their crops about her» just now. — Yours truly, MAID MARIAIv. [You also are welcome, Maid Marian. C know you must have been very glad to sea that rain ; everything was looking so burn* and parched.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — As I have been reading th« D L.F. Page in the Witness, and have* enjoyed it very much, I thought I should liks 1 to communicate with you. I am in th« Seventh Standard at school, and I nm also learning music; so with all my studies X' have not much time to spare for writing, letters, but I shall write sometimes to you., I have about two miles to go to school; it is all up and down hills, and on these hoi days 1 it is dreadful walking to and fro. AIB the vegetation is burnt up with the hot sun, I know a few D.L.F. about here. — Yout'J truly, DULCIBEL CARISSIMA. [No one has that name, dear; it is aa uncommon one. I hope you will find time* in the midst of your occupations to writer us an occasional letter. We all lead busjj lives, don't we?— DOT.] Dear Dot. — This is my first letter to your i page, and I hope you will let me join your happy band. I am nearly 12 years old, and! i I am in the Fourth Standard. There are * lot of bush fires about here now. Our school picnic was on the 6th of February, and w« went to Colac Bay for it. It was nice down' on the beach and wading in the sea. — Yours truly, WHITE RABBIT. [You, too, little White Rabbit, may joir* us. Have you read " Alice's Adventures in! Wonderland" ? You ought to when you have that name.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — I suppose you were wondering if you were ever going to hear from me> again, so I thought I would write just to> show I am not too lazy altogether. We are having scorching weather herei in Invercargill, and really it is with a> great effort I do anything. I believe B am nearly too lazy to have dinner, but B manage to get through it somehow. We are having perfect weather for picnics, and B must say the schools and other societies are taking full advantage of the weather. Although there have been so many picnics I have only been to one myself, and I* thoroughly enjoyed myself at that one. ll 11I 1 have not had time for such things as picnics lately, becatise I have been, as the saying is, up to my eyes in work. I shall have to close now, with love to Thistle and yourself. — Yours truly, LORD WOLSELEY. [It is an age of work and worry, they say, Lord Wolseley. You evidently have your share of the work. What about the worry 7 — DOT.] Dear Dot, — This is my first letter to your page, and I hope you will accept me as one of your little band. I am nine years old, and in the Second Standard. I have been to Colac Bay for a. picnic. I have often, read the D.L.F. letters in the Otago Witness, and I thought I would write too.— « Yours truly, KISS ME QUICK. [Here is another new writer! Quite » batch of first letters all together to-day I You are welcome, too, dear. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — J am going to tell you how 1 spent my Christmas holidays. They were not spent in the din of a large town like Dunedin, but I enjoyed them to the full. I went to town on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, but found nothing to interest* me at all. On Boxing Day I went to our, SurTday school picnic, and spent a happy* day. I won a photo frame, a brooch, and a handkerchief. Princess Naomi and I and; «. few others helpea to take round the re-< freshmenta-, and I liked 1 it very much. 1 went to the Bluff regatta, and enjoyed mf-i self immensely. We were on the Pioneer* and saw a pet goat, which was very small and tame. We saw the cook cooking, and it! was very interesting. I was greatly amused) to see the sailors going about barefooted Their feej. are so fiat, and they make sucbi a, funny noise. I observed that they had! their arms tottooed in many colours. The boat was very olean, end the brasswotld shining. I went to Wyndham for «, holiday, but only stayed away for a week. I was only at Wyndliam fox two days, and at Eden,*

district. Dear Dot, when I sett down, to write this scribble I thought I could continue for evermore, but I find I have almost come to the end of my tether already. But before I finish I will tell you about a picnic we had on the ranges. We started from Matakanui at half-past 9, with, the expectation of arriving at our destination about half-past XI, but it was past midday when we arrived. We very soon had our billy boiling. Frora when we started to make the fireplace, which was ma3e of stones built together, to when the lid was dancing a Highland fling on the billy was exactly 25 minutes; so you see we were better at boiling the billy than climbing the ranges. We sat down to have a well-earned rest, then started on our homeward «ay once more. Ah, Dot, N they miay have their towns and cities, but give me the mountain air, with its pure, delicious scents! A lad born and educated in a city, who has never had the pleasure of inhaling mountain air. cannot realise for a moment what it is like. I have travelled nearly the whole of the South I Island, but I have never appreciated a day's ! outing as well in my short lifetime; and the scenery we met with on our way was most beautiful. — Yours truly, REALITY. Dear Dot, — I did' not meet any D.L.F. at Wyndham,' but I enjoyed myself very much. The picnic included people from Orepuki, Pahia,, and Rivertou. We left Oxepuki at five minutes past 7, and arrived et Wyndham at five minute 9to 11 ; then I had lunch, and then went and enjoyed myself till the train left again at ten minutes to 5. We sat on the carriage platform all the way home. Would Carrier Dove please send me a post-card? With best love to The Last Rose of Summer, Tongala, Welsh Boy, Lady Leash, Queen Maud, Black Diamond, and Roeabelle, — Yours truly, TENERIFFE. Dear Dot, — You must be thinking that I have deserted your page, and really it is a long time since I La-st wrote. The holidays are over at last, and we have gone back to the old hum-drumi monotony of school life. But while they lasted the holidays were simply glorious. Waipukurau was looking its loveliest, and I can tell you that is something. It was just the weather for picnics, ftnd those were in full swing. The bush at Mount Herbert was grand in the hot, sunny days, and the road to the bush was lined with hedges of beautiful roses, especially the lovely cream ones and the cloth of gold. The rivers certainly had their full share of attention, and eeling parties were not forgotten. But perhaps the best fun of all were two Bible Class picnics, held in the moonlight, one on the 18th of December and another on the 4th of February. On New Year's Day there was a> Congregational picnic in the manse grounds, and that was voted a great success. I did not go away for my holidays. It was holiday enough for me to stay home in Waipukurau after spending the term at sohool in Dannevirke. I went to Napier for a few days, but that was all. That fire in Wellington that burned the examination papers: was a real nuisance. It is hard when one is having a good holiday to be forced to go and flit in an examination room, scratching . away for dear life over c Latin paper that one feels sure can only be done by the examiner himself. I was in for the university scholarship' examination, but I don't expect to pass. I went in for the civil service again this year, just to see how high I could get. The results of the scholarship are very late indeed in coming out. We are in our new high school now, >and are very proud of it indeed. Mr Fowlds, the Minster of Education, came up from Wellington to open it. It was a grand ceremony, and all we girls and boys had to carry round afternoon tea for the visitors. In the evening Mr Fowlds gave a political address, which was very enjoyable. I suppose you «re feeling the dry weather as much as we are. We had a little- rain last night, but it was just enough to make us want more. The fires about Dannevirke are terrible. On some days we o&n hardly see on account of the smoke. Coming down in the train the other night from) Waipukurau to Dannevirke, as we got into Matamau the whole district seemed like a huge city, into whose harbour we were coming at night. There were simply thousands of little fires, gleaming like the city lights. I really must close, or my pen will carry me on over several more pages. With love to yourself and £Ec other D L F., — Yours truly, ERICA. [I hope your results ere satisfactory when you get them, Erica. It A-as indeed trying for you to do a second set of examination papers during your holidays; but what else could be done?— DOT.] Dear Dot, — I have got a new clog called Boy ; he goes with me to bring the cows home. He is fond of fun, and when the horse is trotting he jumps up and tries to bite the horse's nose. He sometimes awima the Clutha River after my father. He won't go in the boat, and sometimes the current carries him a long way down. During the holidays I went with my mother to some cherry gardens, and helped her to pick a box of cherries. We have a man at cur school now, and I hope he will teach U3 cricket. ■Good-night, Dot. — Yours truly, MATAGOURI. Dear Dot, — Since I last wrote io you we' have taken our honey. We had about two tons and a-half of honey and about 1001b of wax. Dear Dot, I saw after my last letter that you were asking about stings • you mentioned that honey was supposed to be good for them, but I think it is best to eat. I found out that pain-killer was very good, or very hot water if you have it handy. We have been very busy fixing our bees up for the winter. Since I wrote to you last we have had our annual flower show, and we had a holiday from, school. — Yours truly, BATtNEY MILES. [Two tons and a-half seems a very large amount of honey. Barney I suppose you send it into town for sale. That is extensive beekeeping, isn't it? I hope you find it profitable.— DOT.] Dear Dot —"We have had a very dry mmmer this year. and the giaas is all burned up The farmers are busy harvesting, but they have had to stop for the last few days owdng ■to the rain. The weather seems to be clearing up now, and the harvesting will be resumed again to-morrow The flower show was held here on the 19th and 20th of lasl month On the 19th the Orepuki, CoJac Bay. and Riverton Schools held their excursions heie, and on the 20th the South Invercargill School did the same.— Yours truly, ERIN-GO-BRAG H 11. Dear Dot, — All the merriment of our holiday is over. I shall try to give you a description of mine. I did not go awaj anywhere till Christmas Day, when I went to the beach. We had our lunch there, and then we waded for a long time. "While I was cutting a piece of kelp a big wave came, and off I ran as quick as po^sib'e. There were many caves on the beach, and mother sat in one of these and read » book One of the caves went right through a hill. I , went through it, and before me spread a l beautiful view of the beach. Leaving the

beach about 3 p.m., we set out for home. On ' Boxing Day I went to Sfreet-wtit-er Creek , I took a book with me, and aeal all the time. On New Year's Day I went to the Pelmerston annual race meeting, and liked the races very much I went to Mat's place on New Year's Night, and stayed there for about a fortnight. I went to the liver one day and got an old log, which I had for a raft; when I came out my trousers were all wet. On the 29th of January we went to the bush ; we left home about 10 a.m., having to walk about a mile. We boiled the billy, and my mother watched the billy boiling 'while we played abemt. We hurried up and had something to eat, then we set off on our journey. When we had gone.-a. certain distance we sat down for «, rest; then we started for the top of a motinlain called Puketapu. There we stayed for about half an hour, then we oame back down again, and aft«r having something to eat we eet out for home. How much do the badges cost? What is the retiring age? — Yours truly, LEX. [The badges cost Is 6d, and the retiring age is twenty —DOT.] Dear Dot,— This is the first time I have written to the page since our late Dot's death. What a large number you must have writing to the page! Really, it must be tiresome reading such a lot of letters every week; and yet there are still more joining. I don't think it would be a bad idea, to ge* a D.L.F. paper printed every week, as they will soon be occupying too much of the Witness. The weather here is very dry and hot at present, and if we don't get rain soon everything will be burnt up. They cay the L.F. picnic in Oamaru on New Year's Day was a success. I was not there, although. I was in Oamaru, so I can't give my opinion on it ; but I think they should try and hold it on another day, «b the sports are always held that day, and the Oamaru D.L.F. would like to go to the sports, and yet they would also like to go to the picnic. I saw the photos in the Witness, but there were very lew Oamaruites.— Yours truly, INDIAN BELLE. Dear Dot,— lt is beginning to get cold in the mornings now; it won't be long till winter is here. The apples, plums, and brambles are getting ripe now; I was pulling brambles for a little while two afternoons last week, and it isn't a very nice job. It is a- long time since Nancy Lee and Queenie II wrote to the page; I think they need rousing up. I think S.C. Number was very interesting. The farmers are busy getting their crops cut and led in, as they are afraid the weather will break. I received your postcard. Nightingale, but have not yet answered it. I was pleased -to see Little Mack's letter in; I hope he will write again soon. With love to Rosy Cheeks, Lex, Mat, Nightingale, and yourself. — Yours truly, PANSY BLOSSOM. Dear Dot, — We have our crop cut and in the stack, but we have not had the threshing mill yet. I think we will get it in about three weeks' time. We are always glad when the mill is away, &a it ia a. great bother preparing for the men. What terrible fires they are having in New Plymouth! We have had one or two small fires here, which, if not seen when they started, might have caused a good bit of damage. Dear Dot, I hear there is to ba ft D.L.F. picnic in Oamaru; ia that correct? If it is I should like to go to it. I have about 170 postcards now, and my brother gave me a nice album for my birthday, on the 15th of last month. I was 15. What a lot of new writers there are this- week! It must take a long time to read all the D.L.F. letters that you receive. The wind is blowing a lot of the fruit off the trees- that are not sheltered. Do the D.L.F send their photographs in to have the groups taken? If so, are they retxirned? Do you like reading, Dot? I read a lot of books; the ones I like best are "The Carrier's Cart," "The Lamplighter." "Little Women," "Little Miss," and "Lil Carrington's Rebellion." I also like Mrs "Wood's books- very much. I send my love to Glenfalloch, Lady Olive's Mate, Marble, and all the other D.L.F. I will give you all a riddle: What three letters change a girl to a woman? — Yours truly. LADY OLIVE. [I have heard nothing of the picnic at Oamaru, Lady Olive. Yes, thei groups of D.L.F. that are published are taken from photos that are sent in to me. The photos are not returned.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — As usual, I am slow in writing to the page. Up here there seems nothing to write about .but the weather, and this summer it has been very warm — I believe one of the hottest and driest ever felt in Central Otago. We had a heavy showeT on Sunday ; since then it has been rather cool, and to-day is very gloomy; I hope it meansmore rain. At <mr last examination I passed the Sixth Standard, and that finished my school days I could have gone for another 12 months if I had liked, but I was very anxious to stay at home. I like it very well, too, but I sometimes miss my school companions. "We have had some nice dances in our hall. A young man, a native of the place, got married, and as ne was leaving the district his mates gave a social in honour of the event. A week later the young lady's parents gave a dance in the hall to celebrate the event, and we enjoyed both veiy much You will surely think. Dot, "Was it net too hot for dancing 9 " Strange to say. it froze one night, and those who were not dancing were quite cold. Our school teacher spent part of her holidays in Stewart Island "While tEere she sent T/il Khush and me two leaves of the mutton tree ; they served a* post-card?, and were stamped and written on. It was a very hot afternoon when we got them, and when we saw those soft, cool, green leaves ans the words on them giving an account of ferns, tuis, and bush. I fear we felt quite envious of our teacher. I have given up autoeollecting. I send so many autos, and never got a return. A Butterfly Princess, why did you not send me your auto? I hear Hoohhan has pone to town for a while, so she will be abe to attend the club meetings I see a letter signed Billy Burlow. I wonder if I know who he is, and if I went to school with him With love to Mattie Meg. and Towser —Yours truly, BOSCOBEL. Dear Dot, — T aui writing this from London. England, as I would like to be enrolled on ycur list of L.F I first heard of D.L F. through a little friend I am in correspondence with, a D L.F in New Zealand. Although I have not «een her. I look forward fo her letter? veiy much I go to Mina Road Elementary School, and I am in the highest standard — namely, Standard Ex "VII lam 13 years old. and I have one brother, who is in Standard V, he is 11 years old. This is the fir=t time I have written to you. but I hope if will not be the last. Perhaps "you wou'd like to know the name of mv little friend ; it is .Tune I Rose. If 1 decide to have a. badge, would ! English stamps do? Could you <ret them ' changed easily' Although the New Year ! will be rather late when you receive this. I wish you and all the L.F. a happy and prosperous one. I think this i» enough

tor my first letter, but I Eope I may writ# again. — Xouib txnly, LONDON LILY. [I think I could get English stampa changed without any trouble, London Lily. I shall be glad to send you a badge when you want one. I hope you will derive a. gTeat deal of pleasure from your connection with our D.L.F. world.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— This is my first letter to you, and I hope you will let me become one of your band. I am 15 years old, «nd have left school; my birthday was on February Hi St. Valentine's Day. There are no D.L.P. about here; ahaLl I get some little folk to write to you? I know they would be very • pleased to. We are having very dry weather up in Nelson now; there is scarcely any green grass. My mother ta-kea the Otago "Witness, and your letters in it are very interesting. I have a bicycle, but I do not ride it very much, as the roads are bo dusty. Dot, after I know that you will let me become one of your band, I will send to you for a badge; they are Is 6d, aren't they? Well, Dot, I must close my short letter. I am so glad I wrote to the page. I~ send my lovo to a.ll D.L.F. and yourself.— Yours truly, BLUE BIRD. [Yes, certainly you may join, Blue Bird; you will be the pioneer D.L.F. in your part of the world. That is the price of the badges.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — Our school helcl its picnic ai the river, three miles from here. After dinner we went out in the motor boats. I am in the Fourth Standard now. Every week I read the D.L.F. letters in the Witness. The apples- are getting ripe now. Our garden is very pretty with white daisies-, etc; We have 28 cows milking juat now. Some mornings it is very frosty. Nearly every , morning when I am going to school I get a ride in the milk carts. My Bister is- also writing to-ni{jht. At the school picnic I only saw one D.L.F., but I did l not apeak to her because I had not a. badge on. I must close now, as it is my bedtime.— Touts truly, ZITELLA. Dear Dot,— You will almost have forgotten me. I am in the Third Standard now. W« did not go anywhere during our holidays. I have two white rabbits.; they have pink eyes. They need such a lot of grass to eat. They do like willows to eat. Their hutch. is near a willow tree, jusi by the gate that dad comes through when he comes up from the stable yard. He often gives them a> willow branch. They know him quite well, and if he passes withovut doing so they will stand up on their hind legs and poke their little pink noses through the netting and shake it till he notices them and gives them some. Sometimes we tie long strings round their necks and take them for a little run; they do enjoy it. Mo* (Bernicm's kitten) chases them; she pulls their ears and hits themi with her paws. She lores to hide in the willow tree, and when they come to nibble the leaves she jumps Tight down on them and gives them such a fright. I wish I could have come with munmt to Dunedin. I would like to see the public gardens, with all the beautiful flowers-, animals, and birds to be seen there, and! also the Museum. I love animals 1 and birds. As I am tired now, I will end this letter with love to all the D.L.F. I often go to the club, but I don't like the debates. On« side seems so cross with the other side. I am sometimes -afraid thtiy will get really angry. I like other nights best. With lov» to yourself. — Yours truiy, BRET HARTE. [You must not think the debaters ar» cross with one another, Bret Harte; it w juet that they grow ao anxious to make tbo other side see their point of view thai perhaps their voices grow excited and sound angry. They a-re thinking more of the question they are talking about than of on« another. Perhaps one day you will be » debater yourself, Bret Harte; then you will know what I mean.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— Have you a little spare earner in your page for another? I feel so sure I shall get a welcome that I shall just keep on. I have one sister writing to the page, and we all enjoy the Little Folk's letters — from father and mother down to the youngest that can read. It is a common sight to sea one of our school number coming borne reading the D.L.F. Page as he walks along, one eye on the page and one for passing oaite, etc. What a lot of good writers there aie! Dear Dot, I wonder if *ny of your readers know the place from which I take, my N.D.P. I waa born in Echuca 16 years and thxe« months ago, coming to New Zealand when nine months old. I have travelled alwut * lot and seen a good many different places, and now I am. "on. my own" ajid doing welL My mistress is very good! and kind, and we get on well together. It is an old station, but a private place now, and we have any amount of fruit of all sorts. I had' good l times when the shearers were here; we had plenty of fun, and plenty of hard work, too, but they were all very good to me. I get a pass once a year, and always go for a week's holiday. Last November I bad my "week," and left here, in company with my aunt, for Lumsden, where I had a- jolly time. I also went to Kingston, an*! although the trai» only stayed 20 minutes I had a glimpse of the lake", and admired the big mountain* very much. Then I went down to Invercargill, and had a good time there; so my lot is not a hard one, is it? We lived on the coast before coming up here, and it was very nice in summer weather. We had some merry dips in the sea, and there was always something fresh to see and shells to gather. .Next holiday I shall go to Dunedin and try to see our Dot. if I may. Dear Dot I am not a good hand at le tter- writing ; Tongala is best at that. I wonder does Harry Fairer remember that place, Tongala. four miles from Kyabram, in Victoria? Mother comes from there. I will try and write »■ more interesting letter next time after I get used to it. "With fond love to Relics and your own dear self,— Yours truly, ECHUCA. [Certainly I have, room fox you, dear; I am very glad to admit anyone who is so interested in the D L.F. Pages as you are. Havi you Harry Farrer's address-? I hava heard nothing of him far such » long time, and should be very glad to have any news of him— DOT 1 Dear Dot,— Tbis is my first letter to your pa^e, and I hope you will accept me as one of "your happy Little Folk. I am at present si-ending my holidays with Ardleigh, and she persuaded me to write to you. The river is about 100 yards from this houee, and Ardleigh and I are in the river twice a day.^ I have learned to ride a horse since I came up here, and my mate and I ride nearly everywhere we go.— Yours truly, TEA WIFIE. [Yon al=o may join our ranks, Tea Wifie. What a- happy time you seem to be having, swimming and riding! I suppose you will not want to leave Ardleigh ?— DOT."] Dear Dot, — Since I last WTote to the page we have moved to Tisbury. My schooldays started here, so the people are not alt strangers. Sweet Briar and Polly Berries ar© old schoolmates of mine. The school is just over the road, and my sisters often go whil« the bell is ringing. There are 19 L.F. here, and out of tli- lot only two boys write. A$

the other place we were living there were a dozen I».F. and only one boy. It seems to me there mu6t be more girls than boys writing to the page. OuVyearly school excurf sion was held to Rivertem on the 14th. „ The day was exceedingly fine, and I think we all rajoyed ourselves. We left home at 8 o'clock in the morning, arriving at Riverton about half-past 10. We left there again at half-past "*5, and reached home about 8 at night, co we had a long day. We are milking six cows, and send the milk by train to the factory. We are looking forward to having a D.L.F. picnic out here, so when it comes off I will write and tell you all about it. — Yours truly, MOTHER'S HELP. AUTOS AND POSTCARDS. Sweet Bunch of Daisies, Miss Alice Crow. "Waikoura, Southland, would like to exchange postcards with any D.L.F. willing. Prompt replies. Ardleigh, care Mr Jas. Smith, Glenurie, KeJso, would like to exchange autos. with Sweetheart, Kia- Ora's Mute, and any li.F. -willing; and postcards with C.A. Lord Wolseley, Alex. Sims, Box 97, Invercargill, would like to exchange postcards with Elsinore and any other D.L.F. willing. Prompt replies. Teneriffe, care Mis N. Wood, Orepuki, would like to exchange postcards with any D.L.F. ■willing. Mother's Help, Amy Boxall, Tisbury, wishes to exchange autos or postcards with any D.L.F. willing. Indian Belle, care Post Office, Herbert, would like to exchange autos or postcards ■with Gipsy Queen, Scobie, 'Harry, Dunedinite, Kia- OTa, and other D.L.F. willing. Branible, Atarau P. 0., 'West Coast, asks if Welsh Boy will send his address, as she has lost his postcard and address. She asks specially for floral postcards, which are the only ones she collects. Badges sent to — The G-raniaphone (2). j

<3al» the rest of ray stay I did not see a single badge, although I scanned every hat and coat of a hkely-locking wearer. Had I stayed at Wyndham I could have seen the Murihikis each day, as they were in camp. I saw a few of them on their horses The day I went to Edendale I missed the train, of -which I was very glad, as we had to drive over, and I enjoyed "the drive to +b« full. I felt glad when I got home, as I was tired o-f the country, I live in a country place, but I think Edendale is more countrified than our little township. On my way home from "Wyndham I got my photo taken. I have ]U3t been looking at the photo of Mr Murie'e balloon in the "Witness. It went up to-day, but I did not see it. I hope it is a great success, to show what Inveroargill can do. "When balloons and airships prove successful it will astonish the birds to see us in our aerial flight from one place to another. "We have started school again, and I am very sorry, as I wanted to leave. I suppose the next time I write to you I shall have left school. — Yours truly, HAPPY IKE. Dear Dot, — This is my first letter to your page. May I join your happy band? I always read -the D.L.F. letter*. There was some Tain yesterday, but it is all over now. We had our school picnic about two weeks ago, and I enjoyed myself very much. We ran races -and played many different games. — Yours truly, LARRIKIN TOM. [Yes, you may join us. Larrikin Tom', but you won't frighten U3 by being a larrikin in the page, will you?— DOT.] Dear Dot, — It is nearly six months since I , wrote last. It is very hot and dry up here, | and as it has not rained foT weeks, everything is burnt up. I am now in the Seventh Standard, and have lessons to do every night, so I have not much time for writing. Harvest time is now over, and it seems so quiet after the men have gone away. We started school on the 3rd February, after a vacation of six weeks. Three of my schoolmates are now writing to the page. I was 14 on the 3rd of February — the very day our school started. Dear Dot, you will have- to excuse this short letter, as I cannot find anything more to tell you, because the plac« I live in is terribly quiet. With love to all D.L.F.,— Yours truly, QUEEN OF THE ACORNS. Dear Dot. — This is my first letter to the page, and I hope you will accept me as one of your happy band. I am eight years old, and am in the Second Standard at school. I have a little puppy, and his name ia I Dcchie. We have four big pigs with seven ' young ones each. Father sold a lot of lambs to-day. We have not started harvesting yet, but we expect to start next week. — Yours truly, THE LITTLE LAMPLIGHTER. [What a grunting and squealing that must mean, Little Lamplighter: four big pigs and seven little ones each! I hope they are at a considerable distance from you. Write again .and tell me if they all grow up. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — Seeing it is some months since I penned my last letter to you I thought I would like to begin again. On the 22nd of November the Tepanui A. and P. show was held, and you may be sure I was at it. As it waa a. wet morning we all thought we would not be able to don our finery, but it cleared off and turned out a lovely after- j noon. The draught horses were not very good, but there was a lovely pair of buggy horses, th© property of Mr Acton Adams, of IDoa Flat. I did. not look at the show much, for I was with my friends. On the 29th of November waa hefil the Glenkenich Sohool annual picnic, which, of course,, I wa* at too. The morning of the picnic waa by no means a good one, but about i dinner time it cleared off, and turned 1 out j a beautiful afternoon. I left home about j 1 p.m., en route- for my friend's, at whose j place I arrived about 2 p. mi. We soon got ready, and set out for the school, which we reached about 3 p.m. We then had some tea, and began amusing ourselves playing games. Many different games were played, I such aa rounders, twos-and-threes, fill the ! gap, etc. About _6 p.m. another tea wes 1 served. About 8.30 p.m. the dance began, which was kept up fill an early hour in the morning. On the 10th of December I left home for Invercargill, where I arrived about 2.30 p.m. I looked round for a while to see if I could see any of my friends, and on finding them I set out for my destination. Next day I accompanied a friend to the show ground. I met several L.F. there, but i none of them were Invercargill L.F. Surely Inveroergill LF. don't wear their b«dg«s! The night of the show I went out to Koranside and Glenfalloch's home, where I had a splendid time. I came home on the 16th of December with Hiawatha, a retired writer. Then came New Year's Day, which turned out a beautiful day. We left home about 12 noon, and did not get back till 8 p.m. When I arrived at the Caledonian Grounds I looked round to see if I could ccc any of my friends, but not seeing anyone I j knew, I made my way to the railway sta- I tion, there to meet two friends from Dunedin. On arriving at the sports ground again my friends and I looked about in search of mother, whom we soon found among the few people who were there. We did not stop to the concert and dance, for there was to be «. picnic up Black Gully the next day, and we would have been too tired. Next j day was a beautiful day, and all our neigh- j bours turned up to the picnic, at which there was about 60 present. A lot for a private picnic, wasn't it 9 We arrived there | about 12.30 p.m., and set to to make the lunch, which was soon handed round Then after I the cups and saucers xere wa=hed up tome atarted off to climb the mountain, while the rest stopped at the foot and amused them- , selves on the merry-go-round and toboggan, j which created great fun. Oh, Dot. if you ' had been there you would have laughed, too! i ; The toboggan is a great affair. It is just i ! a wide piece of board put on four wooden I wheels, the two front wheels being on a I swivel. You drag this clumsy thins ever , so far up the hill ; let three on it. one ] sitting in the front to steer it. and if one i steering rein is pulled more than the other, j • away the toboggan shoots through the fein, ■ and usually you get a spill. Tea waa a^ain served at 6 p.m., and then we all began to make tracks towards home. We all arrived home well pleased with our day's outing. I With love to Gaulthena, — Youre truly. j ARDLEIGH. ! Dear Dot. — I am very sorry I have not written to you for a long time, but my sister and a friend have been down from Welling- , ton, and I have been out with them a lot. We had our school picnic last Wednesday week. *nd we went to Brighton TheTe were four drags of ni and a waggonette, and we had such a pleasant and enjoyable d^v.— Yours truly, LEITH. Dear Dot, — Many and many a long day has p*ssed since last I took the pen to write to the dear old page, and many have been the changes since then. Things are very dry in Central Otago at present, but the majority of the farmers have been blessed j frith a fair harvest, especially in the Lauder '