LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Issue 4028, 26 May 1931, Page 71

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLK.

Motto.—We write for the benefit of others, not for ourselves. Dear Dot,—l have just finished reading the letters from your band, and as the numbers of letters have decreased since the twopenny postage, it would be best if I helped to increase them. I hope you have not begun to think I had forgotten you because it is years since I wrote, but at last I feel as though I must write. I have passed my proficiency, and turned 14 since I last wrote. We have 11 pullets, froin which we receive four or five eggs a day generally, but we very rarely receive any from the other fowls. We have four bantam roosters, and they are always fighting. We are having beautiful weather here for this time of the year, although it is very foggy at times. I see we have a writer from as far away as Dublin. I did not know that before. Mother is spending a holiday in your city just now, so my sister and 1 have to keep house, as she did not take any of the kiddies with her. Well, I will close now wishing your page every success.—Yours truly, ROYAL BLUE AND GOLD (Wai mate). [I appreciate your loyalty, Royal Blue and Gold- I am glad you have written to me, because it really is a long time since you sent your last letter. I must congratulate you on having passed your proficiency examination, and b’ecome 14. It seems that bantam roosters are always fighting. You and your sister will be having a busy time keeping house. I should like to peep at you and see what you are doing.—DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot-,—l thought I would write, because I have not written for a long time. We have had our examinations, and are having our holidays now. We have two weeks and a day. When we have holidays they always seem to go fast. I do not mind school, but when the examinations come we have hard work. The fishing season is over, and it feels funny not going to the river on Sundays. We generally stay at home now. Dad is in the coal pit. We have had some hard frosts. Our tanks are dry now-, and we have a well dug in the gully. It is not very far from the house. Dad and my brother cleaned the tanks while they were dry. I have not written many letters since the twopenny postage came in. We have gardening marks at school. Every Friday the garden are inspected, and the best ones given the highest marks. They are picked out of five marks, and I have had five all the time so far, but I do not know how long I will keep that up. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self.—Yours truly. EVERLASTING SWEET PEA (Otago). [lt is a great relief when examinations, arc over, and holidays have come, Everlasting Sweet Pea. But examinations are good for people, because they show them how much know. I like wells. Do you draw water from yours? You will be glad that’ your tanks are clean when the rain comes. You must be a very good little gardener, and I am proud of you and your lists of five marks.—DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot, —I feel ashamed of myself for not writing before this.: I have noticed that there are not so. many let-

tors to the page since the twopenny postage has come out, but I think the Little Folk will remember the motto, “ We write for the benefit of others, not for ourselves,” and keep on sending you letters. I have been very busy lately, as dad is in the coal pit again this yean He had a number of visitors down to see him one day. It is great the way the pump works. I think I will try and explain how it works, as it might interest some of the Little Folk. First they have to daih the river -with sand bags. The next step is the pump. They dig a bole in the coal for the pump to fit in. The pump is a long funnel about 3in square, and about 12ft long. Then there is the engine. (Dad uses his shearing plant). The pump is filled on to a stand at the top of the pit, and there is a belt that goes right down the funnel, round the bottom and right up to the top again, coining over a wheel at the top. This wheel is made on an axle, at the end of which there is a big wheel about Three feet in diameter. There is a belt round this big wheel, and round the engine wheel, so when the engine is started it drives the big wheel, and makes the axle revolve with the smaller wheel, which drives the belt. I do not think I told you that the belt through the funnel has 20 men on it. The “men” are little blocks of wood about 3in square. A better way of saying it is they are big enough to go through funnel, so when the belt works these little men carry the water through the funnel with them. But, of course, they are going at a terrific rate. I think that it is about all I can explain about it, so I hope you can see how it works. What lovely weather we are having at nresont! It is too pleasant to be inside. We have had a few frosts, but none exceedingly hard. Whatever has happened to Barnacle Bill? He has not written for ages. Perhaps he is busy, like myself. Dad did not take n license for duck shooting this season. There are a good many duck-shooters around here. The fishing season went out at the end of April, so the Sundays are very dreary to me now. Yet I always find something with which to pass the day away. I have been to a few dances lately. I was at one concert, a dance, and two twenty-first birthday parties. I do not remember ever writing to you to tell you who won the silver cup and the midnight competition. Clinton team won the silver cup. That is.the team dad is in, and dad came second in the midnight competition. Is there anything different in Dunedin yet? I have not been up for nearly two years, so I am hoping to go up for a day shortly. I would like to see the town

again. I have not seen Norah Hayseed for a while now. I have a new crepe de chine dress, a bright red with six green panels in the skirt, and a big lace collar trimmed with green. It is a pretty dress. I do not think I have any more news, so will close with best love to all tho Little Folk and your own dear self.— Yours trulv. THE STORY GIRL (Otago). [Although you are a stranger. Story Girl, you are a very good Little Folk, for you have made up for your silence by writing a very interesting letter, and one that all my children will be glad to read. You seem to have studied the pump closely when you can describe it so well. It was not a very good fishing season, was it? Thank you for telling me about the comnetitions. Congratulate your father for me. —DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot, —Once again I take up my pen to write you a few lines. Winter is with us again. Is it not lovely to get up these frosty mornings? I have written to that girl in Italy, and I have sent her some postcards and stamps. Steele Rudd wrote a very interesting letter the other week. I am playing hockey this year, but I do not like it as much as basket ball. Wc have not had a win yet. I am very fond of reading, and my favourite authors are Zane Grey. Ethel M. Dell, Margaret Peddler, and Ethel Turner. Have you read any of their books? There was no football team here last year, but there is one this year, so it will be unite a change. Kindest regards to yourself and the Little Folk.—Yours trulv. GORGE ROAD PRINCESS (Gorge Road). [Do you mean that about getting up on frosty mornings. Gorge Road Princess? If so you are different from most of my Little Folk. How glad I am that you have written to Italian! She will be so pleased, and I am pleased too. I have read very few of any of those writers, although I liked Ethel Turner when I was a child. Have you read any of the books of Mona Tracy, Edith Howes, or Esther Glen, all good New Zealand authors?—• DOT.] 3$ Dear Dot, —We are having our holidays now. I was first in Standaid V. Sweet Pea Flower was second. There has been a fog around here for several nights, but it clears away before daylight. The weather is very fine generally. My sister and father went to Kaitangat-a for a week’s holiday. As they thought the outing would be very pleasant, my brother

Mid his fiancee drove them down in the truck. An elder brother of mine is staying in Dunedin for a few days. We have four guinea pigs. Their names are Jack, Joy, June, and Janice. Janice is the youngest. She is not nearly so large as the other ones. The hens are laying between 190 and 200 eggs a day. We have not quite so many now, as most of the old ones are being killed to sell. We have no glasshouse tomatoes left now. One of our cows will soon be in. I have been reading a good deal lately. We have only chrysanthemums and Michaelmas daisies out now. Kind regards to all. —Yours truly. NEW ZEALAND ROSE (Otckaike). [Congratulations on being first in the class. New Zealand Rose. You are another clever Little Folk. And congratulations to Sweet Pea Flower on being second. The trip to Kaitangata would be a very pleasant one, and the four who went would enjoy it. I like the sound of the four J. guinea pigs. What a large number of fowls you must have! —DOT.]

Dear Dot,—Please forgive me for not writing sooner, as I have not been able. I am still rabbiting, and have now caught over 2000 rabbits and 30 ferrets. The weather down here has been very fine lately. It is not very pleasant to have to get out of bed at 6 o’clock every morning. I will close now, wishing you and your happy band the best of health.—Yours truly, J. A. T. (Otautau).

[Of course I will forgive you, J. A. T. It is good to hear from you. I hope you have not been ill, however. Is there a good market for rabbit skins this year? And do you sell the skins of the ferrets you catch? No, it certainly is not pleasant to get up at 6 o’clock every morning. Thank you for your good wishes.— DOT.]

Dear Dot. —As it is such a long time since I wrote a letter to your page I thought I should like to pen a few lines. I have just been looking at the letters from the Little Folk in the Otago Witness, and it made me think of the times when I used to write before. The football season will soon be opening up here, and I play for the White Stars. 1 am vice-cap-tain of our team, and we are hoping to win the championship cup this year. We are having fine weather up here now, but the week-end before last we had an awful downpour of rain. All the creeks were overflowing. There was a great deal of damage done on the Pukekohe Hill. Many pounds’ worth of damage was done to onion and potato crops by washouts. Cheer-up Week was on in full swing recently in Auckland. They say it was r. lovely sight to see all the strcjts decorated, and at night to see the coloured lights. I Work in a big grocery store now. and I like it very much. I have been there 15 months, so I am well into the way of the grocery trade. As news is scarce up in these parts. I will close with kindest regards.—Yours truly. MISCHIEVOUS FRED (Pukekohe). [Yes, it is a long time since I last heard from you, Mischievous Fred. Do you not think the letters are well written and interesting lately? I hope you do well at football, and are not hurt. That must have been a very bad downpour you had. I suppose you will own a" store of your own some day. and put into practice all that you are learning now. It must be very interesting to manage a business. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of Little Folk? lam nine years of age, and in Standard Ilf at school. I have a yellow rabbit and a black cat. We have holidays now. I am staying at Arrow Junction with my auntie and uncle. I am in the Wolf Cub Pack. I have one sister and four brothers. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. —Yours truly, LUCKY BLACK CAT (Cromwell). [You may certainly join. Lucky Black Cat. I hope you will not mind the extra adjective being in your name, but the name you had chosen belonged io another Little Folk. Are your rabbit and cat good friends ? What fun you will be having at Arrow Junction! Tell me why you like being a Wolf Cub—for I am sute you do like being one. —DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot, —It is nearly a year since I wrote to you. We used to live at Lake Wakatipu. Please excuse my writing. We just had our examination, and I came top in seven things and second in every other thing. I have two brothers and two sisters. I am in Standard 111 at school, and I am going into Standaid IV soon. My father and eldest brother went up to Lake Wakatipu Station the other day. I am 10 years old. I must close now.— Yours truly, BLUE BIRD (Timaru). [I remember when you lived at Lake Wakatipu, Blue Bird. Do you like your new home as well as your old one at Walter Peak? You seemed to do very well in your examination. Have you a nice teacher? You must tell me when your birthday is and I can wish you “ Many happy returns.”—DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot, —The last time I wrote to your page was in November. In my examination I came second, with 291 marks. We have been having fiue weather lately out here. There are two new settlers in this district since I last wrote to you. I shall soon finish learning music, because I have been learning nearly a year. There are not so many letters written, now that it costs twopence to send one. We have not turned out many of our cows yet. My father is ill again. I am closing with good wishes and regards to all Little Folk.—-Yours truly, GOLDEN ORANGE BLOSSOM (Pahia). [Congratulations on coming second, Golden Orange Blossom. How many marks did the first person have? Your district must be growing, and I suppose you are glad. Do not cease music, unless you have to, because a year is scarcely a long enough period for you to learn everything in.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —I suppose you thought I had forgotten the page, but that is not the case. I often write a letter, and go to post it, but cannot- find stamps, so I burn the letter. I went to Gore last week to have my teeth out. My little brother

was christened a few days ago. We have had a few fine days lately, but the nights have been very cold. I have two correspondents, who write very interesting letters- We- are milking three cows and have two calves. Mum is making me a silk dress, but I do not think I shall be able to wear it till summer time. We are having our term holidays just now. I was not at "-school last week, but my sister was, and she said I came second in my class. We play hockey at school. I think Golden Syrup is going to write. The page is growing smaller since the twopenny stamps have to be put on the letters. I enjoy reading the poetry and the stories that you put in the Otago Witness. We have about six or seven hens laying. I am making myself a petticoat at school. I will close now with love to all the Little Folk and your own deal' self.—Yours truly, THE RED BUTTERFLY (Southland). [No, I did not think you had forgotten the page, Red Butterfly. I thought you were busy with other things, and would | write when you had time, and that is just what happened. I hope the extraction of your teeth was not a very painful process, and that the abscess is now better. What is your little brother's name. Was he good while he was being christened? You will be able to wear your dress in the evenings, perhaps. I am glad that you like th poem and stories.—DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot, —-I hope this letter finds you quite well, as it leaves me at present. We have the telephone in now. and find it very handy. I have a big celluloid doll. I have had it for five years, but I do not play with it much now, as I shall, be 11 on June 1. I am going to have a few friends to play with me on my birthday. The Red Butterfly and I spent a week-end at a schoolmate’s place, and enjoyed it very much. For sewing at school I am making myself a cap and apron, as I shall be going to the technical school next year. I will close now with love to all the Little Folk and your own deal - self.—Yours truly, GOLDEN SYRUP (Southland). [Yes, thank you.. Golden Syrup, I am quite well. A telephone is very handy. I should not like to be without mine. You must tell me if you have a happy birthday. Will your big doll be a guest? I can imagine the fun you had at your friend’s place during the holidays. I think you will like technical school. Will you be taking a domestic course? —DOT.]

Dear Dot, —I again take up my pen to write the page a few lines. One morning there was a very heavy frost, and I might tell you I did not like getting out of my warm bed, but one has to shake that tiredness off. We are having lovely weather at present, and I only hope it lasts. I see that a great many of the Little Folk, including myself, took notice of Fleabane’s letter. It was a very good and interesting letter that Steele Rudd wrote a few weeks ago. although most of the news I had heard before from my brother. I made a pair of slippers for myself with light blue wool. The stitch I used was plain, as I cannot do anj- other very well. Our road is cleared now, and we can obtain a far better view. Also it does not seem so lonely. I am enclosing ninepenee in stamps, as I would like some auto cards. As news is scarce I will close with kindest regards to all.—Yours truly, FLOWER CHILD (Stewart Island). [A frosty morning generally means a warm day, Flower Child. But it is hard to rise when the air is cold. I am glad that you noticed the letters of Fleabane and Steele Rudd. As you say they were both very good. If you can do plain knitting you will soon learn to do fancy knitting. I have posted the auto cards. — DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot,—l am fond of pigs. We are having fine weather just now. We have our term holidays for a fortnight. It is not long since I last wrote to you. We are having hard frosts, and it is cold in the mornings. We are making a playhouse in the bush. I went to the pictures with my big sifter one Saturday night. Tim M'Coy was playing in “ The Overland Telegraph,” and I enjoyed mj'self very much. There are not many berries left on the trees. I have never made cherry earrings. How do you make them? I have four correspondents. I went to Halfmoon Bay the other day with my twin sister, and it was a fine day, so I enjoyed myself. The next book I am going to read will be “ The Magic Island.” We feel the wind more now. as the men working on the road chopped down so many trees. I will close now with love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self.—Yours truly. MUSICAL MACK (Stewart Island). [I thought you would like pigs, Musical Mack. What a good plan to spend your holidaysin making a playhouse in the bush! You will have some lovely times in it. I suppose. Is it big and roomy? Cherry earrings are made by taking two cherries whose stalks are joined together, and hanging them over the ear. They are very simple, as you see. You must tell me about “ The Magic Island.” —DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot, —It is a long time since I last wrote to you. We are having very fine weather just now. and nearly every morning j>ve have a frost. Some of the men are making a stone wall for when the boats come in. The rats are eating some of our potatoes in our shed, and we have to set traps to catch them. Sometimes we go down to the beach and play “ King Come,” and sometimes we play hide-and-go-seek in the rushes. Outside our playhouse we grew some ferns, and we made a fence and a gate. The fishing has been better lately. ' Well, as news is not too plentiful I will close now with best love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self.—Yours truly. MUM S LITTLE HELPER (Stewart Island). [Does the wall extend into the sea. Mum’s Little Helper? At which end of the beach is it? Rats are very troublesome when they start to eat food. Have you caught any yet? How do you play “King Come?” I can, of course, play hide-and-seek. I am glad that the fishing has been better. The playhouse must be a darling place.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —Since last writing to you our o-d eat "Geordie has died. We miss him very much, and often speak about him. In the term examination I came

third. As it is our holidays wc can go for picnics. Nine of us went for about a three mile tramp. We left home at half-past 10, and went over to the domain, where we found a track leading to a.lagoon about a mile away. It was a hot day, and we were glad it was through bush. When wc arrived we boiled the billy, and had something to cat. We then left our things and went for a walk along the bank of the lagoon. After walking some distance we came to a pool where we saw an eel. After about 10 minutes trying to catch him we succeeded. By this time it was growing late, so we returned and had tea. We then set off for home tired, but pleased with the way we had spent the day. Our tanks are dry. so we are wishing it would rain. I think that I will close now. —Yours truly. SPRING’S YELLOW DAFFODIL (Tuatapere). [I know how you will miss your puss, Spring’s Yellow Daffodil. It is very sad when pets die. But if we have been good to them while they have been with us we need .not sorrow for them when they are gone. I am pleased to hear that you came third in your class. You seem to have had a very happy time on your tramp. Next day you would feel very tired, I suppose, and yet, happily so. —DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot, —You will be thinking I have forgotten the page, as it is so long since I have written. I can assure you that such is not the case, as I read the Little Folk’s letters each week with the greatest interest. Steele Rudd wrote a very descriptive letter on what he saw and learned while in the Ross Sea. It was very interesting all through. The children in these parts are having glorious weather for their school holidays. It does not seem at all like winter at present. Recently I spent two or three days at a friend’s home in another part of the Sounds, and had a very pleasant time. The lady with whom" I stayed has a beautiful garden, and she gave me a large bundle of plants which I did not have. I have been busy putting them all in. The chrysanthemums are looking lovely now, but there are not very flowers out. One jonquil is in flower. It has put in an early appearance, has it not? There are also a few violets and primroses out. Some of the trees look very bright with their autumn tinted leaves, and make a striking contrast against the dark evergreen trees. On sunny days I hang the canaries’ outside where it is warm. They seem to enjoy the sun-

shine. For fancywork now I am working a design on a blue table centre. When I started it I thought I would do it very quickly, but there is more working on it than I thought. As my news supply is . now exhausted I will close with best i wishes to the page. —-Yours truly, i PELORUS JACK (Picton). I [Yes, the Little Folk's letters have ; been worth reading lately, Pelorus Jack. I do not wonder that you are interested in them. The weather is certainly very i pleasant. I am glad it has happened during the holidays. You will feel very rich with the new plants in your garden. How splendid about the jonquil! It is indeed an early riser. At the pictures the other evening I heard a canary whistle a tune in harmony witli a gramophone. . It was beautiful. —DOT.]

Dear Dot, —-Since last writing to you I have had my fourteenth birthday. My auntie has been sending us the Otago Witnesses Lately, and I enjoy reading the Little Folk's letters. My best correspondent is- Queen of Daunt, whose birthday is •on the same day as mine. What has happened to Falling Snowflakes lately? She used to be a regular correspondent, but now I never hear from her, nor from Queen of Cowyard. All our flowers are fading now, and the gardens look very dull.> The children all like reading about the Chums, and Peter, Patty, and Mr Pip. I have swollen glands at present, but as I have had them for a good while now they are growing better. I write to three other pages besides yours, and so have plenty of writing to do. There are less letters and autos in. your page since the rise in postage, are there not? We did not do any harvesting this year. We have a piano, but I cannot play it. Can you play a piano? I think Ring-a-Ding is going to write to you soon. The pony which wc used to drive to school is too old, and so he is turned out. My little brother, who is now one year and seven months old, loves horses, and likes*to have a ride on one. Do you like gardening? I do. and I have three gardens. We arg milking only one cow just now, but we expect to be milking two more shortlyAVcll, as news is scarce, I will close with love to all and your own dear self.—Yours truly, MOONLAND FAIRY (Otautau). [Do you like-being 14, Moonland Fairy? It is an important age, I think, because it shows that you are putting away child-

ish things when you reach it. Y’ou must take care of yourself if your glands are swollen. Do not let yours.elf catch a cold. You are a very busy person if you write to three.other pages besides mine. I cannot play a piano very well. But I can garden, and I like it very much. Fancy jour having three gardens! If you want to correspond with Italian you must write first. The address is Enzo Bonfiglio, 9 Viale Maino, Milan, Italy.—DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot.—l have read the letters in the Otago Witness for a while, and I wish to become a member of your page. I was 14 years old on December 16. and I am in Standard VI. We are having our winter holidays just now, but the weather has not been very good. Sometimes we go to tne talkies in Queenstown, which is eight miles away.—Y’ours truly. HONEYSUCKLE LADY’ (Queenstown). [You are welcome, dear, but as your name had been chosen by two other Little Folk I altered it to “ Honeysuckle Lady.” Are you going to high school next year? I suppose, like most people, you like talking pictures better than silent ones.— DOT-] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot. —It seems a long time since I last wrote, to you. I have been reading the Little Folk’s letters for a long time, and I . think, they are fewer ..since the twopenny came in, , and I thought I would write to you to add one more to your page, y We have just finished the term examination, and I have passed. I am in Standard VI at-school now, and we have started football, as it is too cold for cricket. I think Lieutenant Qviller came to a sad ending; My sister went to Wellington some time ago, and when she was on the boat coming back she had her hand cut. It was the roughest trip the Tamahine had ever had. I think it must be cold for the whalers who went to the Far South. I am not going anjrwhere for my holidays. I can play the mandolin, and my brother can play the banjo. Well, as news is scarce, I will close, with love to all.—Yours truly, WILD BILL FROM SPRING CREEK (Marlborough). [Thank you for your letter, Wild Bill From Spring Creek. I thought you would write to me soon. I am glad that you passed in your examination. Yes, Lieutenan Qviller’s end was very sad; he was an excellent parachutist too. It must

have been very rough when your sister cut her hand. I hope it is better now. Do you and your brother play duets?— 1 DOT -1 , . Dear Dot,—As it is a long time since I ; have last written to you, I think it is time to write a few lines now. I always enjoy reading the Dot’s Little Folk letters, as they are very interesting indeed. I ■ noticed in one Otago Witness that Lady Jane Grey had written a very nice letter j to your page. We have been experiencing very hot weather here lately. One would not think it is winter time. I think I have told you before that Mountain Rose and I have joined the Girl Guides at Colac Bay. The Girl Guides are holding a concert and dance at Colac Bay soon, so we all have been busy practising for the concert. Mountain Rose and 1 are going to play a pianoforte duet. At present our father is away working at a place near Gore, and we miss him very much, as he does not come home very often because it is a long distance away. I see by the papers that the people in the North Island are experiencing many small earthquakes. Are you fond of reading? I am very fond of it. I have just finished reading a very interesting book entitled “ Anna, the Adventuress,” by E. Phillips Oppenheim. My favourite authors are L. M. Montgomery, and Annie S. Swan. This is a very short letter, but news is very scarce, so I will close. —Yours truly, MOUNTAIN LILY (Round Hill). [I am glad you like reading the letters, Mountain Lily. I, too, think they are interesting. Yes, you told me about being a Girl Guide. I wish you success in the : Concert, and hope you play well together. You will certainly miss father if he is home only seldom, and will give him n special welcome when he arrives each time. I know how he will appreciate it.— DoT ' ] * * * Dear Dot,—Although I am not a regular writer to your page, I read every letter every week, and some of them are very interesting. We have been having some very good weather lately, but I do not think it will last much longer. . Some people about here are wanting rain anyway, as they are growing short of water. Last Friday one of our horses fell down a shaft. He was almost covered in water. We heard him groaning, and soon went for help. They dug around the shaft and the other horse pulled him out, and he is as well as ever again, Mountain Lily and I are having holidays from music at present. Our latest . duet is “ Rendezvous.” and it is very nice. Lady Jane. Grey, Mountain Lily, and I go down to Colac Bay every Tuesday and Friday, to prac-

tise for a concert the Guides are going to have. We all enjoy going very much. There is a dance being held here soon in aid of a local man who was hurt about two years ago and has been in a hospital ever since. I have finished a book called “ Anna the Adventuress,” by E. Phillips Oppenheim, and started another called “ A Family at Misrule,” by Lilian Turner. I have also just begun one called “ Danesbury House,” by Mrs Henry Wood. Although reading is not a very usefuL. pastime, I prefer it to anything else. I also like writing letters. I will now close, as there is very little news here. Kind regards to all the Little Folk and yourself. —Yours truly, MOUNTAIN ROSE (Round Hill). [lt is hard to say how long fine weather will last, Mountain Rose. Probably when the rain does come, it will come “ with a vengeance.” I am sorry to hear about the poor horse. What a fright he would recieve! It is a good thing he was not hurt. You seem very fond of reading, though you could choose better authors, I think. Reading can be a very useful pastime if the right books are read. —DOT.]

Dear Dot,—Captain White had his aeroplane at Cromwell for three days. We did not go to see it, but we saw it going away. My mother has gone away for a holiday, but she will be back soon. The unemployed men are working on the roads not" far from here. We have a fortnight’s holiday from school now. We have very hard frosts'these mornings, but it'is warm in the afternoon: My brother goes eeling about every night. He caught two recently. One weighed 81b and the other one 61b. We had some of Florida’s records here, and they were very good. It was Pretty Little Dear’s birthday on Saturday. She was 15 years old. I write to Musical Mack’s twin sister. The book I have just finished reading is called “The Saxori Maid,” but the one I am reading now is called “ The Heroes.” The Chums have great adventures in visiting the moon. Peter, Patty, and Mr Pip also have exciting adventures. Tangle Pate’s letter was very interesting about the earthquakes. We play basket ball at school, and the boys play football. We think we are going to. play backet ball against Bannockburn. Several people are shooting quail and pigeons? We had a young pigeon, but we let it. go because it' would not'eat. The trees 'are all looking bare now, as they have lost their leaves. There are not many apples about this year,' because the frost gets', them.; The only vegetable we have in our garden is winter cabbage; We can tell it is winter because it becomes dark early. We have a gramo-

phone and a number of records at our school. At nights we sit by the fire and play games. 1 went to the Sunday school picnic. I came first in a race, and won a mug. My sister won a mug, too, and my younger brother won a toy motor car. Kindest regards to all.—Yours truly, AMY JOHNSON (Lowburn Ferry).

[Perhaps you have seen so many aeroplanes that you do not want to see any more, Miss Amy. Johnson. Is that so? Those were heavy eels your brother caught. Do you eat eels? Vegetables are becoming so scarce now that you are fortunate to have w’inter cabbages. You did very well at the picnic. I wish I had seen you all running.—DOT.]

P? ar —We are having our term holidays just now. One day we had some venison from the Blue Mountains, and it tasted delicious. We have finished our examination. Some of the days have been delightfully warm. There was a white frost one morning. The fishermen have caught a number of fish lately. We were, away up the Waihola road. The air was so still that we heard the train whistle five miles away. We'heard a thrush,'a bell-bird, and a tui. The bush looked so beautiful. The farmers are threshing their oats. You asked me if a yellowhammer had any other name. It is also called a bush canary or a yellowhead. There is one in the museum, downstairs at the north end of the building. One Thursday morning we saw the sun rise just above Cape Saunders. It was a beautiful sight —Yours truly, PRETTY FANTAIL (Taieri Mouth). _ [Venison is delicious when cooked well, Pretty Fantail. I am sure you enjoyed yours. I see that you are a Little Folk who loves the beauties of Nature, and who fully appreciated the stillness of the air on that day when the bellbird, tui, and thrush were singing. I must go to the museum to see the yellowhammer for myself. The sun rising over Cape Saunders must indeed have looked beautiful. —DOT.]

Dear Dot, —I would like to become a member of your band of Little Folk. I am nine years of age, and in Standard 111 at School. The school is only small, as there are only 40 children. It is nearly a mile from my place, to school, and is a long way to . walk. We have a number, of pets—a ,rabbit, a cocker spaniel' (whose name is Beauty, and who had seven pups)., two .cows, a cat, and two goats. Billy and Nanny. Billy was only a rveek old when we received him, so we had to feed him on

a bottle, and he follows us around like a dog. I have two sisters and one brother. I live on the hill at the back of Petone, where we can see the city of Wellington and the harbour. We can also see the ships coming into Wellington harbour. We can see the Hutt Valley and the new railway workshops. The lights at night look very pretty in Wellington and the Hutt Valley. I have just finished a fancy apron for my mother, and now I am working a d’oyley. I am very fond of doing fancywork. I received a nice book from the school last year. Its name is “ Blackie's Girls’ Budget.” I think I should bring this letter to a close, because it is now my bedtime. Love to you and your Little Folk. —Yours truly. GOBLIN GREENLEAF (Petone). [You may certainly, join, Goblin Greenleaf. What a charming name you have chosen for yourself! And what a charming family of pets lives at your house! I should like to. make the acquaintance of them all- I have heard of the beauties of Wellington, especially when seen from one of the hills around the city. Are you very fond of fancy work? —DOT.]

Dear Dot, —I was so pleased to see my first letter in print. It has been a long time since I last wrote, but I was waiting for my friend. She, however, has not had time to write. I am making a fuji silk nightdress at school for my sister. There are no hares up here. The mushrooms were not very big, but I like the smaller ones. I have a plot of Phlox Drummondi at school, and I got first prize in the horticultural show for it. I like going to school, and I am progressing very well. There are many big hills up here, and I have climbed up to the top of three. I never forget to read the Otago Witness, especially Peter, Patty, and Mr Pip, and the Little Folk’s letters. We are having a Busy Bee sale shortly, but we do not expect to sell all we have. We play basket ball at school, and I hope to be in the team. We also play tennis, but it is growing too late for it now. We are having our term holidays, and we are enjoying fine weather for them. Love to the Little Folk and your own dear self. —Yours truly,

ARROWITE (Arrowtown).

[You do not need to- wait till your friend is ready before you write to me, Arrowite- I like receiving letters from you at any and all times. Congratulations on winning first prize for your flowers. They must be beautiful. I think that climbing hills is one of the chief joys of life, and it seems that you think so too. I hope your sale is a success. Good luck if you play in the team. —DOT.]

Dear Dot,—l was very pleased to see my first letter in print. There is a large flock of birds in some trees near here. They are preparing to migrate, and make a great noise in the mornings. I hope to see them when they start off. We have a big dog called Fluke. He follows the horse my father rides to work every day. I have a little kitten called Moses. I have plenty of time to play now, as we are having our term holidavs. Kind love to you and all the Little Folk. —Yours truly, DIANA DEAR (Arrowtown). [There is an indescribable pleasure in seeing one’s first -letter in print, Diana Dear. I am glad you have felt it. How interesting about the birds. If you do see , them start, be sure to tell me all about it, as I have never seen anything like that. Fluke must love your father very much. Are he and Moses good friends? —DOT.] I Dear Dot, —The term examination is over once more, and a busy time it was, too. Our baby brother is now five months old, and weighs 181 b. He knows when his mother is near the pram, and catches at her clothes when she goes past. Our dog- had seven pups, four of which we kept. Three people have asked for one, and we will keep one for ourselves. Their names are Snap. Rag, Bounce, and Ring. My sister is fond of drawing, and some of her work is very nice. Enclosed you will find some of my own work. You asked me to tell you some more about Topsy. One day. daddy put me on her back, and she reared and bucked like a cat on hot bricks. She is frightened of children, but daddy can do anything with her. I am told that I should feed her for a month or two, so as to make her used to my being about her. I do not think that would be any good at all. Kindest regards and all good wishes to all Little Folk and your own dear self. —Yours truly, MEDDLESOME MATTY (Waikaka). [What is your baby brother called, Meddlesome Matty? He must be a darling. Does he coo much? I like the names of the pups, and am sure they are very dear little things. But I think you are wrong about Topsy. You and she would soon grow fond of each other if you fed her every day, and she would reward you with her confidence. Try it and see. Your verse is very good, my dear, and scans excellently. You will find it printed in the page. —DOT.]

Dear Dot, —We are having mild weather here at present, and have had only about three real frosts. Foggy.mornings were frequent last week, sometimes lasting until mid-day. The duck shooting season opened with favourable weather for the i sportsmen. I was at the doctor’s on the ' opening day, and he said he had shot four ■ that morning. The Canadian geese seem I to be the most elusive birds, often flying i too high to get a shot at. Although they have not been in the country many years, they are spreading rapidly. Farmers in the Lake Coleridge district have been making complaints of their destructiveness on crops. Flocks of them alight on crops, and if they are scared away they just alight on the next nearest crop. Recently a Chinese named Dr Koo was in Christchurch. He is vice-president of the World Student Christian 1 Federation, and has. been giving numbers of interesting lectures. He tells of the difficulties of being a Christian in China. In China to-day it is very unfashionable to.be a Christian, while fifteen years ago it was a good thing. Yet he says 50 per cent. of. the ■ leaders in China to-day are Christians. He says education in China 10 years ago .consisted mainly in learning what China had been, and was all memory and nothinking. The last time I was in Christchurch, I picked: up a copy or two of '• the National Geographic Magazine, the first I have seen for some time. I find

them of absorbing interest, much more interesting than a common geography book. In the January issue they devoted 80 pages to an article on “ Skypaths Through Latin America.” The writer set out from Washington in an aeroplane and went down the coast of Florida to Cuba, landing at Havanna., Just past Key West they met a waterspout and took the first motion pictures of a spout ever taken from a plane. They then continued over the West Indies and Trinidad to the three Guianas. Here they visited Devil’s Island, where, despite its world-wide notoriety, only nine men are held, the rest of the prisoners being on the mainland. Thence they went on to Pernambuco and right down to Buenos Aires. They carried a long-barrelled sky camera, whose cyclopean lens was so powerful that if one flew nigh enough to shoot over the curvature of the earth, it could picture a mountain peak 250 miles away. In each issue are given.some illustrations in full colour. In the February issue are given the quaint and colourful costumes of the people of Albania. Here, as elsewhere, these old costumes are fast dying out, but a local movement is on foot to ensure the perpetuation of Albania’s classic costumes by making them the correct dress at official functions. One thing which rather strikes me is, why does not the New Zealand Publicity Department advertise in these magazines? I have seen advertisements m them from almost every country, and not seen one from New Zealand. AVell, I must close now with kind regards to all and yourself.—Yours truly. ROSE ASHES (Canterbury).

[Speaking of Canadian geese. Rose Ashes, I think that a great amount of the flora and fauna we have imported into the Dominion has turned out to be anything but beneficial to the country. I was interested in what you had to say about China and Christianity. The National Geographic Magazine is a very good publication, and I am not surprised that you enjoyed those you saw. That camera must be a wonderful invention.—DOT.] & & 3$ Dear Dpt,—Once again I take up my pen to write you a few lines about different subjects which interest me. I suppose that in Dunedin you are preparing for snow? Up in this part of the country we are having beautiful weather, but recently frosts have been making their appearance, and have been very severe. We have had nearly five weeks of beautiful sunshine, with not one shower of rain. It has been so exceptionally dry that people have been carting water. We arc now having our first term holidavs. At the close of the pupilo of the Takaka District High Scehool held a very successful play entitled “ The Princess of Poppyland.” The funds were in aid of the new school, and the sum of £3O was raised. By the papers there seems to be a great number of unemployed in Dim- din. There are a certain amount of unemployed here, but they all seem to have gold-fever, and are away looking for gold reefs. The country is looking very gloomy and wintry now that the leaves are off the trees. I suppose dancing and parties will be in full swing again soon. I love dancing. 1 think it is such a good pastime, especially on winter evenings. Well, I have no. more news, and it time I have finished my work. Much love to al] the Little Folk and yourself.—Yours truly. GOLDEN BAY (Takaka). [We had a little snow last Thursday, Golden Bay—not very much, I must admit, but enough to make the air very cold. You seem to be badly in need of water. What is “The Princess of Poppyland” about. Yes, there are very many unemployed here, which is a great pity, with wmter being so close. What dances do you like best?—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —Thank you very much for printing my first letter. I was very pleased to see it in print. You asked me in answer to my last letter what “ Mul-tal-la meant. Well “ Mul-tal-la ” was the name of an Indian in a.-book that 1 have read. "We have hat div any flowers out in our garden just now, so it looks very bare- Do you learn music? I do. I have been learning for about 14 months now, and I like it. I have a very likeable teacher. The name of my last piece is “ Cecilia.” It is a waltz. I was at a concert and dance given by the Middlemareh Brass Band one Friday, and 1 enjoyed myself immensely. We have finished digging our potatoes now. We had a very poor crop this year. I love picking up potatoes. One night a man brought GO bullocks to our place, to eat off our turnips. They came up from the Taieri. They left Outran! on Friday, and arrived at Clark’s Junction that night, and came from there up to here on Saturday. They did look tired. I write to three of your Little Folk. Their noms de plume' are Nurse Rosemary, North Otago Lassie, and Dunira. They all write very interesting letters. I read Steele Rudd’s letter about whaling the other week, and found it very interesting. We have two cats, a blue one which weighs 14b. and a grey and ' white one which weighs 131 b. The blue one was caught in a rabbit trap a few days ago, but its foot is quite better now. Kind regards to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. —Yours truly, MUL-TAL-LA (Strath-Taieri). [So Mul-tal-la is an Indian word, dear. I would not have thought so. It is a very : musical one. I do not learn music now, I but once did. How pleased the bullocks would be to eat your turnips! Your I cats are very big, are they not, and sound , very healthy. I am sorry about the poor ! blue one that was caught in the trap.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —Thank you for telling me the faults in my last letter, which I shall try to improve on in this one. I agree with you in what you said about the letters of Tangle Pate and Fleabane being the most outstanding in two recent papers, although I did enjoy reading the letters of all the other Little Folk. I have a page of the Little Folk’s letters since 1919. I hope you and all the Little Folk enjoyed the Easter holidays. I did enjoy them. I shall now tell you a little of my adventures. ■ On Easter Monday I went to Okura. and spent an enjoyable day with my two cousins. That afternoon we went for a ride, and visited some friends. My cousins came home with me that evening. Next morning we set out for the beach, but as the lagoon was high, w- did not go over to the beach, so we went down to where Maori camps used to be. We saw a number of berries grow-,

ins on trees. The berries were blue, yellow, white, and red. The red ones were wild raspberries, I think. After lunch we went for a walk up a road and through the bush. We arrived home at 5 p.m. As school was beginning next day, my cousins had to go home that evening, so 1 went to the river with them, I enjoyed the ride very much, as it was cool on the beach. It was nearly dark when we reached the river. I had to ride about nine miles back again, and by this time it was dark, but I did not mind, as I like riding at that time, as it is cool tor .the horse. I went through a road out to the beach. I had to go some distance along the beach and then take the road again. Lut as it was dark, it was difficult for me to see where the turn in was. After I had gone some distance the horse turne,. Tip in the driftwood, and it was the very place where the road went on again. I left the reins on the horse’s neck then. There were sheep and cattle near the road, and all the cattle looked black' and white in the darkness, but they were really red and white. I arrived home about 10 p.m., ending the Easter holidays. About three ■weeks ago I went fishing, and caught eight herrings. The following Sunday we all went to Okura to fish for flounders. The others caught about a dozen flounders and some herrings, but I did not catch anything. Although I got a few herrings in to the banks, they would let go as soon as they caught sight of me. However, better luck next time. One Friday we went to. the beach and all the fish thaWe caught was one little pink fish about the size of a herring. I enjoy a day at the beach. One Sunday I went for a nae round the first bluff and about halfway to the second bluff. I had the bicycle, and was away about three hours. lhe road to the bluff was rough in places. I crossed two small creeks. Later we all went to some rocks on the south side of a river about 10 miles from here. Going down, tlie horse bucked me off at the mouth of a creek, but there was no water there at that time. We had lunch at the rocks. Some of the others went fishing, and caugh two fish. The rocks have a "reat number of mussel shells on them. About 2 o’clock we left to come home, as the tide was coming in. When we arrived at the beach I went to start my horse into a canter, and she jumped on one of the dogs. I did not see the dog again until after we had been home half an hour or so. I am doing fancywork now, and I like it very much. I have a supper cloth that I worked at the competitions in Melbourne, but I have not received it back vet. I will close now, with love to all the Little Folk own dear self.- —Yours truly, GOLDEN" STAR OF WESTLAND (Haast). [I must congratulate you on the astonishing improvement in your letter. Golden Star of Westland, which is so good that, this time, it is the best of the good letters of the week. If you .write like this always. I can see you writing the book about your horse without any trouble, for all your descriptions are pleasing, and make interesting reading. I liked the piece about the appearance of the cows at nights. Was the dog injured?—DOT.j

Dear Dot, —For ages I have been going to write and ask if I may become one of the Little Folk. May I? 1 am 16, and am a prefect in my fourth year of high school. I passed the Public Service examination. and sit for matriculation this year. This is the second week of the holidays, and I do not seem to have done anything at all. How time flies! We will all be back at school before we know where we are. Have you ever been in Westland? I think it is the most beautiful part of New Zealand, even if it does rain a 'ot. We have the long chain „>f the Southern Alps behind us, and you can imagine how beautiful they are, especially in winter, when they are covered in snow. The other day I went out to Lake Kanieri —a small lake about 12 miles from Hokitika —and it was a picture. The water was as smooth and clear as glass, and the great trees and hills bordering it were all mirrored on the surface. The road goes right round to Dorothy Falls now, and the drive is wonderful. About four miles away is the Rimu gold dredge, owned by an American company. The dredge is getting veryshaky now, as it has been going for about 10 years, so they are,building a new steel hull, and shifting the machinery on to it. It will cost about £40.000 by the time it is finished. Before the new construction, about 60 men were employed on the dredge. The people talk about not letting Americans take away our gold, but no NewZealand company- would ever have tried to work the ground, and these Americans are fine people. It costs £lOO an acre to clear the land of bush, and over £lOOO is paid out monthly in wages. They “ washup,” once a week, and the average return is about 2600 z. For a little while your page was quite small, but I see the Little Folk are rallying round and -writing nearly as many letters as before. I see there is a Maiden of Morven in your page. That is the name of a very old and uncommon Scotch song. Perhaps she is called after it.% Do you do much reading? I do not suppose you have much time for it. Have vou ever read any of D. K. Broster’s books? They are splendid—mostly historical, about the Jacobite rebellions or the French Revolution. I have just finished reading a book, “ White-maa’s Saga,” by Eric-Linklater, a namesake. It is quite good, and is all about the Orkney Islands, where dad’s people come from, and it has some very vivid descriptions in it. Well, there are some more letters to be

answered yet, so I will close this with kind regards to the Little Folk and yourself. —yours truly, L’INCONNUE (Westland). [Of course you may be a Little Folk, IZlnconnue. How long will you' live up to your norn de plume, I wonder? No, I have never been in Westland, though I have been in Western Otago. Your district must be very beautiful. Some day I hope to do some tramping there. Yes, the children are “ rallying round ” me splendidly, and are very loyal. I have not read either of the authors you mention, though I have heard of them both. Are vou related to Eric Linklater?— DOT.] ¥ * ¥ Dear Dot.—l hope you will forgive me for not writing sooner, but every time I attempt to write I do not succeed, because I never have any news. One Wednesday pjovviivf I went over to the turnip pad-

dock, and chased a cow out, because she was eating the turnips, then I went over to the creek to see how low it was. Hanging halfway over the creek was a large bough covered with moss, and growing on it were two beautiful ferns. Growing on the banks were Prince of Wales ferns and white pine trees of various sizes, on one of which sat two pigeons side by side. When they saw me, however, they spread out their wings, and flew away to the westward. Next time I go over I am going to take a photograph of this picturesque scene- Tangle Pate’s letter was very impressive, was it not? My eldest brother is up at Koiterangi bush-felling. The last book I read was. “ Buttercups and Daisies,”’ which was very funny. A few days ago a fantail flew in the open window, and was flying around until it grew tired and settled on the floor. So I gently caught it, and took it outside, where it gained its freedom and flew away. As news is short I will close with love to all the Little Folk. —Yours truly, QUEEN OF THE ROOKS (South Westland).

[Whether you have any news or not, Queen of the Rooks, you have written a good letter this week, and one that I am pleased to publish. You have been using your eyes to advantage, and sdeing beauties that some people would not have noticed at all. I liked reading about the fantail. How grateful the little thing would be when vou gave it its freedom. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, —It is ages since I penned an epistle to the dear old page. How ungrateful of me. Our water tank is dry, and we have to carry a considerable ’ amount of water in buckets for household use. It is such a nuisance. Beautiful weather is what we are experiencing these last few weeks, and the sun is so very bright and warm that the plum tree leaves have turned from the mellow old gold to bright vermilion, and maroon — real autumn colours,, are they not? Just recently the Waitaha Anglican Church was opened by Bishop West-Watson, ’lhe church’s interior (also the exterior) ih very picturesque with its darkly stained floor and seats and cream painted walls, in contrast with the crimson, green, and old gold hangings. We have so.me really humorous names to two of* our farm animals —a pig and a pup. The pig's nnm de plume is “ Maui ” and the pup's “ Oocoo Poocoo-” Are they not peculiar? The serial ‘"'The Forest Ranger” will soon be ended, I presume. I have enjoyed it ever so much. Every fortnight we send the Otago Witness to my sister in Tasmania, so she can glean all the New Zealand news. You seem to have a number of lirl Guide Little Folk. Recently I have read “ Princess of the Woods,” by E. S. Ellis, “The Last War Trail.” by E. S. Ellis, “A Wayward Girl.” by Mrs Baillie Reynolds, “ Diary St. John,” by Rosa N. Carey, “ Kihneny of the Orchard,” by L. M. i Montgomery. I have read several of the latter author’s books. The other day I was scanning the pages of the Otago Witness for the letters of Little Folk with whom I correspond, but I have discovered only one from V. A. (Greymouth). A Flower Girl had .a. nasty fall from net horse, did she not? -I hope her injuries do not prove to be of a serious nature In one Otago Witness you inserted a poem entitled “An Old Woman of the Road-” Perhaps if you have time and space you could please put it in our page again, as I have now lost the page that it was printed on. I think that poem is a lovely oneMy brother is working away from home just now, but will be back again for a few days at the end of the month, and is then returning again to do a little different work on the same section. He had been one of the numerous New Zealand unemployed until he secured his present situation. My correspondents have certainly dwindled, as I now have only five—Smiler, V. A., Heather Sprig, One of the Mysterious Pair’s Pal. and Westcliff-on-Sea, whereas, before the postage rose, I had nearly a dozen. Many years ago the postage was 2d, then it was lowered, and now it has risen to 2d again. What a queer place this world is? You will be thinking that this letter is my diary. It is easily seen that I do not live up to our motto. “We write for the benefit of others-” Love to all Little Folk and your own dear self. —Yours triflv, TASMANIAN GIRL (Waitaha). [That must be a very pretty church, Tasmanian Girl. I am glad you have liked the serial. The poem you mention was in the issue of April 28, and was, as you say, a very good one. But I doubt if I can print it again. See if you can obtain another Otago Witness of that date. Your letter is full of news, but is not well set out. You should keep to one subject .at a time, if I may say so, and divide your letter into paragraphs, each of which deals with only one subject.—DOT.]

Dear Dot. —Here I am again. Have you any wind down there? It blows very hard up here. I am having my holidays now. My brother and nephew arc having a game of hide-and-seek. I like reading about Peter, Patty, and Mr Pip. I have a number of playmates now. I have toothache, and my face is sore. Two of my sisters are living down at Bendigo now.. I have no more to tell you.—Yours truly, MAYBLOSSOM (Lindis Crossing). [We had wind last Thursday, Mayblossom, but not very much. Do you like wind? I am glad you are enjoying the holidays. Rinse your mouth with hot salt water, and if possible go to see a dentist. Probably your teeth need to be stopped. I hope they are not hurting you very much, dear. —DOT.] •1* Dear Dot, —I would like to become'a member of your .band of Little Folk. I am 11 years f age, and I am in Standard VI at school. I hope to gain my proficiency this year, then I will go to high school. I went shooting at Easter time, and my father shot five. rabbits. I dug down a burrow, and got three baby rabbits, but I gave two of them away. I call my one Squeak. I have to go out every day and find a lot of rauraki, which the rabbit likes. When I was out camping I went down to see how deep the river was. It had risen 13ft, and there were logs coming down which looked like huge steamers. Next day there were trout and eels stranded al] over the place. One day we went mushrooming up the river bank, and gathered about two boxes full of mushrooms. We took them back to camp, and cooked them for breakfast. We live not far from the reservoir which supplies

Petone with water. It is a wonderful sight, as it is enclosed by-bush-elad hills. On Sundays and holidays numerous visitors come to view the wonderful scenery. We are milking two cows now, but they are nearly dry. From the” top of the bill at the back of our house, we can see the red light .of 2YA Broadcasting Station. Well, I must close now, sending love to you and your Little Folk.—Yours truly, DEERSLAYER (Koro Koro).

[And I should like you to be a member, Deerslayer, for you wrote a very good letter for a boy of 11, and' will be an asset to the page. Be sure you never forget to feed Squeak. Remember he is a wild rabbit, and hates a cage, so you must be specially kind to him now that he is in your keeping. I have heard about your scenery, and hope some day that I shall see it. Have you a wireless at your home? — DOT-] ¥¥¥ - -

Dear Dot, —One week of my holidays has quickly passed, and we are still having very nice weather in Canterbury. One day during the holidays we went to Robinson’s Bay (which is near Akaroa) for a picnic. We started off about 10 o’clock from Lincoln, and went to Tai Tapu, and then round very curved roads to Motukarara. The scenery was very beautiful on both sides of the road. When we had travelled about seven miles past Motukarara, we came to Kaituna, and drove round at the foot of the hills, which were covered with beautiful bush. After Kaituna we arrived at Little River, where there are a number of Maoris. There is one little Maori house there, and at-the side of the house they have a fireplace dug iit the hillside, and the Maoris do all their cooking there. At Little River we

started to ascend the hills, which were very steep, and the gullies were covered with bush. There were not many other cars on the road, which was lucky for us, as the day was very hot, and cars would make a horrible dust. We arrived at the top of the hill to see a beautiful sight of bush and lovely little bays. We began to descend the hill, and the first bay we came to was Barrie’s Bay, where there was a cheese factory, then to Dauvachelle’s Bay. The next bay was our destination, . Robinson’s Bay. It was half-past one when we arrived, and so we boiled the billy and had lunch. There was a long wharf at Robinson’s Bay. It is there because the cheese is carried in big lorries from Barrie’s Bay to Robinson’s Bay, and then put on to a trolly and pushed out to the end of the wharf, where a boat is waiting to take it away. We spent about two hours fishing and wandering about the beach, which was rocky, then we started for home again. When we were going home we were travelling along beside Lake Ellesmere, where the men were shooting ducks. We saw a number of mimis with decoy ducks around them, but did not see many real ducks. A few days before the shooting season opens all the people who intend to shoot wade out into the lake and stake a claim, that, is, to put a stick wherever they are going to build a mimi. Some days later they go out again and dig a fairly big hole about one foot deep and three feet wide, and carry bundles of manuka out to it, with which they build sides around the hole. Tbc sides are about four to five feet above tbe water. This is what they call a mimi, in which they sit and shoot the ducks. We also saw a number of swamp hens. The swamp hen is a pretty bird, a dark blue in colour, with fairly long legs and a red beak. It is a native bird. Thank you very much for the badge, which I received quite safely. Love to all the

Little Folk and your own dear self.— Yours truly, LINCOLN GREEN (Lincoln). [You, too, have written a descriptive letter, Lincoln Green, and one that obeys our motto well. I am delighted with it. I have never seen Maoris in their natural surroundings, and think they must be very interesting. Did you see the fireplace being used? There is an art in duck shooting, and all sportsmen are aware of it. But, personally, every time a duck manages not to be shot I am filled with joy. What do you think of that?—DOT.] OUR NEW MEMBERS. Dot extends a special welcome to the following Little Folk, who have written to the page for the first time this week:— Lucky Black Cat (C romwell). Honeysuckle Lady (Queenstown). Goblin Greenleaf (Petone). L’lnconnue (Westland). Deerslayer (Petone). MANY HAPPY RETURNS. Dot wishes many happy returns of the day to Pretty Little Dear, who was fifteen on May 23; Golden Syrup, who will be eleven on June 1; Young Highland Rover, who will be twenty on June 3. NOTES. Lady Carew.—Would you please forward me your address, as I have a letter from somebody who wishes to correspond with you.—DOT. Golden Boy.—Send the photographs to the editor, who will consider them, and if he thinks them fit for publication, will pay

you for those he uses. Those not used will be returned to you.—DOT. AUTOS. As the. Little Folk inserting the following autos do not know the addresses of the companions with whom they wish to correspond, it is necessary that those whose names are mentioned in the autos should send the first letter.—DOT. ¥ ¥ ¥ Gorge Road Princess (Alice Carston, Gorge Road. Southland) wishes to correspond with Christmas Lily, Golden Leaves. Irish Shamrock, Lady Mary, and Cross Patch. ¥ * ¥ J. A. T. (John Thompson, Ringway Ridges, Otautau) would like to correspond with any girls between the ages of 17 and 20. Mischievous Fred (Fred Butcher, Paerata road, Pukekohe) would like to correspond with any Little Folk between the ages of 18 and 20. ¥ ¥ ¥ Tasmanian Girl (Doteen Ellis, Waitaha, West Coast) wishes to correspond with any Little Folk interested in dancing or music, in or around Christchurch or Greymouth. ¥ ¥ ¥ Lincoln Green (Thelma Hewton, Lincoln, Canterbury) wishes to correspond with Irish Shamrock. A Flower Girl. Terrace Maid, A Doonhill Lassie, and Joyous June. ■