Dots Little Folk

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23204, 31 May 1937, Page 15

Dots Little Folk

THE WEEK'S POEM Some peopb do not regard ," It" as a f,'oocl poem, children. Perhaps, as poetry xs. it Is not very good, but the thoughts ii contains are, in my opinion, excellent, i-'-rhhps thev will interest you especially t'.'s week because of what I am asking • oil '.') do lor me in my letter " To All." DOT. '*' If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing their's and blaming it on you; , ~ It you can trust yourself when all men ■* doubt you, , , . . . , And make allowance for their doubting too; „ , ~ If you can wait and not be tired of waiting, , ~ Or being lied about, don t deal In lies, Or being hated don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise. If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim: If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster . And treat those two impostors just the same; i If you can bear to hear the truth youve spoken ' Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch; the things you ve given your life to broken. And stoop and build them up with wornout tools. .'""• , If you can make one heap of all your winnings. ....,_ j And risk it in one turn oi! pitch-and-toss. ± . And lose, and start again lit your beginnings . And never breathe a word about your loss: 1 If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone. And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: '• Hold on!" \

If you can talk- with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings—nor lose the common touch, II neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, , , * If all men count with you, but none too much; -' If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth o£ distance run. Yours is the Earth and everything that's l*» «• ... ._ And—what Is more—you 11 be a Man. my son. _ Ru dyard Kipling. TO ALL Dear Little Folk,—l think we should have a discussion about some of the things that matter in life. Most young people want to know about all sorts of things, but mostly about themselves and what they are going to be and do when they grow up. Sd why not let us put all our views down and see what conclusions we can draw? You, you know, are,the coming men and women of the world. If you look at the world as it is to-day you will probably see all sorts of things that are wrong: and yours is the chance to put them right, because, if you interest yourselves in them while you are voung, then you will know what to do about them when you are older. Now let us begin by discussing this first problem: Grown-ups say to you: "Be good children. Be a good boy. Be a good girl." Now what does being good mean? And, when you have decided that, why should you be good? I think you must have thought about this often, and I Hvant.you to tell me what your thoughts are.so that we may work this problem out among us. All of you can have a share in this.—Your loving DOT. THE WORLD TO-DAY A STUDY OF MAN AND SOCIETY By J. M. M' Curdy (Special for the Otago Dally Times* In writing of Russia I have not told you very much of what Lenin did and of the early struggles of the Communists to give Communism a chance. Lenin had to get Russia out of the Great War: indeed, the peasants were deserting and returning to their farms. This meant surrendering to Germany and the conditions of the Treaty of Brest-Litvosk. The terms of the treaty were absolutely terrible for Russia, and we can note here with a little cynicism Germany's attitude to the Treaty of Versailles. She says her colonies have been stolen from her; but she made Russia give up Armenia, the Ukraine, and all the Baltic states. This meant that Russia lost a quarter of her population and her rich farm lands, a third of her factories and three-quarters of her war industry and coalfields. This meant a tremendous amount to Russia, because, as we shall see, Russia was to industrialise her country if she would make herself independent of the capitalistic states, and how could she if she had all those resources taken from her? " We can see something of Lenin's courage and foresight, because he saw that Germany would not be able to enforce her claims, as she was getting beaten on her western front. The great German military machine was going to pieces. All the world was against the Bolshevists. Peace with Germany meant war with the Allies of the Great War. Great ammunition dumps and vast investments of money were in Russia. These could not be left to the Russians, as thousands of British and French shareholders depended on them. But one by one the enemies of the Soviet withdrew. The British left northern Russia, the Germans had to evacuate Lithuania, and the Japanese were more intent on Manchuria than on Russia. So it became a fight between the two parties in Russia—the Whites and the Reds. (To be continued.i DESIRED HAVENS By Alice F. Webb ! Special for the Otago Daily Times.) CHAPTER 6. A few days later Peter was laid up, a new form of shipboard life, even more unpleasing to him than any phase he had tried yet. He had a heavy cold, with a temperature. The captain came down and had a look at him and told him to stay in bed a day or two in case he was sickening for something. As he lay in the • stuffy cabin, tossing from side to side in his bunk, he thought of the comfortable bed he had forsaken, with its clean white sheets and pillowcases, instead of these coarse and not too clean blankets, and this "filthy hole." as he called his quarters. The last time he remembered being laid up he had had a poisoned foot, having trodden on a nail when chopping a board for kindling He recalled his aunt's care, and how she brought a dozen oranges for him. He wished he had one now. Books there were, too, and the kitten came and played on his bed. He heard old Bill at work nearbv, singing untunefully, " Oh, think of the home over there," and a wave of self-pity brought tears to his eyes. " What's the good of that?" he said to himself. " The only home I want just now Is over there, right over there in New Zealand, and here am I thousands of miles away from it." He had long ceased to blame nis aunt for his leaving home as in the heat of the first few days he had done. After all, what was It all about? He had come to see that all his grievances were really about trifles. He had wanted to go out at night as other boys did. He had urged her to come with him to the pictures now and then. He didn't like having to go to church twifie on Sundays. He wasn't fond of cleaning the fowlhouse What did it all come to when all was said and done? Hadn't she given him a good home all these.years, how good he was beginning to realise. And if. he didn't clean Hie henhouse, she had to do It Perhaps hanging about the street with other boys wasn't much of a game after all He tossed and turned and thought his regretful thoughts, and Bill droned his Sankey hvmn outside, until he felt like screaming, MS I boy as he was. At last he fell into a h«avv "sleep, dreamed that he was in the rarden at home, digging potatoes and n-oke, perspiring profusely and almost himself again. N (To be Continued).

Inaugurated dulu 16,1886, 0 by tHe OTAGO WITNESS

DOT Invites short totters from her young friends throughout the Dominion on matters of Interest to themselves. New memberi must enclose their name and address. Those will cot be published, and are for registration purposes only. Little Folk should write on one lids of the paper only, and In ink, and should address their letters. "Dot. care of Editor, Otago Daily Times." Dot's Little Folk's Badge, with pin, for use as a brooch, is obtainable ■' on application to Dot. Price 2s 6dL in stamps or postal .notes.

THE BUSY HONEY BEE By Old Eighty-Sixer. (Specially written for the Little Folk) The other type of. egg is fertilised by the queen with a male cell, of which she retains an almost unlimited number in a special organ In her body. The fertilised egg hatches into a female bee—usually a worker. Thus both workers or neuter bees, and queen bees come from the same kind of egg. Yet the two show marked differences. The queen has the function of reproduction, the worker bee has not. The queen bee possess teeth on her mandibles, or jaws, the worker bee has smooth jaws. The worker bee has pollen baskets, the queen bee lacks them. The worker bee has a straight, barbed, unretractable sting and loses its life after stinging, but the queen bee, whose sting is curved and smooth, does not. A worker bee takes 21 days to develop from the egg to/ an adult, while a queen, which Is much larger, requires only 15 days. . j The colony itself has the power of determining whether a fertilised egg shall develop into a queen or worker bee. During its normal existence only one aueen is necessery to maintain the population of a colony. Unlike the worker bee, which lives only six weeks, the queen may live two, three, or more years, but she eventually becomes old and decrepit. Then a new queen must be raised to carry on the life of the colony. The raising of a new queen is entrusted to the worker bees. An egg or newlyhatched larva less than three days old is selected. The cell in which the larva is deposited is broken down and enlarged, and the heiress apparent is given special care and attention from this time on. For the first three days worker and drone larva are fed on royal jelly, a milky white secretion from the glands in the heads of the worker bees. After the third day a coarser food such as nectar and pollen is given them. The queen larvae, however are fed on royal jelly exclusively throughout the larva period, which lasts five and a-half days. The dfference in diet during the two and a-half days, therefore, determines whether the larva will develop into a bee that cannot reproduce, but possesses all other maternal instincts, or one that has the function of reproduction, but lacks all maternal insticts, for the queen becomes virtually an egg-laying machine. There is no evidence that she has anything to do with the regulation of the colony. She gives no attention whatsoever to the rearing of her young. She does not help to feed them, nor does she gather stores, or take part in the defence of her family. These duties fall exclusively to the lot of worker bees. (To be continued.) LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLK Motto.—We write for the benefit of others, not for ourselves. FIRST LETTERS Dear Dot.—May I join your band of Little Folk? I am nine years of age and in Standard 111. I have a little kitten that has not a name, so please could you think of one I could call it? I also have a wee pup called Paddy, which comes for milk every morning, but one morning he fell off the plank into the river and had a nice bath, but of course he did not think so himself. As this is my first letter, I shall close, giving love to you and your happy band. MIDNIGHT SUN (Evans Flat). [Certainly you may join, Midnight Sun. If the pup is called Paddy why not call the kitten Laddy?—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot,—Please may I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am ten years of age and in Standard IV at school. My favourite subject is dancing. I was in for the Oamaru competitions, where I won one first and one third prize. I had to do my dance four times. In the end I received a medal and a box of chocolates I have been learning dancing for six months. Well, Dot, as this is my first letter, I shall close, with love to all the Little Folk and your own dear sell • TAP DANCER (Oamaru). [Welcome to you, Tap Dancer. Congratulations on doing so well in the competitions.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot,— May I join your happy band of Little Folk? lam seven years old and I go to school. My big sister is writing this, for me because I am not using ink yet. I shall close now, with love LITTLE BLUE BIRD (Portobello). fl prefer that* you write your letters yourself. Little Blue Bird. Certainly you may join the band.—DOT.] si: ' « * Dear Dot,—May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am eight years old and in Standard I at school. I am the sister of the Hooper's Inlet Lass and the Swan Ranch Lass. Well, Dot, as this is my first letter to your page, I shall close, with love to you and your happy family. POATIRI POLLY (Hooper's Inlet). [You are welcome, Poatiri Polly, but you must write in ink next time to save the eyesight of the men who put your letters into print.—DOT.] BEST LETTERS

JUNIOR SECTION (under 14 years)

Dear Dot,—Our term holidays were not very long this time, but I was able to go out often. On Coronation Day we had to go to school in the morning for about an hour. When I reached home my sister was waiting to take me down to see the procession There were several horsicrnen and then a large number pi people walking. There were six bands, and the kilties looked very smart. They marched right along to the Octagon and then went down Stuart street and through the archway at the bottom. Another day I went out to see grandma, and one day I went up to Normanby for the day. I also went down to see the Capping procession. I liked the Noah's Lark and the animals best of all. LITTLE WHITE SIXPENCE (Dunedin). [You spent your holidays well, Little White Sixpence. Would you like to have been marching in the kilties' band?— DOT.] $ * # Dear Dot.—On Coronation Day we went down to the school and received a bar of chocolate and a Coronation badge with the King and Queen on it. But I did not hear the service over the wireless at night. NEMESIA (Otago). [I expect you were in bed, Nemesla. Never mind. You will hear it relayed again some day.—DOT.l V * * Dear Dot.,—l did not go to town to see the beautiful decorations for the Coronation celebrations. On that day we went to school and received a bar of chocolate and a badge with the King and Queen on it. I have a few pictures of the little Princesses and my little sister received a beautiful big picture of the two little Princesses through the post. Best wishes to all. STRAWBERRY LEAF'S DAUGHTER (Warrington) [You would be thinking much about the llttte Princesses that day, Strawberry Leaf's Daughter, so the pictures wouid be a great help. —DOT.I ¥ * * Dear Dot,—.l am setting traps at present, and the other morning I caught a yellow cat. The next morning I caught a black one, and the following morning a ferret. When I went to let it out it hissed at me and made a great fuss Another morning I caught a black cat. We have a small sledge at home just now, and we slide down the hill in it. Quite often wc fall out, but wc do not worry about that. Best wishes to you and all the Little Folk PIXIE OF THE GLEN (Oturehua) lit cannot be very pleasant to find cats caught in the traps, Pixie of the Glen. What fun sledging can be!—DOT.l Dear Dot,-l am like Dorothy Do putting off writing a thousand times. This time I shall tell you about my cat, Black. She is a black cat with a glossy coat and yellow and green eyes. She has a little patch of white under her neck If I pick her up she puts her paws round my neck and hugs me. She comes inside every day and sits on the window sill and washes herself. She is a good ratter, for one day she caught a rat, a rabbit, and three mice. She has had many kittens and we have kept several of them. Some mornings she comes into bed with me, and for breakfast I give her porridge and milk. She eats cheese, raisins, cake, biscuits, meat, bread, butter, and lam She licks the butter and jam from' the bread and then eats the bread. Black Is three years old and will be

four years old next Christmas, but I do not know on what day. I think I shall close now, with love to you and your Little Folk. CAPE BROOM'S DAUGHTER (Arrowtowji).

[This pleasant account of Black makes up for your not having written for so long, Cape Broom's Daughter. Tell her that I think she is a darling— DOT..:

Dear Dot,—My mother took a little snap of the kittens in the backyard. Sad to say three of them died. Summer, Autumn, and Winter were the ones that died. Mum took the remaining kittens into the washhouse so that they would be warm. Thenmother had to be shut inside with them. I should like to thank you for the kittens' names.

GOLDEN DRAGONFLY (Wickliffe Bay). [The names were not very lucky ones, I fear. Golden Dragonfly. But I see that you still have Spring to play with.— DOT.]

Dear Dot,—l suppose I had better write to you now, because I have not written to vou for a long while. I said in my last" letter that I would tell you about the games we play at school. We are playing football just now, and I like it very much, although I am not a member of the team. In the summer time we play marbles and tennis. The girls also play tennis and marbles and sometimes rounders. At present they are playing basketball. I have a ferret named Joey. He is only young, but we have had him out ferreting and we got one rabbit with him. Well, Dot, I shall stop, with kind regards to yourself and your happy family. BABY JUMBO (Arrowtown). [lf you like football well enough you will probably be in the team some day Baby Jumbo. The other games sound interesting, too.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—l am going to tell you about two dogs. We have two dogs, and they are called Tip and Mac. Mac is black and white and the other dog is black and brown. I must close now, with love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self TONKY LASS (Balclutha). [I should like to meet those two do<:s, Tonky Lass. Do you ever run races with them?—DOT.] * V * Dear Dot,—l have not written to you for over a year, so I have decided to write to-night. I did not go away for my holidays this term, but I enjoyed myself by going to the pictures and other amusements. I have two pets. One is a little black kitten and the other is a brown and white calf. We used to have a baby canary, but it grew sick and would not eat anything; therefore it soon died. I was sorry, and I made a grave for it in the garden, which I decorated with flowers. Now I shall close, with love. PRETTY ROBIN (Dunedin). lit is not easy to rear birds in cages. Pretty Robin. I am sorry that you lost your little pet.—DOT.] * * » Dear Dot,—l am going to tell you about the glorious time I had on Coronation Day. First of all I went to school, where the flag was hoisted. Soon after 10 o clock a small tree was planted by the youngest eirl and the oldest boy. After that everyone had their photograph taken Then there was a short ceremony. At 1 o clock in the afternoon the school children, including myself, were taken to Outrarn. where there were sports, and decorated cars, lorries, prams, tricycles, bicycles, toy cars, and wheelbarrows going round in a procession. We were also taken down at night to see the fireworks. I shall close now, with kindest regards. COLLEEN ASTHORE (West Taieri).

[As the tree grows you will remember the happy day on which you planted it, Colleen Asthore. The fireworks would be good to see I should think.—DOT.]

Dear Dot,—ln this letter lam going to tell you about our Coronation celebration, which was held at our school. We went along to school at 11 o clock in the morning, and began the celebration with a short service befitting the occasion. After this the school children provided some items for the entertainment of those present. We were all provided with a light luncheon, which was enjoyed by everybody. There was a good crowd present, and as it was a beautiful day, we were all able to take part in the outside games and such like. We all received a badge and a lovely Coronation cup Later in the afternoon there was dancing, which brought the day to a happy close. Best wishes to all the Little Folk and yourself. SWAN RANCH LASS (Hooper's Inlet).

[Ycu were well looked after on Coronation Day, Swan Ranch Lass. Were you in the school children's entertainment?— DOT] .

Dear Dot,—ln my last letter I did not tell you about our parrot. We call him Joey. He is a dear old thing and he talks very well. Last week we got rather a fright, for we thought we had lost our pet. Mother gave him a smack for walking over her scrubbed floor, and of course Joey took the sulks and flew away. He was away all night, and we were very much worried. I am glad to say that we found him next day none the worse for his night out. Kindest regards to yourself and all the Little 1 ° ' HOOPER'S INLET LASS (Hooper's Inlet).

[I am delighted to know that you found him again, Hooper's Inlet Lass. No wonder you were worried. But a scrubbed floor is a scrubbed floor, is it not?—DOT.]

Dear Dot,—We have been having very wet weather out here. It started raining one Saturday night and by Sunday morning the place was in full flood. The station road was covered with about six inches of water. I sometimes go sliding on a hill with some of my friends. We have good hills here for sliding when it is wet. I always go sliding when the snow is about. We have had no snow here yet. I have been setting traps since April and have six skins. Dad has 14 skins. It was too wet to set traps the other night. The place here is covered with rabbits, but we cannot catch them. Kind regards. BLACK WATCH'S SON (Otokia).

[How wet it must have been, Black Watch's Son. But what glorious slides! —DOT.I

Dear Dot,—l am going to tell you ot a trip to Harrington Point in the boat. We began on a brilliantly sunny Sunday, and I enjoyed the trip all the more because it was only the third time I had undertaken a trip in a boat. When we arrived we built a fire and prepared lunch, for the voyage had given us a keen appetite. When luncheon was over my brother suggested a walk to the lighthouse. We visited the caves on the way. but they were .wet after the recent rain and, as' I nearly fell down one of the holes. 1 was glad to continue on the walk to the lighthouse. When we reached it we saw the new lighting system, which has been installed. We then walked back to where the other members of the party were, and then after tea we packed up and started on our return journey, and arrived home tired, but happy. Well, I must close now, with love to you and all the Little Folk MAUD (Dunedim. [Making a fire on the beach is good fun, Maud. What a fright you must have had when voti nearly fell down the hole l —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have found time at last to write to the page. I am going to tell you about Coronation Day. When we arrived in Oainaru in the morning a service was conducted by Miss Wilson at the Girls High School. Alter luncheon we all assembled at Tokaro Park. When everyone was in place we marched behind the country school children, round the streets for three-quarters of an hour. The streets and shops were gaily decorated with streamers and greenery When we were dismissed we watched the decorated lorries pass along the streets. At first an ancient Ford car passed oy amidst cheers and laughter. Next came an old stage coach drawn by an old tired horse whose forelegs were covered by long trousers A lorry with the world made out of cardboard then passed by On the cardboard were painted all the different countries of the world, and out of a hole cut in each map a head protruded, which represented each country A man on skates, dressed up as a clown, came skating along the street performing some dangerous feats. There were many other amusing spectacles, and everyone enjoyed the day Kind regards. LITTLE NELL OF LONDON (North Otago). lit must have been educational as well as amusing, Little Nell of London. The poor old horse In its trousers!—DOT I Dear Dot,—-Please excuse me lor not writing before. I did not, go away for these holidays, but stayed at home. But I had just as good a time. I am looking forward to going back to school, as I rather like it. I am in Standard VI and hope to leave then. Our school is only a small Primary school with two rooms and two teachers. Every Tuesday Standards V and VI go in the school bus to Kurow for woodwork and cookery We have good fun. There are two ranges —an electric one and a coal stove. Love to your big family and yourself PRINCESS OF CAPRI (Duntroon). [One can often have just as good a time at home, Princess of Capri. Write to Thelma Thoods, 1202 Seventh Avenue, New Westminster, British Columbia. Canada.— DOT.I Dear Dot,—l am going to write aDoul what I did on Coronation Day. We went to school by bus as usual, and when we arrived at school the morning bell rang. We formed lines at the door and

sang " God Save the King." We were then marched over to Ihe playground, where we watched a tree being planted. We were then marched back to the school, where we were given flags and badges. Then we all marched up to the Town Hall We went into the hall and had a short ceremony. I was getting tired ot inarching, and again we had to march down to the railway station. When we got there we were allowed to scamper away across to the racecourse. We played jolly games till lunch time, then we had a good dinner and went outside again. Then the sports began I came fourth in a sprint and first in a three-legged race. I did not win anything in the sprint, but I got a round tray for the three-legged race. As I have no more to tell, I shall EX-WEST COASTER (Merton). [What running and frivolity and jolliness on Coronation Day, Ex-West Coaster! Did vou give the tray to your mother? —DOT.] * -■;: * Dear Dot,—l have not forgotten you. Our pony has a foal, and they jump all over the place. They broke down all the onions, and my grandmother was very cross. Our cat is a little black one, and he will fight every dog, and all the dogs are frightened of him. GRANNY'S SUN BONNET (Tarras). [What a frisky pair that pony and foal must. be. Granny's Sun Bonnet! And what a doughty cat!—DOT.] Dear Dot.—l have been trapping and I have 150 skins, so I sent them away and received £4 for them. It is very wet up here just now. On Saturday night it rained all the time and all day Sunday. We had a great flood here, too. We have not had our examination yet. Our school is not going to iave holidays till July. Will vou please give me the address of Jack Forsgren, as I want to write to him? I have a little kittan now. He is a black one with white spots on him. Can you please give me a name for him? Best love to all. THE WRESTLER (Ida Valiey). II cannot give you another Little Folk's name unless he gives me permission to do so, The Wrestler. But I can put your name in the Letter Box if you like. Call the kitten Spangles—DOT.) Dear Dot,—Our teacher is going away soon, and we shall be having a new teacher. We are sorry she is going away She is the only teacher we have had Our cat caught a big rat the other night. My mother is knitting me a little jersey, and she is on the last sleeve, and I am Klad. Well, my dear Dot, I shall close, with love to all the Little Folk and your dear self. GRANDAD . S LI TTLE GIRL (Popotunoa). [How proud you will be of a jersey knitted bv your mother, Grandad s Little Girl! Your new teacher will probably be a dear, too.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—lt was bad weatrter for our holidays. We went up to our farm one Sunday, and had good fun gathering duck eggs. We waded in the pond to get them. When we came home we cooked the eggs for tea. Since last writing to you I had a baby sister, but she died and we were sorry. I shall now close, with love to you and all the Little Folk. DAD'S BROWN-EYED BONN"* (Popotunoa). [I am sorry about the little sister, Dad's Brown-Eved" Bonny. Please tell me more about gathering duck eggs.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—l havo a little baby sister eighteen and a-half months old, and one day when mother and the other children were out, I was left in charge of Norma and the house. It was a very muddy day, and I did not intend to let Norma out, but when my back was turned she slipped outside. I did not know this because I was busy inside, and thinking she was very quiet I went in search of her. I found her sitting in a mud hole not far from the house. She was mud from head to foot. I was not cross with the little girl for getting into such a mess, but lust took her in and made her fresh and clean again. Love to all. PEEWIT (Oturehua). [lt was good of you not to be cross with her, Peewit. She was only doing what she liked doing and did not know it was forbidden.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—Here I am again. I shall be glad when the ice comes, for then is the time that the fun starts. I shall put on skates, which I have not had on before, and see if I can skate. If I cannot manage to skate I can heve great fun sliding and watching others skating. One of my brothers has won several races on his skates. There is a little tent down beside the ice on carnival day, where lollies, buns, pies, and other dainties may be bought, and the copper is kept boiling for making tea or coffee. Love to all the Little Folk and yourself. FAIRY BLUE-CAP (Oturehua).

[I expect your brother will help you when you actually do put on skates. Fairy Blue-Cap. What a welcome tent that must be!—DOT.] :;. ::■ * Dear Dot,—l am very glad I was allowed to join the band of Little Folk. I went to the pictures one Thursday, and the name of the picture was "Fighting Stock." Did you go to it? I am glad I am going back to school, for we always play a good game of football. In the football we play at school there are about eight on each side. First the ball is placed in the centre of the field and someone kicks it, and hey! for a jolly game! BUNK HOUSE BILLY (Oturehua). tNo, I did not see that picture, Bunk House Billy. I can well imagine the fun of that jolly game.—DOT.l # * * Dear Dot, —Well, Dot, wc are back at school again, and I am glad. We went up to our sister's place one afternoon. I have two nieces; one is two, and one is not a year old yet. I did not go for a holiday. I preferred staying at home. Mother and I finished the washing before 10 o'clock one morning. I had to stop for a while to put the baby to bed My big brother tore Dot's page before I had read all the letters, and I was upset. I went to the pictures one Thursday night to see " Fighting Stock " Love to all. YODELLING COWBOY (Oturehua). TYou and mother are good friends, I se;. Yodelling Cowboy. What issue was it that your brother tore? Perhaps I could send you a copy of it.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot,—l shall now tell you about the sheep sale. First of all there were the dogs. I could hear them barking and getting growled at. I could hear the men shouting. There were over one hundred cars in the township. It was not a very, big sale—only about one thousand sheep. I went to the pictures one Thursday night and saw Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret Rose, also the KinT and Queen. Love to all. PEARLY PRINCESS (Oturehua). [So that was what the sale was like. Pearly Princess. • Thank you for telling me. It must havo been interesting.— DOT.I Dear Dot.—Thank you so much for the hobby you suggested. I think it is a lovely idea. I wish you could hear the bellbirds out at our school -just now. There seem to be such a number about. I hope I do well in my school lessons this term, for'if I do I shall be allowed to learn the violin Kindest regards to all. QUILP (Oamaru) [The bellbirds will be wanting you to feed them, Quilp. Best wishes for success in your lessons.—DOT.l * * * Dear Dot, —The Dutch boys arc fond of keeping pet pigeons or doves. Many of the Dutch are fishermen or sailors, and the boys are very fond of fishing and rowing Everybody can skate in Holland, almost from babyhood The country people skate to market, and when a frost is very severe they hold a fair on the ice. The children skate to school and often race. The Dutch are passionately fond of flowers, and Holland is the greatest bulbgrowing country in the world. In the spring vast stretches of level country are covered by a carpet of flowers, with miles and miles of gaily-coloured hyacinths and tulips. Cheese making is one of the greatest industries of Holland. In the cow houses the walls are covered with brightly-coloured tiles, and the floor is paved with white glazed tiles. In some places the floor is actually covered with a carpet. There is no stone in Holland, but an ample supply of clay. The roads are therefore paved with bricks or red tiles. Well, I must close now, as T have finished my story. Kind regards. DAPHNE DELIGHT (Middleman:!)) IA clean place indeed, Daphne Delight! And one you would like to visit, I expect. Well, perhaps vou will some day.—DOT.l Dear Dot,—l am going to tell you about Papatowai Beach. In the summer time when one Is standing on the bridge looking down to the mouth of the river It is very pretty. On each side of the banks grow rata trees, which make a beautiful sight when they are all in flower. One can have a good time on the beach gathering shells, as there are several different kinds. The paua shell especially can be found in great numbers. On the beach itself it is not very safe for swimming, but near the mouth of the river there are a number of lovely places. In the summer time it is a popular place for tourists Love to your own dear self SISTER'S HELP (Tawanui) [1 should like to visit there, Sister's Help. How beautiful it sounds. And what a great deal you can do!—DOT.I Dear Dot, —May 1 say whom 1 like on the radio, even though I am not very old? I alwaya enjoy reading the Senior letters when they tell their favourites. I just love Grace Moore, Jcanettc MacDonald,

When Buddha died at the age of eighty they kept one of his teeth, which is now sacredly preserved in the Buddhist temple at Kandy, Ceylon. Thousands of people come thousands of miles to see this sacred tooth. It is two inches long. Dr Talmage said he never could understand what Buddha was doing with a tooth like that. It is kept very sacredly—a golden wire suspends a crystal case holding the tooth. It is put away with great ceremony lock after lock, case within case: jewels above it and beneath it, and all around it—emeralds, garnets, lotus leaves wrought in gold, and silken brocades. Dr Talmage says, "What a tooth!" and I say the same, too. The original sacred tooth is not now in existence, but the substitute does very well for the original. MISS MOUSE (Dunedin). 11 have had to divide your letter, Miss Mouse, for it is too long; but your drawing is here again, just as it was last week. Best of good wishes to you.—DOT.l :{. -v- * Dear Dot,—lt is a well-known lact that there are two sides to every question. In writing to the page last week Bluefeather spoke of the problem of unemployment, caused apparently by the of machinery—and yet is it? True, production has taken the place of men in the production of the world's goods, but I think that is only one side of the question. The other, as I see it. is this. Who makes the machinery to start off with? Quite a large number of human beings are employed in the making of the machines and radios, which are said to have displaced human labour. If there were no engines, wireless, and other laboursaving devices, would it make a very great difference to the unemployment problem? I do not think it would, Dot, because if the governments were to issue a bill stating that no machinery was to be used in their respective countries what would happen? All those engaged in the work of constructing machines would have to take the place of the machines they had been making or starve. Also, if no machinery was to be made what would be th2 use of employing so much labour in the mines and extracting the now almost useless iron ore? These thoughts arc rather confused when written down, Dot, but are quite clear to me in my own mind. Maybe in trying to express them I have gone a little out of my depth. It seems to me a little like the " House that Jack Built." Without the men we could not have the iron ore to make the machines; without the iron ore we could not have machines; without the men, again, we could not have the machines, and probably without the machines we could not have so many labour-saving devices; and that works back to the fact that without the laboursaving devices to relieve the human labour employed in the production of the world's goods, the human beings would not have sufficient time to concentrate on the world's arts—music, painting, writing, etc., and to revert to the original thought, without machinery there would not be sufficient labour to spare to construct machinery. Best wishes to all. KILMENY OF THE POOL (Dunedin). I You have been thinking hard, at any rate, Kilmeny of the Pool. It seems a great muddle, does it not? Do you think thcr6 is any way of unravelling it?— DOT.I

Dear Dot,—The road from now on Is much the same as thai we have passed—a narrow twisting road on the side of the hill, while on the left, down below, is the river, and on the other side of the river are hills again. At Central Shotover we have to ford Deep Creek. Then, around a bend, we start to climb the hill, which has a gradual slope. Here the road is very pretty, as it is bordered with willows. The top of the hill reached, we pass a house on our right and just beyond it on our left we notice a man's head formed in rock This is called Mr Massey's head. Here and there along the road are willows. We pass two children who seem not to mind the fact that they have no school to attend and no mates for they are busy digging out rabbit burrows, while a black cat stands and watches them. Continuing on we do not see much that is different from the country we passed through before, but here across the river is a flock of goats, about 14 in all, enjoying the feed on the hillside. Down on our left now is the Skippers Ltd. claim Still we carrj on, winding about, and up and down hills and the next place oi interest is the Skippers Bridge about nine miles from Central Shotover. This swing bridge has a span of about 300 ft across the river and is the same distance down to the

river. Now we wind around the side of the river, but a few hundred feet aDove it, and soon we are at what was once quite a township, with its library, hall, etc.—Skippers Point. So ends our journey, for we now have to turn round and retrace our road, as there is no other way out of this place. Regards to all, not forgetting yourself. ALMOND BLOSSOM (Queenstown).

[Well, it has been a pleasant trip, Almond Blossom. I have enjoyed every turn of the road and every glimpse of wild scenery.—DOT.]

Dear Dot,—Once again Dunedin was the scene of many coloured lights, this lime for a more historic event. Indeed, Dot, the lights were wonderful. To realise this one only had to walk down upper Stuart street and gaze upon the floodlit station and trees in the Octagon. It was like walking through fairyland. Even the owners of private houses went to a great deal of trouble to show their loyalty to the King and Queen, especially up Roslyn. Did you see the houses that were decorated in Ross street? One especially called forth everybody's attention. A large crown covered the front of the house, this being delightfully designed with coloured lights Red, white, and blue lights also ran in different directions from the crown. Besides this, flags were flying from different corners. The shopkeepers took part in the great excitement, and gaily decorated the windows with coloured streamers and photographs of the Royal Family. Cars had flags flying, and I noticed that two young lads had decorated their bicycles. The tram car, I think, was one of the main attractions of Coronation week. I cannot find words to describe it, but I only hope that you and your great majority of Little Folk saw how beautifully decorated it was. Huge placards bore the words " Long may they reign." I am sure we all wish that. Love to all. SPRING SNOWDROP (Dunedin).

[I did not see that house, Spring. Snowdrop, but it sounds very attractive. Decorating things gives a great deal of pleasure.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —Last week was celebrated the Coronation of George VI and Queen Elizabeth: and the city of Dunedin was aglow with lights. But what of London? Here also was merrymaking and rejoicing. Everyone's interest was centred around this greatest city in the world. The streets of London seemed to be one great, seething mass of wildly cheering people, and when the State coach rolled out of the gates of Buckingham Palace, the cheers reached a climax. They started afresh as it mounted Constitution Hill and continued on along the Mall, through Admiralty Arch, down Whitehall, and past the Cenotaph. Of course the next stage in the procession was Westminster Abbey itself, the resting place of so many of Britain's heroes and heroines. And so the Royal Family and other nobility privileged to attend, passed inside. At last Britain's greatest ceremony began, and as the mighty organ pealed powerfully forth and the fanfare of trumpets was sounded, one felt proud that one was part of such a great empire. Within the great Abbey where rest kings of old. Is seated a King of to-day, In robes trimmed with ermine, of purple and gold, Enthroned there in gorgeous array. Beside him his Queen looking graceful and mild,' The bonniest Scotland displays, The great Abbey organ with pipes large and deep. And beautiful music it plays. GLADIOLI (Dunedin).

[Your own composition. Gladioli? If so, a fitting tribute and a good conclusion to a good letter.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —Nearly everyone we meet this season is knitting or has knitted something. I thought I should like to knit something also, and lately I completed my first jumper. I found the pattern in a journal and it seemed very easy then, but when one takes knitting needles and a ball of wool it is not so easy. Several parts I knitted up, and sooner or later the part was pulled out. It was the first time I had ever knitted with the hope of having it finished. I remember when I was younger, I found a knitting needle (really a stocking one), and began tc wonder which end the wool went on and how the needle was held. I found some wool and twisted it round and round the needle, and I was pleased, because I thought I had actually put on stitches. My idea was soon changed when I was shown how stitches were put on and that one requires two needles for knitting. About ten stitches were cast on for me, and a few lines knitted in plain garter stitch. I sat down and began to knit by myself. I managed the first stitch, and behold the second stitch was dropped, and while in the act of picking it up, more stitches ran off the needle, and thus ended my first knitting lesson. When I was in Standard I at school we were told to bring two knitting needles and some bright wool, as we were going to be taught how to knit. However, it did not seem so bad at school, and in a few weeks' tims I had finished knitting a square. Lately I was shown by an experienced and excellent knitter how to twist a cable. I had no idea that it was as simple as it is. Well, Dot, we all have something to learn, have we not? Kindest regards to yourself and all Little Folk. FRANCES MARY (Dunedin). [Your knitting experience will not be unfamiliar to many of your readers, Frances Mary. Thank you for making a good letter of such a commonplace subject.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —The pageantry and pomp are over perhaps for another 25 years or more. It was very wonderful to think that we could hear the Coronation proceedings while we ourselves were sitting in our own homes. The King was sitting in Westminster Abbey and we, on the other side of the. world, were privileged to " hear every word that was spoken. I heard the description of the procession to and from the Abbey, but it was not very clear at the start of the procession. People travelled from all parts of the Empire to see their King crowned. Thousands of pounds were spent so that people visiting England would have a fair chance of seeing their King and Queen in their Coronation robes. When King George V was crowned little did the people at that time , think that next Coronation . the whole world would be able to listen to the proceedings. Truly the age we are living in is a mechanised age. Without the aid of wireless the people would not have been able to listen to the King taking the oath. Love to the page and yourself. THE PRIME MINISTER (Mossburn). [We are fortunate people, The Prime Minister. As long as we can use our privileges wisely and obtain real happiness by means of them!—DOT.] # =;-■ * Dear Dot,—As lam very fond of reading I shall talk about books this week. I have just finished reading " Scissors," by Cecil Roberts. " Scissors " tells of a boy living in the East with his father. About seven years later he returns to England to go to school, and this is where his name comes in. As John Narcissus is his name his school friends call him " Scissors." After many adventures throughout the great war " Scissors" is in the end killed in an aeroplane crash. I have also read " Sails of Sunset," by the same author. It is a romance, the setting of which is in Venice. They are both very interesting and enjoyable books. Kindest regards. FLUFFINS (Dunedin).

[Those are two well-known and popular books. Flufiins. I am not surprised that you enjoyed them.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —I agree: with Charles Dickens that the present is a wonderful time. When we see so many new contrivances we wonder how machinery could possibly be improved and what new heights in the realms of invention could possibly be attained. To me it seems almost impossible for man's brain to devise any greater schemes than those existing today. There are, however, many " oldtimers " who still wish that the world was as it was fifty years ago, but I think if it comes to the point they would not be so willing to return to the old mode of transport. For that matter, I am sure they are just the ones who thoroughly enjoy listening to the radio. A few vears hence ought to see television installed in most countries. I wonder what the "old-timers" will think of that. It is strange the way they are prejudiced to new-fangled ideas. Still, we may be the same in years to come. Kindest regards. STREAMLINE (Oamaru).

II expect wc shall, Streamline. Each age thinks that it has attained the summit of the powers of invention, and yet invention still goes on.—DOT.]

Dear Dot,--It is about time I again wrote to your page. This time I am going to write about some aviatrix of New Zealand and Australia. The most famous New Zealand aviatrix is an Auckland girl—Miss Jean Batten, who not so very long ago established a double record. Miss Batten is a beautiful dancer. To commemorate her flight across the South Atlantic, the Brazilian Air Force presented her with a trophy. She has been presented with many of these during her flying days Another aviatrix is a Wellington gill of twenty, who is the second youngest to be awarded her pilot's "A" licence. She is a lover of engineering work, and was working in a Wellington engineering workshop After she has had her licence endorsed, she intends to set out for London, where she will endeavour to obtain work as a ground engineer. She may, perhaps, be another Jean Batten This girl's name is Miss Elizabeth Reeves. The youngest girl in New Zealand to hold an "A" licence is a Waiuku girl, Miss June Howden, At seventeen Miss Jean Burns, the youngest aviatrix in Australia, qualified for her "A" ticket at the Essendon aerodrome last. March. All these young girls mav be as famous as the New

Zealand aviatrix. Miss Batten. I should like to go up in an aeroplane. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. GOLDEN BUTTERFLY (Beaumont). [lt will be interesting watching their careers, Golden Butterfly. You will enjoy your flight when you have one. Would you, too, like to be an aviatrix? —DOT.] ¥ * * Dear Dot,—Mr George Arliss has appeared on the screen disguised as more famous personages than I care to recall, so there is no reason why Mr Charles Laughton should allow the aforementioned gentleman to have a monopoly of that very interesting section of the films. After having been the repulsive villain for quite long enough Mr Laughton has taken up the palette of Rembrandt, and the result has been, to me at least, a satisfactory film. That suave, quiet, yet penetrating voice, which is one of Mr Laughton's greatest assets, proved him in good stead during this picture, and the human voice on the screen has never impressed me so much as did this actor's voice, especially in the delivery of some Bible passages, which made one wonder if the Scriptures were ever before read with such depth and understanding. There was more to " Rembrandt" than that, though not very much; for when the principal actor was out of the limelight we turned our attention principally to the settings, which seemed a little too perfect. There was a newness about them which made them appear like beautifully constructed cardboard models, but at the same time the pictures formed by the cameras were always of great beauty. Not being a specialist in matters relating to the artist's brush and palette, I am unable to say how much of the story was true, or whether the film hinders or helps the reputation of Rembrandt as a man. Mr Laughton's conception of Rembrandt shows him 'as the typically misunderstood and unfortunate artist whose only reward is the praise given him by people living long after he has passed away. Yet is that not the way with most of the really great artists? ... CHARLES DICKENS (Dunedin).

[Your conception of the picture agrees very much with my own, Charles Dickens. Laughton's voice will remain as an impressive memory for a long time.—DOT.]

Dear Dot,—lt is strange how little mementoes of great occasions that come into our possession are treasured by us, not because they are valuable, but because they are interesting.- Just such a momento that I possess is a series of postcards of the Coronation procession of King George V on June 22, 1911. In the background of seven of the eight postcards is the Admiralty Arch, and the procession is seen coming out of the Mall into Whitehall. The route is lined with a double row of Guardsmen in their impressive black busbies, and behind them are the intently interested spectators. One scene is of the field-marshals riding past on beautiful chargers, with the white plumes of their hats tossing in the breeze. Another shows the watermen, whose duties consist of rowing the King s barge. Then there are the carriages of the Royal Family, each drawn by four horses, while in another scene the carriage ot Princess Mary (whom we know as Princess Royal) is followed by an escort of Life Guards. The Life Guards* band is another picture, and if it was in colour, it would be very striking. The State carriage, which was built for George 111 in 1761 at the cost-of £7OOO, is the subject of two postcards, and the figure of Queen Mary can be seen in the carriage, while on either side march footmen and Yeomen of the Guard. The last is the clergy with the regalia, and the orb is seen carried at the head of the regalia. A YOUNG NEW ZEALANDER (Dunedin). [Have you a medal of that Coronation as well, A Young New Zealander? If not, I think I could procure you one to add to your interesting souvenirs.—DOT.]

Deer Dot,—As some slight relaxation from my struggles with economic problems I propose to write this week about " The Story of Louis Pasteur." I saw the film recently, and was greatly impressed by the acting of Paul Muni, who played the title role. It is said that for months previous to the filming Muni steeoed himself in stories and descriptions of Pasteur, with the result that he gave a magnificent performance. The film deals with a few of the more important incidents in the life of Louis Pasteur, that eminent French chemist and scientist, whose researches in connection with hydrophobia, bacteriology, and the germs of cholera and anthrax have been of immense benefit to human kind. The laboratory scenes in the film were, I thought, well done, with plenty of glass jars, bottles, test-tubes, retorts, Bunsen burners, and microscopes arranged around the room to give it a true air of scientific research. One of the most exciting sequences was the result of the test earned out by Pasteur on 50 sheep. Twentyfive had not been vaccinated against anthrax with Pasteur's serum; another twenty-five had. When the time came to examine the two pens, the first contained twenty-five dead animals; the second —ah! what suspense when it was seen that the sheep were lying on the ground. A dog came along barking and instantly the sheep rose. They were all healthy. It was an immense triumph for Pasteur. Even the great Lister, of England, congratulated him. Having proved the efficiency of his anthrax vaccine Pasteur devoted himself to the study of hydrophobia, and after many setbacks discovered that if a person were treated with the attenuated germs he developed resistance to the affliction. It was in this connection that Dr Charbonnet acted, all unwittingly, as Pasteur's best guinea pig. Whoever played Charbonnet's part deserves some words of praise. BLUEFEATHER (Waimate).

[I am glad that you saw and enjoyed that picture, Bluefeather, for it was well worth seeing. Your description of Dr Charbonnet as a guinea pig is a diverting one.—DOT.]

Dear Dot,—l am writing this as my letter of farewell, as I become 21 in a few weeks' time, so I shall write early in case I forget later on. I have not been a very good correspondent, but no doubt there have been others to take my place in the limited space for the Little Folk's letters. The years have slipped by since I first joined, and I am sorry to have to fall into the line of Old Writers. I have had my own business of dressmaking now for eighteen months, and have done fairly well considering the times. We arc leaving here very shortly for Napier, which, I believe, is a very pretty town since the rebuilding after the earthquake. I have not decided what I shall do over there, as I should like a change from the dressmaking. We have had one sprinkle of snow so far, although it has been frightfully cold since Easter. The schools are closed here on account of three cases of paralysis at Ohakune. It seems to be dying out a little now, but what a long time it has lasted, has it not? Well, Dot, I know space is precious at present, so I shall save all the news for Old Writers' Week, and bid farewell to all Little Folk, with best of luck to all. RUAPEHU IMP (Ohakune Junction).

[Good-bye as a Little Folk, Ruapehu Imp, and, when you become 21, welcome as an Old Writer. I hope you have an interesting time when you arc " grown up."-DOT.] * ::•• * Dear Dot, —I wonder whether or not you think that if one reads a story then goes to the filming of it, seeing the film spoils the story. I think it does to a certain degre. When you read a story you form pictures in your mind of the characters, and then you go to the film in anticipation of seeing exactly what you pictured, because you could not imagine the characters looking any different, from

your idea of them. Quilp agrees with me that "A Midsummer Night's Dream " was very different from what we had both pictured it it to be, but when it comes to saying X was rather disappointed in it she does not agree. "Anne of Green Gables" was not the first of the "Anne " series of books that I read, and naturally, I formed pictures of the characters. When I read "Anne of Green Gables " itself I received a shock, for it was a film edition of the book and had 17 illustrations from the film, and they were much different from what I had imagined. Still, I did not have a shock when I saw the picture, so perhaps I really had to thank my film edition of " Anne." Other cases of the film differing from the story are "David Copperfield," "Alice in Wonderland," and " White Fang." In " Clive of India," Robert Clive looked very different from the picture in my old history book. In the film Clive was great, and the part was acted very well indeed. If there was no word limit I could write a better letter on this subject, but I think I have given you an idea of what I was thinking about when I wrote this letter. By the way, are the membership badges made of silver? FAIREY FOX (Oamaru). [They look like silver, Fairey Fox. Some books film well, others not well at all. You seem to have approached the subject satisfactorily.—DOT.] OLD WRITERS' ASSOCIATION The first annual reunion of the D.L.F. Old Writers' Association will be held in Dunedin on June 9 (King's Birthday). The celebrations will commence at 2.*30, when an "at home" will be held in Somerset Lounge, Savoy, and at 8 p.m., grand ball in the Early Settlers' Hall. Tickets for these functions are now ready, and may be had on .application to the secretary. Price: "At home." 2s 6d; ball, 2s 6d. All members who wish to attend are asked to send in their names as soon as possible and no later than June 5 to Morning Star (Mrs J. Hines, 24 Jackson street, St. Kilda). * * Subscriptions have ben received from Lavinia, Kitty, and Linnet. MORNING STAR.

NEW MEMBERS Dot extends a special welcome to the following Little Folk who have written to the page for the first time this week:— Midnight Sun, Tap Dancer, Little Blue Bird, Poatiri Polly. NOTES Elizabeth's Nurse Girl.—l shall be pleased to enrol you, my dear, if you send your private name and address. Otherwise how can I? DOT. OVERSEAS CORRESPONDENTS Little Folk who wish to correspond with people in India or Ceylon should write to Miss Evelyn Viney, 49 Plunket street, Dunedin, S2, stating their age, address, and hobbies. DOT. LITTLE FOLK'S LETTER BOX As the Little Folk inserting uie following requests do not know the addresses of the companions with whom they wish to correspond, it is necessary that those companions should send the first letter.—DOT. Pixie of the Glen (Evelyn M'lntosh, Oturehua) would like to correspond with Wild Guy. D.L.F. SOCIAL CLUB Inclement weather prevailed for the second social of the 1937 season, which was held in the library of the Times office on the evening of Saturday, May 22, and the attendance was consequently affected. Those present were the patron, Remembrance, Kilmeny of the Pool, Almond Blossom, Miss Mouse, Little Lady Clare, Creamy's Daughter, Mornington Lad (whose father was also present), Charles Dickens, and A Young New Zealander. The Old Writers present were Creamy and Morning Star, the latter of whom stayed only a short time. A feeling of goodwill prevailed and the evening was entirely successful. The feature of the occasion was an impromptu speech, in which everyone spoke on a different subject, and which proved to be extremely interesting. A novel game, which was suggested by the patron, was the acting of the well-known story " The Pied Piper." It caused much amusement, and all the members readily entered into it. An interesting competition was also presented by Remembrance, and the usual picnic supper terminated an enjoyable evening. Members are reminded that the next monthly meeting will be held in the library of the Times office at 7.15 p.m on Thursday, June 3, when all who are able are urged to attend. A YOUNG NEW ZEALANDER (Secretary).

Gladys Moncrieff, Eileen Boyde, Essie Ackland, Richard Tauber, Richard Crooks, and Nelson Eddy. In duets, Flotsam and Jetsam are very good. Jetsam, who is really Malcolm M'Eachern, has a big, deep bass voice. Grade Fields has a delightful voice when she sings good songs, but I like her, too, in those funny Lancashire ones. In humorous items, Elsie and Doris Waters are lovely, telling about London, and Sandy Powell has made thousands of records. I always listen to Eb and Zeb. They make me laugh so much! Elsie Carlisle sings good swinging songs. The " Japanese Housoboy" is a favourite of mine, too, but I am the only one in this house who likes those last ones. When arc vou putting another poem in the page, Laugh Your Troubles Away? Best love to Dot and everybody. FRIEND OF THE FAIRIES (Miller's Flat).

[You mention names that mean nothing to me because I have no radio. Friend of the Fairies. But I am sure that the Little Folk will be interested in your choice.—DOT.]

Dear Dot,—We have begun school once again, and I do not take too kindly to lessons after the holidays. My brother and myself have a long way to go to school, so we both have bicycles, and it is verv cold on frosty mornings until we meet the sun. It will bo lovely when the warm weather comes again. I must close now, with love to yourself and your Little FOU ' ORANGE VIOLET (Lawrence). [What an unusual adventure, Orange Violet, to be able to ride to meet the sun! Do you not think so?—DOT.] BEST LETTERS SENIOR SECTION (14 years and over) Dear Dot,— The D o'clock bell rang, trie shouts and cries ceased in the playground, and there was a great clatter and flurry as the school pupils made haste to get into their ranks. There was a moments silence, then through the still, sharp air there rang the notes of the Nationa Anthem as it was sung by the assembled bovs and girls. After this, Coronation badges were presented, and with merry chatter we passed out of the school gates and then awaited the arrival of the rest of the procession, which was to go to the domain to the tree-planting- ceremony. Decorated vehicles of all shapes rolled up and joined on to the ever-increasmg procession. Cowboys, drummer boys, and grenadiers all joined in, and with. Mussolini and Hitler well to the front, the long procession started off The tree p anted was a seedling oak from an oak planted on a former Coronation Day. We retraced our footsteps and then entered the Town Hall, where a service was held, in the afternoon there was great excitement as there was to be a free picture show for the children, after which a bag of refreshments was to be handed to each child on leaving the hall. We then proceeded to the football grounds and watched an interesting game of football. About 9 o'clock at night we switched on the radio and settled down to listenin to the Coronation ceremony in London We could hear the cheering of the multitude along the toute and the music of the organ and the singing of the choir in the Abbey. We heard the voices ot the bishops and at long last the voice of the King, clear and distinct, as he took the oath. We were listening-in at our aunt's, and long before this my smaller brothers and sisters had been dropping off to sleep one by one, and had to be wakened up to hear the King speak At 12 we turned the radio down for the night and had supper, thus ending a memorable day for me. Kind regards. MADAM MARYGOLD (S. Otago).

lYou, too, had a wonderful day. Madam Marygold, and one you have described well. Thank you for your note. I quite understand.—DOT.l .v. * *

Dear Dot,—Having crossed the Indian Ocean we are now at Ceylon. I always think that Ceylon and India offer such a world of interest to everyone. One meets so many different races in these two places, and the two countries always seem to be full of mystery. Dr Talmage says that passing up and down the streets of Ceylon, in five minutes one will find all styles of people—Afghans, Kaffirs, Portuguese, Moormen, Dutch, English, Scotch, Irish, and American. There are also Cingalese, Tamils, and Hindus. Dr Talmage describes the Cingalese as being "brown as coffee." The Cingalese men have long hair, which is coiled on the top of their heads and is fastened with a comb. This is made of the shell of the tortoise, The tortoise is hung over a fire until his shell falls oil. It is indeed a very cruel thing to do. Ceylon also has beautiful temples of Buddha.