LETTERS FROM THE BACK BLOCKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2401, 8 March 1900, Page 61

LETTERS FROM THE BACK BLOCKS.

Dear Dot, — The third contingent has got oft" at last, and is now on its way to honour and glory. How badly Ido wish I weie with them. I am thinking of hiring a steam launch, and going on my own account. Surely if I got ever there and presented myself and Moses before Major Robin, he would not be so hardhearted as to refuse to enlist*me in his company. I should have liked to have gone to England with him at the time of the Queen's Jubilee,but the Government wouldn't sent any cadets. Steve and I knew two fellows who stowed away on the Waiwera, but we didn't think it was Tvorth while to do that. Steve says it is bad enough to be seasick with a saloon ticket in your pocket; so it must be something awful to be packed away amongst the coal. One of the fellows was taken on to Africa and the other landed at Albany, so they didn't gain much, because they won't be soldiers. We think the one that was left at Albany will get along all right, because he is a splendid shot and rider, and he doesn't care how he risks his life. Twice he has been into flooded rivers after people. If he had waited most likely he would have been taken in the third or fourth contingents, but ho was too short for the first and second. Even if we had managed to conceal ourselves we couldn't have taken our horses, so we had lo give up the idea. A schoolmaster of ours has yon 3 in the Knight Templar, so I suppose we should have had a friend on board. It is hard lines that he should be chosen, and that we should be left, just becavuse he happened to be a few years older. However, we comfort ourselves by saying that most likely he is jniserable-'and seasick just now, and will probably be too late to do any fighting.

My small brother has just galloped in. We could see by the way he was making his pony go that he was in a breathless state ol excitement, waving his hat with one hand, the paper with the other, and shouting'" Hip! hip!, hurrah!" at the top of his voice. I felt like shaking him to make him get his breath back, but at last he told us Cronje had given in, and Major Robin had won the battle. We think he meant Lord Roberts, but he is a little mixed up between the two, as they are both such piominent men. He is ceitainly learning to be a rough rider, and I shouldn't wonder if he puts in a claim for Moses soon, and wants to learn to jump. It's dreadful, Dot, to liave a lot of young brothers wanting to borrow all your things.

- Steve and I were determined to have something to cheer us up, so we coaxed mother to let us have a euchro party the night before the contingent left. We promised to get the prizes ourselves and clear out the rooms, get the tables ready, and make Mabel get the supper. Mother was just like " Mrs 'Enry 'Awkins "—" — At first she said 'she wouldn't, And then said &he couldn't,

And then she whispered, " Oh, I'll see." Dad said he didn't consider staying up until midnight a very good preparation for a day at stooking, and that ha expected to find us both asleep undei a stook next day, but we assured him we would work like white slaves. We had a very nice evening, and enjoyed ourselves exceedingly. About 12 o'clock somebody suggested a dance, but Dad said he drew the line at dances in liaivest time, so we had to "break up. I have tossed up as to whom I shall •vote for for the Easter, lectures, and as Harry says, it must be " ladies first," so it has come out— Ziska, Jessie C, and Echo. It amuses me to see some of the descriptions of you, and none of them very near the mark. Why don't the little folk picture a charming, smiling, young lady, with fair, frizzy _hair, hazel brown eyes, medium height, and graceful figure? That's my picture of Dot.---Yours truly,

P.S. — Would you allow me to write to the editor in your columns? I want to ask him something, if you don't object. Please let me know when I would be most likely to find him in a very good temper. — 8.0.8.

[Thank j'ou, 8.0.8. — a very pretty picture: I think I shall adopt it, and have, a picture painted from it for reproduction in one of our groups. The present is a very favourable time indeed, 8.0.8., for has he not limited us to eight columns irrespective of the 150 letters I have in hand, and do not know what to do with ? He couldn't possibly help being indulgent to us all under-fche circumstances, so if you are waiting for a favourable opportunity do not delay. When he reads your P.S. and my footnote I am sure he will smile his best. — DOT.]