Untitled

Otago Witness, Issue 2569, 10 June 1903, Page 75

ZEALANDIA HALL, WYNDHAM.

Bight when it was blazing, especially to those iwho saw it from a little distance. House lent jR-«nt down very quickly m that part when the ■fire occurred, but I suppose it will go up just *3 quick now that the cars hstve started again, at "will be grand when we have the electric trams running. Dunedin w.rf surely go ahead Jthen. We have been waiting for a railway "fetation a long time, but surely we shan't be iept very much longer now that they havo made a start. I noticed in a recent Witness j .ivbere Boadicea referred to a horse by the name ip_f Ladysmith as being the best one in the fraieri Mounted Rifles , but I sea Minnie Clyde Bays that Skipper is the best. I differ with her ©n that point, as I have seen both horses mentioned, and I, as well as nearly everybody else, em of the same opinion as to Ladysmith being , Iby Jar the more superior horee. You will no ifloubt wonder who I am, Minnie Clyde, but I , «m well acquainted with your uncle, G. T. II (went for a drive during my stay with Maid of ] lA.tb.ens, and we scon covered ground with that splendid Ladysmith in the gig. Since starting /this letter I have had my D.L.F. patient stay- , ,'fing at my home, and I am very pleased to see liow quickly she has recovered from her serious I attack of fever. I don't like your idea, Dot, j 'of not putting answers at tho bottom of our Betters, as the L.F. üßed to look forward so much /to your answers, and another thing, It gave /them encouragement to write again. With love jto B. F., Boadicea, Maid of Athens, and Monterunia, not forgetting Dot and the editor, — Yours ' /truly, HOLLY HEDGE. [I do not like it myself, Holly Hedge, but the few weeks teat it occurred there were so ' jmany letters that I could not see where they j /were all to find Toorn, so in order to save a | Dittle apace and enable a fow more to appear I fetch week bhe answers were left out. The ) coming holiday for Old Writers' Week ' jnill enable me to get all in hand j jnway, I hope. I was very sorry indeed tq ,ftiear of your sad loss, dear, and your parents ■md yotirself had my emcerest sympathy. You ! 'Biave chosen a noble profession, and it is well i /worth all the study to perfect yourself in it.— iDOT.] Dear Dot,— The last time I wTote to you wag an March, 1902, so I do not trouble you much, Ido I? Since then I have collected quite a mumber of auto 3. I found out the other day .who Isle of Beauty is, and in doing so discovered she is an old schoolmate of mine. I ulso know who Rita is. All the picnics are ever now, and winter is coming on fast. On Sunday next there is to be church parade in "Cur church. The procession will include Oddttellows, volunteers, and the baud. Sir J. G. (Ward and company were in C. last week, but Hid not stay over night. To-night the weather is changing, and it is raining, but I do not (think it will come to much, though not because •we do not need it. I learn the piano, and like rit fairly well. I do not go to school now, li ayring Jeft nearly two yeais ago; but 1 shou'd Bike to go back again It was the late Queen's /birthday yesterday, and they are cheering foi •(Empire Day to-day I was ?.t a picnic on OEaster Monday, and saw several D.L.F., whose 'acquaintance I made. AVith love to all the •CD.L.F., including Isle of Beauty, Rita, and ■QDowager Empress, and not forgetting the editor •rd yourself, — Yours truly, FLOWER 0' CLUTHA. [That is quits a poetical norn de plume, and I do not think there is any dirger of it being ■taken by anyone else. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — Here I am again— like the rain, I come and go. I notice that all the little folk •(have a go about the weather, and so I shall (be in the fashion on this occasion. Well, we /were having very bad weather for awhile, but at ha 6 changed to-day. The locality we live in j ds a rough, hilly place with plenty of bush. We ihave not got much of a flower garden. I think (boys are great teases ; they are trying to see i tmy norn de plume, so that they may tell every I (body. There are a good many Dot's little folk fliere, but 1 do not know all thpir nonis de ylume. We have an awfully muddy road to go to school, but all the same, I like it Do you not think it is better to be a good scholar than «, bad one? I got, stuck in a mud hole the othei day, and I had to get my sister to pull ,ane out. l"7o sooner was I out, however, than ■•I got stuck in another one, and she had to pull ' me out again, but she said she wcu'dn't do so a third time With love to all the LF , not forgetting jourse4f and the editor, — Yours truly, STRAIGHT HAIR, [Stuck in the Mud would apparently have (been quite as appropriate a name as Straight •Hair, would it net? The road to school is evidently a very trying ore in winter, S H , but I suppose it is all right in summer.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — Since last writing to you I have left school,- which I regret very much I d.d mot like leaving at all, for it meant no more cchool fun with jny old mates, including Ginevra, Enoch, Larola, Chatterbox, and many others who are not D.L.F. Still, a good inar.y of my jmates have l«ft school as well; but I always think that the schooldays are the best time of our lives. The school children are learning cooking and carpentry now, and what grand .times they have. I was out last week to see Avema, who tells me she is not going to write again, and I shall just tell you why. Well, ftierc was, a Dunedinite up here not so very long ago, and he made an awful threat to her and I if we ovpt used a certain subject for our letters ugain. Poor old Averna has taken it to heart; fcut for my pait it wont in. at one ear and out at the other. I think if I do a bit of coaxing fcho will return to our page , co cheer Tip, old girl, and do not tiouble about it any more. I was at the Scotch fair which was held her© a fortnight ago, and I paw some guls whom I think aie L.F., but did not speak to them, as I was not quite sure I \\;is told aft-erv/ards that one of them signs herself BnUnrua. So Britannia, will you kindly ept-ak to me next time we happen'to meet, as I pin not quite

sure of your individuality, and I should like to make your acquaintance? I see the Critic ■ Club has returned again in full force. I always enjoy reading their reports, and I think they are very nice. Before concluding, I must thank Clydeite for his auto., and I shall consider your request, Clydeite, the result of which will \'ery likely be satisfactory for you. I shall now , close, hoping that Boadicea ha 3 not forgotten me. — Yours truly, ] KHAKI. ' [Avema must be very sensitive, Khaki, to allow a teasing visitor's silly threat to prevent her writing. She should have simply laughed at his threat.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — We are in the winter months already, but it has not been very ba<l so far. ' The frosts at night are pretty severe, and the mornings pretty cold, which I know by cxpen- | j enoe. I am up fairly early these times, as I j ,am chief cook and bottle washer. We have I had no snow co far — on the flat, I /nean ; but ( when it is raining here it is snowing on the mountains, which "are at present quite white. 1 Mount Domett, a mountain peak, may be seen i from here, and it looks very dreary •when covered with snow. At holiday times people come from the town and go to see Mount Domett, some camping for a day or two on the ■way. They say the top of the mountain, which looks like a sharp edge from here, is so fla|t that you could play rounders on it. Do you ever get headaches, Dot? I often get bilious ones, which are very troublesome, and I just dread them, as I can <Jo nothing but crawl around like a dying duck. I was watching the ! men working a hoTse called Paddy, and I think ! he is well named, as he seems to have a i "Paddy" of his own all right. He would do j nothing but rear first on his hind and then on his fore tegs, kicking and jumping till he j was tired; then he walked off, giving a, kick , and rearing up in the air till he forgot about I it, and I am sure his driver wasn't sorry when he stopped. That wonderful horse I was tell- , ing you about in one of my letters is going ' down to Oamaru to bs broken into harness, and | my sister says she -will see a few out driving behind him before she will venture to go. I am to learn to ride him some time. I had a paradise duck shut up in n, yard, trying to tame him. I let him out 'about a week ago, half expecting to see no more of him; but the poor old fellow has stayed about all the time, now and then paving his old place of confinement a visit. I have never been at Sunday school since we came here, but. my sister says I have to make a start again. I don't like the thought =of going very much, as I don't know any of the Sunday school scholars; but I suppose if I don't go I never shpll know them- I shall wear my badge, ar>d if there are any L F. among them I shall make their acquaintance first. A bazaar was held here some time ago, and I belifvo they made over £45 at it in tv;o nights. i\?ost of the farmers about here are I cultivating their land for wheat at piesent. The othet grain, of course, comes later on. With I best love to Biddy, Britannia, Mischief, Maid of Mountain, Diamond, and Green Poplai, not forgetting Dot, — Yours tru'y, MATTY. [You must have been very kind to the paradise duck, Matty, or it would not have learned to know its home so quickly. I don't woncW at your sister making up her mind to be quite sure that the horse is propeily broken in before trusting him. It is always as well to err on the eide of caution.— DOT.J Dear Dot,— We are having miserable weather hero ju9t now, but we can't expect anything else, as it is winter. I was at a kuiematograph entertainment the other night, and I noticed a number of the D.L.F. there, including Split i Ear, Isalene, Vera Lillias, and Isonell, who ' were all sitting together, and they seamed to be having a great o'cT time. After the enter■teinmenfc -was over the four L.F. that I have mentioned were having quit© a confidential I chat in the middle of the street, and it being a lovely clear moonlight night th^y made quit** a conspicuous landmark standing tli-ero. I noticed Sir Tom pacing down the strer-t the ether day, and ho looked the picture of happiness, stiol'mg along with tlie badge in front lof Ins cap. All the L.F. seem to hsi\e en- ' jovpd themselves immensely at the Mosgul LF. picnic over at Stewart's Gully; but as I 1 was not there I had not the pleasure of making the acquaintance of any of the Durvedm L.F., but I hope to do so at no distant dale Imo- ' gen, Woodland, Cascade, and I had a nice chat about the L.F. with Maid of Killeena thp oil. or night, and T thank c he iq such a. nice li\elv gnl. With kind lo\ c and Iks', wishes lo I all the L r . i,ot forgetting jcurstlf and the editor,— Yours tiuly, OLIVE [You have not complied with the ru'p that each letter should I>© accompanied uith the full inline and address of the writer, Olive. Several other correspondents have rx>en sinula^v reminded of late, and I ica'ly fel.a'l be compelled to omit all euch letteis un'f-s moie attention is paid to this necessary rule — DOT ] Dear Dot, — The threshing mill is miking steady progress along the Coast We had tLe pleasure of keeping them for Sur day. I did not take it easy this year, as I have doi.e other years when my bisters were at home , but I jus-t enjoyed flying about as much as I would have done standing in the wind over at the mill. The wind was so strong that they had to put two drays up with bags tied an them to keep the belt fiom blowing off. I had a grand job afterwards making a little stack of the etrfm that was blown to the four winds of heaven ; but it was a better job filling our mattresses with chaff, and when I went to bed I needed a stepladder to get in. Jlie weather is pretty wet now, but I don't suppose it will stop the farmers who nro lead:ng-in from doing co. With love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting you Dot,— Yours truly, HEARTY LASSIE. [I should think the "flying about" ivns much more enjoyable i/'jej standing still in the wind,

a? you would b" abio to keep yourself nice and warm, Hearty LasSiC— DOT.J

Dear Dot, — I am going to write to tell you of a most en joj able walk I haxl lately while I was staying at ni}- aunt's residence. My aunt said she wished to pay a visit to my mater, and of course I said I shculd like to come, tco. Accordingly we set out at 10 in the morning, and walkirg through the Hi-sh we crossed a. clear flowing stream, and after a long walk through the bu>-h at the foot of the mountain we came to some fences through which we crawled with much agihty. After that wo leached a long section thickly covered with, manuka and deergrass. This section was on tho top of a very steep hill, and as we stood and) admired tho beautiful view I thought that if ever a poet or an flrtist had the good fortune to stand where we stood, how he would enjoy it. Resuming our walk, we crossed two swamps, and up to the top of another hill, carpeted with beautiful green moss tinted with a dark shade of amber. We now entered the bush, and followed the track for a long way, then we came to a, pretty little stream with beautiful ferns on both sides of it. We were now aiear our destination, 6O we stopped to pluck tho "biddys" off our sknts. After staying a few hours we turned our steps homewards, and reached 1 there punctually at 5 o'clock, after a most enjoyable day's outing. Have you ever seen what I have called "biddys"? and if you have, do you like them? because I don't. Now I must close with kind regards to all the L F., net forgetting yourself,— Yours truly, THISTLE, ROSE, AND SHAMROCK.

[Yes, Thistle, Rose, and Shamrock, bid-a-bids are common in the outskhts- of Dunedin, so townspeople do not need to go to the country to make their acquamtance. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — Here lam again ! I have been flying around lately. Last Friday I went home and stayed till Tuesday, as Monday was a holiday. I was so glad to get home again, and home looked so "homie." That's a funny word, I fancy I hear you Bay, Dot; but you must excuse it, dear, as it is one of my own coming, and consequently not particularly clever. PuffPuff left us last "Wednesday, and we were very js-orry to lose her, as she is nice and lively. Regina is also away just now, down at Alla.nton. She didn't fancy going away, and looked horribly doleful. I ana very glad, dear Dot, that the bottom was torn off Begina's letter, as she told me the other day wha-t it was. Dear Olga, as you cay yo\i would like to know me, ■will you write to me-, and address your lettsr to "Chips, care of Mr Brinssfl, Outrani." It will reach me safely then, and I ehall be very pleased to get it Dear Dot, Puff-Puff's sister is not the little girl you think, but a. young lady who wears her hair up, so she isn't very likely to ride like a, boy, is she? When Regma's irether waa away I had of couree to be away all day, so the cooking, etc., fell to Puff-Puff and Regnva. The lady of I/he hou?e baked plenty of bread before she left, but it only lasted a week. Then the two housekeepers, in the heat of the moment, turned their hands to baking, and som« sconea made then appearance. I shan't say anything about those scones, «\s Regina is rather huffy , but I shouldn't care for any more. After that, recipes for pancakes were murdered, and for several days notl ing wa.3 to bs smelt and eaten but burnt pancakes. Oh, didn't we have a tune of it 1 With best lo\e to yourself and all the L F.,— Yours ■tu.lv. CHIPS. [Puff's sister mu=* hjve had a good laugh w!n?n she saw the mitlakp I made, Chips>, and I really must apologue to her for taking her fo. a little girl.- DOT.] D'-ar Dot, — You were quite correct in guessing my name This is Fuday, au<s so I i>ra going home, and lny school teacher is going homo with rre It is very wet to-day. When we go homo to-night we aro going to have some grand fun. and go for a ride to-morrow. There are only two girls at our school, and I am one of them. I slop at the same place that my toacl.cr stoos at, and to go regularly to school. With, best love, — Yours truly, CREAMY. [You canrot very vtpll c-< ape atieixlu.g repulai'v under tiv.b. c.icumstbiKt^ Creaun — DOT] Dcai Dot,— Sine" I la=' wrote I h.uf> ph.ftpd to Woodlands, and ] like the place very much, tIiTC being moic life there than the-re is at hiimaln. Theie ■nas a play heie the other right, but aa I could not fed avav I did not go, and they say 1 die' vot n'i*s much &- it was "no class " 1 was helping to cook for the hanrsteia about a week ago, and it was fun to sit on the drays while they were pitching tlio t>hcavc3 in. I was sitting on the Siay, and all at, once I got a filap on the head, jid I went l.ght, o\ cr the side of the dray, and they all laughed at me The farmers are all busy down lure getting tLnr crops in, ar>d also getting them threshed, as the slacks will heat if they leave them too long. The other day as I was pemfr along the road I was chased by a ram, and, my word, I did do a. "-h'l f when I «nw it cummer, for it, ii clitc'ied me. With lovo to all the D.LF, not foi^ctung jouiseif and the cv. tor,— Yours truly, DAPHNE 11. [I don't woiklt at your "dci pr a shift," as you ratfifr slaugi 1 }' express it, Daphne 11, lam bure I should have done so a'so under the circvrustances, especially if hn ramship had hoi ns.— DOT] Dear Dot, — I hfiv« loneir? foi O. W. \V. to como round. Whrt terrib'e weather we BT6 having. It started to ram about 7 this morning, and has continued without a single break all day. I very much fear we shall have a flood. There have been many changes since I last ■wrote to you. Our picnic has passed and gone, and it was a groat success ; but the greatest change of all is the lose of our dear father — a loss tha.t can never be compensated for. We never know th.« value ol our paicnts till we

lo=? them, or v. o might honour them a httlo more than wo do. However, I suppose we shall all have our turn some day. My word, the farmers have, had a very bad season, have they noti" I see by the paper to-day "that there is a tender out for cutting a good deal of crop, but ■ I forget exactly how much. Dear Dot, there is 1 ons thing I do not like about the page — that is, criticising ono another. I f^aw where some of tho .little .folk said that th« page was not so interesting as it used to be; but I think that is a mistake, for as fast 9e some good writers resign otheis step into the breach and take their place. Our gßrden is not looking \ - ery attractive just now. We have had two greenhouses built since last writing, and we grow a. lot of tomatoes and cucumbers. I am very fond iof tomatoes. The D.L.F. of this district purpose holding an entertainment on the 9th of June, bub I suppose it will be over by the time tins is in print. I think it will prove a great exiccess, and I shall bs very sorry if it is not. I eec the Dunedin D.L P. are going to have ono also, and I wish them every success. With love to Mira Gitana, Rogue 11, Camellia, Ai.nah, and all the little folk, your own clear self, and the editor, — Your 3 truly, KITTY CLOVER. P.S.— lf tins is too long just gi\e it to the editor to light his pipe. — K. C. [Oh, Kitty— Kitty Clover— whatever will the linotype operator aay to a letter 15in wide? I should, not like to be standing near him when he is losing time (and consequently money) in leading it. Paper used for letters should never b? more than a quarter the size of your terrible sheet. You have my sincerest sympathy, dear, in your great affliction, and I am sure every L.F. will join iAik me in offering you oiu condolence.—DOT.] Dear Dot, — What a time has elapsed since I laot penned those two little words! I think it must be nearly 15 months, so it is about time I was starting ngain. Well, fmce I last wrote I have left up-country and been, licine for a while, and am now in Dunedin. When my last letter appeared or.c of the schoolboys spietl it, tarcfully cut it out, and carried it up to the school, where ho read it out to the others. They little thought that I was just on the insjde of the wull, and heard all their comments on it. There were o>>e or two D L.F. among 'thenV, 100, so if they read this they will know that Ivy was nearer than they thought she was. In another month I shall have written to you for four -sears, and it only seeuis the other day since I started. The -days do go racing past. I saw some time ago that Owahaite was grumbling because he couldn't get the Witness. At hrmo we u«ed to divide it by the story. The lr.side part needed lacking, and then two cou'd read it at the same time, efheting a change when they had finished. How would that work, Ovakaitc? I dares-iy you could pawn oft' the irside piece on some of your brothers, and then you could have the other to read in peace — that is, of courss, if you havMi't many brothers. If you have, I suppose you would have to hand it out to them in leav-03. Don't you think that the best part o( the Witness b toward 3 the last, Dot.? That is the part that I like best anyvny, though it is only occasional'y I get the chanc-o to see it at all" here, so that I aan wt very well up to what is going on in -the DLF. Page at present I winder when Roy intends to write again. He has reached the retiring age and ohpped quietly out without a murmur Perhaps he will return once moie m 0. W. W. Dunedin L.F. jim"t have laid their badges by for the winter. I haven't scan a single badge since I came down, five weeks ago. D.L.F. Cms seems to have taken the place of the Cntic Club, who have been keeping extra quiet lately , but I am glad \o .*ee that they have made a start once more. Next week will be a big week in Dundin I suppose all the L.F. v. ill bs out on the warpath for autos. I haven't got even one auto. 1 had one, but I gave it to my sister, who collects them. I am an exception, am I not, Dot"' I have a pile of magazines- before inf that I am going to lead by-and-bye. You will have to excuse my writing, as I am WTiting this with the back of a tray for a 'able, and it isn't too steady. It is too cold to move far from the fire these days, i=n't it? This 1% flood weathci for ihe ducks, anyway, if it isn't pood for anything else I hope old writers will 101 l up m full force— Yours truly, IVY [They «-ny that never hear any grod of themselves. Ivy, but I don't think that couid havo been the cac» when >ou were listening to your letter being read, or you would havo (•■xpres-eil 'Cine indignation even at this late date.-DOT] Dear Dot,— Ln't week tht> boats were unable to po out lishnifr, as the weather was very lough ond Etoiniy. The tides, too, are. exceedingly high and" the waves furiou", and I think watching them is very nitelcsting. It is a splendid Mght -to t-ee them daOiinsj and breaking on the rocks, and Tu*hniK up Ihe <=andy beach as if glad to be at hb-rty mcc n^ore. The other evening I went a''on^' th*- beach, or at least on the s?nd liill" for tho t'd<» was very hi<?h up. Th<» shore was strewn with kelp, hupo logs, and flotsam, while some pprts of the embankments were washed away. Wo have ju<-t entered into tho second month of winter, and already the frost is very keen and sharp, though not hard enough to afford much skating The«e long winter pver'in'js aie delightful, and as I have my school dutips'to attend to, I never find them too long. Jfy spare time I fill up in drawing and sketching, am"! I freatly enjoy that kind of work. My ehtei d:-a a.l the dittoing, and I someUirKS find her too severe with mo in my slt-empts. We do not get much diawinp at school, so that Ti why I do jt at home, iam very fond of leading, and I cannot get mough to read at home. There axe many beautiful spots down hero suitable for sketching, and I often wish for talent that would enable me to sketch them. There are not many people down here, and the houses are more or le=o scattered. Wilshir Ba.j is a miniature township nestling at the

side of Kaka Point ; but most of the houses nre empty during the greater part of tho year. In summer and at hohtViy sojson<» there. is a great demand lor lcdgings. We have only thrco boarding houses, and they are down at Nugget Bay — o distance of three, four, and five milo3 respecI tivcly. We boast of a shop (where the mails* are delivered) and a, schoolhouse Isot much, probably, to most of your readers, but quit© er.cugh for us fcr the time being. The chief occupation of tho people, down here is fishing, md p very prod thing is madj of it, too. There* are four or five boats, and each one engages * linn for driving tho fish up to the railway] station. The fish are sent to Dunedin, Law-lc-ncc, Christchurch, und other places. I was £cmg to start to do some trapping, but it is much too cold for me, and lam afraid lam tco fond of the fiieside. The shooting season is still on, but the birds arc getting very scares dewn here. I often go out shooting, out I'm afraid 'the birds are too cunning for me, for I hnve only managed to secure a very small number of ducks and pigeons. My sister and I often, go out together, and blaze away at a treo or fti.ything in sight. Jfy sister tells me when to take aim. We always slick up a target, but sho can't go near it when she aims at it. I get on very ■well with my sisters, and we have some grand times. With regards to all, including yourself— Yours truly, BADGER. [That is proper, Backer, and I hope- othor boys wiTl take an exam.ple from yon and make chums of their sisters instead of thinking they should seek for friends only among their girl companions. — DOT.J Dear Dot, — Last time I wrote to you I promised to tell you about my holiday at Miller's Flat next timo I wrote, and now I shall fulfil my piomise. First, I shall toll you about tho journ-ev. One Sunday morning I, accompanied by my mother, aunty, and brother, left homo at half-past 8, and as the day was fine and tho loads dry, we all enjO3'ed the diive except my aunty, who was a bit frightened of tho horses, especially going down the hills, but for all ihat I think she enjoyed the drive. AVhen we Teached our destination, wo were welcomed by my sister and her husband, and after partaking of a cup of tea we looked aiouiul tho garden until dinner time. Afle. dinner we went to have a look at the cemetery, where wo saw some pretty tombatones. By the time we returned and had our tea it was time for my; fuinty and mother and brothei to start home, so they drove off, reaching their journey' 3 icnd at P o'clock. In the evening I went to visit some of my friends with whom I went to the Wesleyan Church. After church I returned to my sister's place, and went ti bed, and so ended the first day of my holidays. The follcwing day 9 which I spent there went by very quickly. In the mornings I helped my sister to do her work, and in the afternoons I visited my friend* and went for strolls along the river bank and up the gullies-. One Saturday Myrtilla, JSstelle, and I went up a gully in Eorch of wood. On reaching the top wo sat down and had a spell, and on perceiving a. low tiee v. c climbed into it, and it made a capita! seat. After a while we proceeded to gather v/ocd. We soon collected a large bundle and started off down the gully with It; but it was not very easy work, as the wood would catcU in the locks every now and then, and we had 1 to stop and fix it. However, we readied homo none tho worse for our journey. Almost every, night I went with Estelle to meet the coach, after which w© went for the mail. One night a play was held in the halt, and of course. I ■went to it. The characters were taken by five men and a woman, aaid I can tell you I enjoyed myself, Dot, a3 it was the best play 1 had ever been at. Another night the Wesleyan Church s-oeul was held, and I also went to it. and enjojed mjsc-lf. capitally. 1 returned homo after spending three delightful weeks Now that I have to!d jou about my holiday I snail try to ciescnb 9 Miller's Flat It is a small lowiiship surrounded Ijv hills and situated on the banks of the Molyneux Ri\er. On the river are many dredges by" winch mo«t of the people make their. h<-in° It m spanned by a large and beautiful bridue called the Larnach bridge. The main building:, are three ptorc-% a schcol, a church, a hall, two hotiU, and a Locksmith's shop. E\ory night and morning the coach which brings the mail and passengers passes. With ]ovc to a!' connected with our page,— Your3 tIU ' y> AXTHEA. [You had a real goo I, holiday, Anthea, and I am sure you n>u<=t often think with pleasure of all tho incidents connected with it —DOT.) Dear Dot, — We are having such dreadful weather down here just now. Outside it is pouring with rain and blowing a great gal*. But, Dot, here we have to get used to that sort of thing, bo we may as well hf content, for after all rain is better than a drought. I went to the Axemen's Carnival en Easter Monday, and I Baw five DL F.— three girls and two boys. I did not have my badg<* at that time, but I smiled at a pn l I saw. h\\c vas standing with a lady and they had their backs to the Ting. The girl was wearing a black hat with hci badge on it. I did not notice the lady, but they wcie standing opposite the refreshment booth. I wonder if the girl would please exchange autos. with me. through Dot? My] brother came in first in one of the bike races. My 'two Bisters can Tide a b.ke, but I c» n 'jj> •woise luck. I like reading very much, and 11 resul v.iicu I hrvn any s.:sro l.tft ■ I lik* Annia Swan's and Ethel lumei's books. On Emp:t« Day I went to Inveroargill, and I Baw a girl up Tay street, and I =a.id, "Hallo, D.L.F.," but the did not «peak. I shall now tell you a IMb nbout tho bush near our house. It is not a, very thick bush, but for all that it is a pretty, large one. There are plenty of berries and brambles in it every year, and it is grand fun going and gathering them A river and a crcok xun through the bush, and time are such pretty

ferns growing on their bsjijf. One day a crowd of us went through the bush to gather evergreens, and when we had got as much as ire'icould carry we left our loads and went to the river to get some flax to tie tliMn with. When we were coming back we saw some bulls, as we thought, and some of vs — myself included — were a bit frightened; but they proved to be some 'harmless coy/3. I had better bring •thia ia a close, or the dear old editor will be ( •pulling a long face when he sees it. With love to all the L.F., Dot, and the editor,— Yours truly, ISABEAU. [It was fortunats they were only harmless cows, Isabeau, but heA you been a, town girl even the cows would have been sufficiently alarming— DOT.] Dear Dot,— The weather is very good for winter It will soon bs our examination time. "We have first aid at our school, and we have great fun bandaging each other. I had my feet and head bandaged. My brothers had great fun ■when they found out my norn de plume. Sir.cc • j wrote to you I have gob another pretty tor- | toiseshell kitten. My brother found it in a ; hedge one frosty morning, and brought it home, to inf. It could not drink a drop of milk when I got it, but it would drink all the time now. We have some pretty bush near here, and there are such lovely tracks in the bush. We got a great quantity of fuchsia berries this year. .With lova to Lllc.ir.d2, Waitopi, Rob Ro& and all the L.F., not foi getting the poor old editor and Dot,— Your3 truly, DULCIBEL. [I -*m afraid the editor will begin 'o think tie is very hardl} iis«cl if oil this evidence of sympathy goes on much longer, Dtileibcl — DOT.] Jteux Dot,— We are having vc:y rough weather here r.otr, and wo could :iot go to school to-day. Once three of us had a runs way, ar.d j it occurred on a very rough day. We w«e out for some standards and netting, and when we were coming down a st'Jcp hill on our way home one of the shaits broke, and the cart ran against the horse's he-sls ard mads him kick and start to galiop. When we got to the bottom of the hill the horse turned sharply round, and threw us all out, hurting us badly, : and we wore in bed for a week and more. It wasn't very nice till we were better again. We have finished the harvest up here now, and j people are vsry glad.— Yours truly, j 1 CARNATION 11. ! [You were fortunate in getting off without «ny broken hmb3. Carnation. A week in be-1 was bad enough, but a broken leg would probably have kept you in bed sjx weeks, not to mention a few weeks extra on crutches.— DOT.] Daar Dot,— We have had conic dry weather here aately, though to-day it is raining and tocks as if it will continue. In the winter a mist, commonly called " the barber, comes down the Grey River, ana 13 £O dense tha't> sometimes you are unable to sac from one side of the river to the other. Very often it hangs about all day, preventing the sun from shining ■through, and so we get no sun, or if we do ,it ia only for a short time in the afternoon. Empire Day was observed as a public 'holiday here. The school cadets marched to a farmer's paddock, where they had a day's drill and a shaia fight under ■their captain. The Dobson. dredge has stopped working now, and the machinery is to be taken off and sent to No Town Creek, •where it will be put on -another nontoon and be ■worked. Last month a young man was drowned off the same dredger *u»d. his bedy was found this morning floating in the. still water near the Tjathing shed at Greyniouth. I noticed lately 'that there are some D.3J.F. writing from, the "West Coast. I met a girl at a friend's place one evening whom I have reason to believe is a SiXi.F., for -wiftn lcavm^ ehe looked at the lia^ge in my hat and said. "D.L.F." I think her norn de plume is Aloyra.- wca it you, M.7 With love to Snow, Captain J. Barry, and Dot, — Yours truly, YOSLANDE. ["The barber l " What a curious name for a fog. I have been told that up Nenthorn way a, remarkable black cloud lowers over the whole district at certain seasons of the year, and it is locally known es "the Taien pet," which is also a peculiar name to give a cloud, isn't it. ''-DOT.] Dear Dot,— Our school will soon be getting examined again, and if I pass I shall be in the Third Standard. On Good Friday w* all went for a picnic to Taieri Mouth, aud enjoyed ournslves very inuoh. We walked from, the boat up to the house. We did not bother to take any lunch with us, and all of us and our friends wont to a lady'a place for dinner, and then we Went for a walk round the beach. My sistsr and I ran on in front, and we gathered some pretty white shells. One of our party made a seaweed ball, and gave it to me ; then we went back for tea, and when v^o had finished our tea it was time to go honie, so we set out on our journey to m«et the boat, playing ball on the road. We readied homo in safely, after a very enjoyable day. We were very tired, but I can telL you we were very happy indeed. With lovo to Infan^lla, Madormette, Tomato, and all tho other L.F., yourself, and Mr Editor,— Yours truly, JESSONDA. Dear Dot, — It is ages since I took the pen in my hand to write to you. I scarcely .ever se-e"a Witness at all now", as we have stopped taking ifc, and have started the Daily Times. I miss the D.I/.F. E»ge most of all. Of course, we get all the news in the O. D. Times just the flame, but.jHj D.I/.F. Page. .Harvest has been very lato this year almost everywhere, and we are just finished up hero now. I have hsd a lively timo this last day or two. I have had licguo II staying hero with me, and we have had some all-right fun. W (the Wyndhani and Edendala L.F.— at least some of us-^are getting uj. a social and dauco in aid of the Wyndham Brass Band, to be held in Zealandia Hall on the 9bh of June (Tuesday). They had something of the sort liore a year or two ago, but a very small affair, I te.'Teve. The way of this one is this: We have formed a, club and each member pays 2s 6d, and that goes towards expenses, refreshments, and so on. The tickets are Is 6d for grown-ups and Is for children. Some people were saying that was too much, but I don't think so, when they get a danco «md refreshment's as well «a a. good concert for the money— ck> you, Dot? Wo have a good ' programme, and the band will be in attendance to enliven the proceedings with some selections. We have as many D.L.F. performers as we c*n get, your 3 truly being of the number. M«ta.ivra Valleyito has also kindly consented to give us a recitation or two. Wish us luck, Dot. Ido hope it will baa great success. Wo have started a Choral Union in Wyndham. Ther« are about 50 members, and we have practice every Wednesday night. We are to give a concert in a boat a month or six -weeks to pay for the piano we bought. I was at a concert in Edendale the other night, and I noticed a good many D.L.F. there, among them being Rogue, Laconia, Dylssia, E. M. P , Ako Ake, Anaah, Wild Bill. Red Eric, and Nokomia— quite a littlo crowd for Edsndale. It is raining to-night just as if it had it by contract, and outside everything ia in a sea. How did you Bpend Empire Day, Dot? It was very tamo iiere. I had intentions of going to the Farmers' TJnion picnic at the Mataura Falls, but I changed my mind and stayed at home. I had Bogue to keep me company, and I enjoyed myself just as much as if I had been at the picnic. Montgomery's Entertainers have been paying us another visit, au.i I believe they were

very good, although I ha<l not the pleasure of hearing them this time. J am going to take a drive up to see Rcguo at Redan estata on tho Prince of Waies's iiiithday with a friend. I don't seem to be ab!e to wnta at all to-night; I have been sta-nng into space for r-he last 20 minutes, so I'll drop it and write a decent let- ' ter after our social comes oG, and tell you all ! about it. Love to all tiie D.L.F., Rogue, \ Mataura ValleyKe, Southern Cross, Mrmue Clyde, Vmea Rosea, yourself, and the editor, — Yours truly, MIRA GIT ANA. P.S. —I enclose a copy of the D.L.F. concert j programme, which appeared (by the kindness of the editor) in our local paper last week. I havo marked a star at the D.L.F. pcrforuieis. As you will s&a, we havo altered th« motto ! somewhat for this occasion, but I suppose you won't mind, e-3 n suits this way better. —M. G. [I do incised wish you luck, Mira Gitana, and : I feel sure your efforts in vid of tbe bßnd will J ha most successful, as they deserve to be. The j conceit will be over before the L.F. see this m print, but I subjoin the programme in order to show what Mira Gittvna, Rogue 11, and their D.L.F. friends put before their audience for tao | modest prices of Is 6d ?nd is.—DOT.] I I i • , j i | i | j i

TUESDAY, 9th JUNE, 1903, Comnieiickig at 8 o'clock. CONCERT, SOCIAL, AND DAXCE. Promoted by the Wyndham Distuct Members of "D.LF." <" Del's L:tUo Folk"), in a.'l of t'v> fluids of WYNDHAM BRASS BAND. D.L.F. Motto—We work for tlis benefit of othor3, and not for ourselves. W. J. Currie, Esq., Town Chairman, v.ill preside. Accompanist—Mr E. G. Macpheisoa. PROGRAMME: Opening Chorus By D L.F. Comic Song Mr J. Jamie Song .. •• .. .. •• 'Miss M. Rosa Recitation .. .« .. "Mr Sidney Ladbrook Song „ ... ... ♦• Miss B. Waters Pianoforte Solo Miss B. Forsyth Song m •■ Mis 3 Orr Song Mr Marciis Raymond Vocal Duet—Misses B. Waters ar.d B. StPans Song Mr Jamfs Walker Recitatici—'"The Scout's Death " "Mis 3 M'Gowan Song • Misa Toll Pianoforte Solo ... .. .»■ .« Miss B. Steans Comic Song .-. „ .. .» .. Mr J. Jaime. Interval for Rsfres-hments and Social Intercourse. To conclude with a Dance, extending over two hours. | Wyudham Brass Band will play selections out- | side the hall prior to the Conceit. I Admission •—Adults, 1<» 6d ; Children, Is. No extra charge for Refreshments and Dance. " MIRA GITANA " "ROGUE II," Hon. Sees.