A LETTER FROM ANGELESEA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2666, 19 April 1905, Page 79

A LETTER FROM ANGELESEA.

Balclutha, April 9,

Dear Dot, — This time my letter will be very short, as there are so many D.L.F. living" in these parts, who have all given descriptions of the country before.

Since last writing, I have visited most of the towns and townships in Otago and Southland, and it seems quite strange to me, after never seeing a D.L.F. badge (except my own) for 18 months, to come down here, where there seem to be hundreds of them. Gore appears to be the most flourishing town in the south, and it possesses some fine buildings. From Gore a gentleman took us a drive to Mataura in his 12-horse power -f^ptor car, and at times he put the speed on ftf from 30 to 40 miles an hour. How lovely it was to feel oneself cutting through the air! Ido love the sensation of travelling — I mean in a motor car: it has quite spoilt us for coaching — doing from five to seven or eight miles an hour. It just took us 20 minutes to go down, and we had to stop ever so many times to let horses pass us. How frightened horses are of motor cars! I suppose the sight of a trap coming along without a horse attached to it gives their nerves quite a shock. Dr Hope Lewis, of Auckland, was the first man to take a motor car through the King Country, and the Maoris nearly went mad over it : they thought it was "taipo" — a trap moving without a horse — "J£ai Korri! it must be taipo."

On a Saturday wer- drove from Gore to Waikaka. It is rather a pleasant drive. From Waikaka siding to the township, a distance of 14 miles, there are no less than 27 dredges.

We spent a few delightful days at Riverton, staying at the Aparirna Hotel, across the river. The town gets quieter and quieter every year. It is gradually fading away; but taking it on the whole, Riverton is one of the prettiest spots in Southland. The Pourakino River has been snagged, and boats can now go up about J4 mllos. The scenery is really beautiful. A very pretty walk is to go through the bush to the back beach ; but I cannot speak of ;the sceneiy there, as I hadn't enough

energy to go myself. Riverton is fast becom. ing a favourite holiday resort for poor, weary citizens, and the proprietor of the hotel we stayed at (Aparima) had to put up a larg3 tent to accommodate the overflow. Mj youngest sister has been staying at Riverton for two months for the benefit of her health, and is still there.

This is a little incident I witnessed the other day in a s-outhern prohibition town. We were sitting in a railway carriage, waiting for 1 the train to get a move on, when a drunk man came along. He was so drunk that he could hardly walk, so the station master ordered him off the train. A few minutes later another drunken fellow came staggering along, and boarded the train when the station master was out of the way. He kept very quiet, so we took no notice of him, when' presently there was an awful bang, and looking up I saw the poor fellow sprawling on the floor. He fell, hitting and cutting hi" head on the sharp edge of the door. He too was then ordered off the train, and a little later on the two drunks were to be seen helping each other to tumble along the street. I thought it rather a peculiar incident for a prohibition town. At a friend's house in Mataura I met Roby, and spent a very pleasant afternoon m her company. Now I must conclude. Before this is in piint I shall have passed through Dunedin on my way north, Auckland being my goal. You see, we know which part of New Zea'and keeps the warmest weather in the winter. Love to Dot and the L.F. — Yours truly.

ANGELESEA.