LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2727, 20 June 1906, Page 74

LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Motto: —We write for the benefit of others, not

for ourselves

g^"No letter to contain more than 450 words

Dsar Dot, — Our family has s-hifted from Eanfurlv to Hawea Flat. When we left ws had to sell nearly everything, but I did not &ell my pretty little "pinny-giga, 1 ' or, rather guinea-pigs. We are having very rough, ■windy weather lately. To-day is my birthday, so I fcave been having a good time of it. We have a splendid large lake up here, over 30 miles long, and from 5 to 10 miles wide, and it ia very pleasant to go out for a row on it when there is no wind. I see Shiny made an attempt to wear out his boots by kicking a wheelbarrow because he vas blind enough to fall oj-er it, but no doubt be will learn to control his temper some day.

CHEEKY JACK,

— Yours truly,

Des>r Dot, — I have two rabbits as pers. Cne of them is pure white with pink eyes, end tho other ia black. I have two ferrets, one being a very big white one, but the other is very small, and is black and white. About two weeks ago the "mall one got out of her hutch in the night, and waa out all night,

but she came home in the evening. My little brother and I have six Antwerp pigeons between us,* and at the last Balclutha poultry show threa of them took prizes. We have three foals, one being a year older than th< other two. There is a sawmill plant on our place, and it is very close to the house. It affords employment for about 20 men. We have only three cows milking now, but wti had 17 milking all summer. I have a deg, and he will swim into the water and fetch out sticks. His name is Scot, and he is a. very good rabbiter. The mornings are very frosty here now, but the days are bright and sunny— Yours truly, SCHOOL BOY.

Dear Dot. — We have had very bad weather all through ths summer up here. It has been a bit better the la«t few days, although U has been rather cold. A football tournamen £ waa held at Alexandra on Monday, and a , team went from here; but I heard last night that they did not win even the silver medals. Tho Caledonian sports aie to be held a'J Boxbargh en Thursday. 1 am not going to tu«m, but I am going to tho concert at right. Thei© was a play on here the other night My brother -went, and he said the play was v«ry good, but the dance which followed it was not up to much. We have two boreos, and I am very fond of riding. I often go for a ride on them. — Yours truly, A COUNTRY GIKL.

Dear Dot, — What bad weather there has been everywhere Vately. but we cannot expect anything better in winter. It is snowing here to-day, and how cold it is. I see by Harry's description of his * journey to Alexandra and back that he passed our place on the road down. He must have posed 'our gate, and the Hepburn Creek, as he called it, is the Ewebnrn Creek. If Hcrry had taken tha other road to Eanfurly it would hava beon longer and far worse for cycling on. The Ranfurly races were held last March, an.i it being a fine day I went to them. I saw a gcod many D.L.F.. but not as many as I expected to set on such a fine day. We are not taking our milk to tba factory just now, as the cows are nearly all dry. We have seme yoi.ng pigs, arcl it '.a very cold weather for them. — Yours truly, EWEBURNITE.

Dear Dot, — D.L.F. subjects have been very stalo here for a while back. The Gramaphone, I am sorry to say, had n very bad accident, and is now lying very- ill. We are having bad weather just now. It has been raining off and on for about six weeks. The fever is still raging jn Kaitangat* and I suppose \t will t»ke its own time to clear our of the plate. I was at Mataura with the school picnic, where I enjoyed myself splendidly. I I saw a few D.L.F.. but I had hoped to see ! more lhan I did. When we left here it was very wet, but as we neared our destination it lecamo fine, and turned out a very good day. As I bad never- been farther ?outn than Balclutha. I enjoyed the ride. I was greatly surprised to see Gore such a nice place. Indeed, it is * place in which I should 1 like to live. When wo arrived in Mataura we were- taken to ft plantation for lunch, and, needless to say, it "was very much^ enjoyed. After lunch wo were allowed to do as w» pleased about the town. I first went to » blacksmith's shop-—* very big place. From there I went to the Paper Mills, and then to tho Freezing Works. In the afternoon I wont to the flowar show. I enjoyed myself ' thoroughly, and saw m*ny things waich will a-lways be remembered. About 4 p.m. the train left for home again, arriving about 8 p.m. The next day I was very tired, a:ia" w«» not sorry when my work was over. About a week later two other boys and I went to th« coast, and had a. grand day catching fish and gathering mussels. The days are nowvery ehort. and this, with the bad weather, makes everything dreary. The shcoting season has come round again, but I don't think very many swans are being fhot. although I have heard of a few duck« being 1 .bagged.— Yours truly, A. F. F. ' Dear Dot,— The only things stirring up : this way nre dancing and trapping Tabbits. I do the both kind of "dancing"— "Tho rabbitcTs' hornpipe" and the Scotch reel The rabbiters* Uprnpipc is not a. very pleasaut form of diversion. .It brings the- tears in your eyes when you get caught instead of the rabbit. We have a football between three of us, and when we are playing it ii not saie to ocmo'iiear us, as we kick up es much noise aa 15 aside would. I was at a football match last Saturday, but ,th* team I wanted to win was, of course, tho loser. I was at a concert and dance tho other night, and I saw several D.L.F. tbere. We expected a great storm, but it only came tonight. It has been *ainmg and saowirg up here from 7.30 this morning, and row it is 8 o'clock. «nd no sirii of it clearing up. This cake Honey-faosd Kirsty nude must have been tougn I should have liked to have bought it from her to half-st>!c my Sunday boots, aa I havo ?ct them cut through by using them as a brake on ray bike. Thero are from 20 to 25 D.L.F. in this plain.and I know them all except one or two — y ours truly,' G. FLIRT. Dear Dot, — Since last writing to the L.F. page I havo been at a concert and (lunce held at Gimmerburn, and I must say I enjoyed myse-lf immensely, though I didn't *co many L.F. at it. One night ray two brothers ar.d my sister and I went up the f,iigc to pick some gooseberries, but when we got to the bushes we thought it would be easiej; catching lobsters than pulling berries, so w» caught two^srancl big lobsters. One day my sister got roe 1o ,nnke a start baking econea. and for a first attempt thay didn't iurn out bad at a!!. After they were cooked I mail* a "!0 o'clock lunch," and put them down, and oh, they went cut of sight a.s quick a« lightning. So I think they must have gone cut of sigh' quicker than Honey-fecerl Kirsty's cake. Would you believe this, Dot I have a sis*er, and she actually struck a, match lo see if the candle wa? out. Wei", n.y eyes are getting small, so I mu«t now conclude. — Yours truly, H. I. M. Dear JJot, — We ware going to the* L.F. pocial, but our tea meeting happened to be held that right, and as I was taking port in it we could not get away. We met some D.L.F. down the street some iime cftcrwards. and they told us that it had proved a big success. My brother came home today from Auckland, ar.d I think he has been teasing me ever since. I went to the winter show, and was delighted with the D.L.F. Bay, and the only fault that I could find was that it was not in a more noticeable place, as there were come people who did not see it. I was glad to see the young men taking such a great interest in the bay. Gipsy Nell and I went to the theatre last night, and we enjoyed ourselves immensely. — Yours truly, " W. L. W.

Dear Dot,— On the Prince of WaJes's Birthday with some of my mates I went for a stroll over to the Southern reservoir, the water-race, and the Fernhill Coal Mine, about four mile 3 distant. Leaving home at about 7.30 a.m., we arrived at our first'stopping place 45 minutes later. The reservoir, which is very irregular, ha» in the centre of it n. small whit© room, which is connected with the shore- by a bridge, on which the l-eople stand to watoh the fresh-water crayfish. A-fter seeing all that we wished to see we made for the place where the race cornea out from the tunnel. Here we gathered some flaxes and plaited whips to crack as we werff

going to the mine. Our reasons for keeping to the rate -were numerous, one be^og that' the coal mine is by the wayside, another that the track is almost level, and also becauseit is very easy to get a drink of cool water whenever it is wanted. After turning a number of corners we saw ahead of us <v large sandbank, at the foot of which is the coal mine. Another mile's walk and we arrived at the mine, just in time to see the train coming in to take away about six truoka. I shall continue my description of • our outing next week.— Yours trul^ An - RT Dear Doi,— Since I last wrote to you we have had very changeable weather, but I suppose it is what we must expect, considering that this is the second month of winter. I was away to see my mate Greta about a week ago, and she and her sister were gathering potatoes— rather an unpleasant job, ish t it Dot? Ido not like it, anyhow. I asked for some autos some time ago, but, sad to relate, I did not tet many. I have about 30 altogether, but hope to get more m time. This place is very quiet just now. No dances have taken place for about three months, and I suppose there trill not bo any more till t h e annual bachelors' ball, which is usually held in August." I should have liked very much to have gone to the winter show, an* much more to have gone to the social. I should also have liked to have sent something to the bay, but I -have nothing that I could have sent. I have never been in town yet, but 1 may get there some time. We have had new saleyards built" down here, and I hear there -is -to be a sale about the end of this montK. I was up at about 3 o clock this morning, so you can imagine how tired i am now. My brother was going to work, a ride of abut 18 miles, end I got up to make his breakfast.— Yours truly, VAJNDA. Dear Dot,— lt is raining here, and nothing i 3i 3 co miserable as to be to the house on * wet day. I was down at Dunlin a while ago, and, of course, enjoyed myself wy much 1 attended the club twice, and would have been there many other times only I could aot hunt up anybody I knew I wa« very sorry I could not get down to the social, but of course that was out of the question, as I had been d.-wn such a short time previously. AU the leaves are falling eft the trees, ai.d they are Uginiung to look so bare and ugly. Jock's Jack and her sister were over on Saturday and we had such fun. We were playing hide-and-secfc, when my sisters, who were telling Jock's Jack's sister where we were, happened to get a great "have. We were crawling tlong through some long grass and my Bister spied us, and I, knowing that she would teU where we were, told Jock s Jack that we had better find a new place. So we jumped over the garden fence and managed io get in the bedroom window, with my sister's help. Of course we made her promise not to tell, and they never guessed where to look for us. When we thaught they had hunted for us lonjr enough we came out. Jo find that the hunters were travelling through the bush at the back of our house, trying to find us. They were very much surprised to see us, I can tell you We have, a ncr teacher at our school, and we are doing our gardens up. They are not looking at almce because the horses got in and trampled all over them. But we are not allowing that now. and we have the gatea tied, ftews 13 pretty stale up here, and it is a-11 about raan that we have to write; but I am sure you know enough about it and what it is like.— Yours tral^ ENERAIj , s S WE ET HEART. Dear Dot,— We axe having very wet weather up here at present, and it has been raining all day to-day. I think the L.F. here— there is quite a number of them— ought to get a groap- taken. ' Along with my sisters I went for a drive la-st Sunday. We left home at 10 o'clock, and reached our destination at 2. When we got there we played all sorts of games with the children. We haven t got far to go to school, so we are always there early in tne morning. As I am writing this letter the baby ia playing with my beads. He has just broken the string, and they are all over the show, and my little sisters are running to ccc who will gather the most of them.— Yours truly, ROSE LIL\. Dear Dot,— We are having fome horrible weather down here just now. We have got all our harvest in now, and I am so glad, 100, for it was a regular nuisance. Our school is open once more, after being closed for some time through the scarlet fever. It is s wretched illness. We are milking seven cows just now, but most of them are nearly dry. We sent our ymilk to the factory for a few months, but we got tired of it. so we stopped. I must tell you about a drive my sister and I had a day or two ago. We went to town to do some shopping. We met some friends there, and spent the day enjoying ourselves thoroughly, but 03 the best of friends must part or.d as two were poing the same way as us, we gave them a ride. When we stopped at their house on our way back one got out, and when she put her foot on tins step the shaft broke clean in two piece?. Suck » lot of people -were passing, but none of them stopped to give us any help, whicn was not very nice of them, was it? One of our friends went for her uncle, who lived close by, and he fixed it uo with wire and some rope, so we reached home in due time all safe and sound, thanks to that wire, a little after dark. — Yours truly. WESTERN STAR. Dear Dot,— Winter is here again, and the hills are white with snow and the winds are very cold. Our school mistress has left us, and some "other well-known friends have also left the district. A Sunday school social was held in the church on The 20th ult., and genie very nice songs and recitations were given. We are to have a winter show here on the 4th. and I think it will be a great success. We had a summer show, and a large number of people turned out in the evening. There was a shooting competition for four cushions, but it didn't seem to be an easy matter to win one. — Yours truly, E- T. S. Dear Dot,— We are getting very frosty weather now. Sunday morning was very cold, and there wa3 thick ie« on the water. On Saturday my mother took all of us to Oaaaaru, and we enjoyed the day's outing rery much. The first thing when the Witness ia brought home from the station I open it and road the D.L.F. letters. We are all looking forward to go to <he Christchurch Exhibition in November.- We live about a mile from the beach, and sometimes I- go down to gather shells, but there are not very many to be found. I have- two cousins who live in On tram, surd they «re the same age- as I am. When I was at Outram the Uat time I went to see the Glen, a-bout which we hear co much, and my cousins and I were very much Interested in gathering ferns and wild daisies. This year .another girl and I got first prize for sewing in our class. I have ft smail garden of my own, and I had h*lf a bag of potatoes aid other vegetables. When spring comes X- <wn going to buy some flower seeds fosow in my garden. I have two rows of peas up already. My two grandmothers live close to us. and I go to eea them when I come out of school. We put a big kettle fin the fire at school to make cocoa. A large number get it, and we have to take turns to ynsbt "up the cujps. ' 0a "Saturday, night I

was skipping and playing ball. Yesterday my brothers and I were at Sunday school, and we all like to go to it. Last week's Witness had pretty pictures in it, among them being some of the San Francisco ruins. — Youra truly, BABIANA. Dear Dot, — Sinoe last writing to you I have been away for a holiday, which lasted a month, and I enjoyed myself very much. I left home <n April 11 for Dunedin, where I spent five days. Then ou the 17th I journeyed' to Mosgiel, where I spent the following day -vuth my runt and cousin. The next day I went across the plain to Woodside, a small township nestling at the foot of Maungatua (a Maori word meauing "hill of spirits"), a mountain in the Western Taieri district. I stayed a fortnight in Woodside, end although the weather was not all that could be desired, I spent a most enjoyable time with my cousins, and ws>s very aorry when the time came for me to set out on my homeward jturney. On my way home I stayed one right in Mosgiel and four days in picturesque Dunedin, arriving home on May 8. While in the train on my way to Mcsgiel I met Creamy, and I found her such a nice girl. I also met her on the Dunedin station the following right. I am glad the bay was a. success. — Your 3 truly, KITTY. Dear Dot,— l milked two cows to-night, and one was very tough. I went out rabbiting on Saturday with one of my boy friends, and we did have some good fun. We took geme potatoes out with us, and lit a fire, and put the potatoes in the ashes. We them caught a rabbit, and put it on a wire frame, and held it over the fire till it was cooked. We were hungry, to enjoyed our dinner very much, and when you are hungry you can eat almost anything. The weather >s very cold up here just now. We could slide on the ice thi3 morning, the frost had been sc hard last night. — Yours truly. JOCKEY JIM. Dear Dot, — Nothing very exciting has taken place up bere since I last wrote to you, so I am afraid I shall not have very much to tell you this time. There is one thing which may interest some of the L.F. who are fond of dauciDg — there was a great concert and dance down in the Gimmerburn Hall on June 1. My auntie was performing in the faxce that wa3 part of the programme. 1 rode down to Sunday school to-day, and had a lovely ride, because the horse cantered all the wav and coming. Two of my L.F. friends went down to the show this year, s>-> I shall get them to tell me all about ths D.L.F. Bay when tbey come back to schooi again. Th>re is to be a basket dance down in tho hall on Friday night, but aa I am too young I shall not be allowed to go. — Youri truly, LADY LDLYSTONE. Dear Dot,— l see in the D.L.F. Page in a recent Witness that one of your correspondents—l think the name is Waieta — has been inquiring the Lanica of two birds she describes I do not think I have ever seen the first ; but the other, with the striped breast and led bill and leg?, and the fluffy little one, I think I have often seen. My brothers call it the sandpiper This is not much of a plaoe "for native birds. I have never teen the tui, the bell-bird, or the cuckoo, but I often ccc ywaiis and paradise ducks, and last month cocks r 4 w*x-cyes swarmed all over the garden — pretty little things. When disturbed they utter a plaintive cry. We have been much interested in natural history lately. Our teacher used to give us a weekly lesson on the subject. She left and went to the West Coast and we were - a month without a teacher. I enjoyed being at home splendidly, but we have a new teacher now. We were at a kinematcgraph entertainment the other night, and the pictures were very Bice. I liked "'Ora pro nobis" and "Shooting the Rapids" best, wn-d the cock fight tras very amusing. My brother is at the Dunedin show, and I shall be expecting him to- give me a full account of the D.L.F. Bay. 1 should like so much to have seen it myself, but no such luck. I hope all the D.L.F. who could attend the show and 1 club had a, good time. — Yours truly, BOSCOBEL. [I hope you will keep up your studies in natural history, Boscobel, and that some day you will have an opportunity to study the habits of tuis, bell-birds, and many other of our sweet native songsters. You will find a natural history paragraph in Pater's Column occasional' y. — DOT ] Dear Dot— l intend to take * trip to Dunrdin next month, and I hope then to have tha 1 leasure of visiting the Debating Club. I look forward to reading the account of tho debates, which are always interesting. Wi< are experiencing -\ery rough weather up ccuntry, the hilltops being covered *vith snow, but we can expect that in the winter. Trapping rabbits for the freezer is the chipf industry now, but I expect we shall be pkpped when the hard frost comes on. I intended to send some little thing to thi> ■bay. but I left it too long. I only wish my holiday bad been this month instead of in July, for I fhould then have had the pleasure of seising the bay. QuadTilles are held hero every Friday night I have not been tc them yet, but I am going next Friday night. A football tournament was held at Alexandra on the Prince of Wales's Birthday. There was en immense crowi of spectators at it. and the games were very interesting. The tti'rnament wis won by the Cambrians team. People from a'l parts of the district journeyed to Alexandra to £c." the matches played.- - Yours truly, MOUNTAINEER. Dear Dot, — Tho Apariina Riyer is very higli at present. I am making a patch-woric cniilt to put on my bed We have a new cow — one of tho Highland breed. It is going to be a whito frost to-night, and there was ice en the giound this morning. My cousin and I ate going to church to-morrow night — Yours truly, DOLLY Dear Dot, — Eas*>er has come and gone, and new we ars in the middle of winter. I did not go anywhere at Easter, as I was away at Now Year for my Christmas holidays. Some of tha people about here have not got their .gropa in yet. Poor fellows, it is a pity they couldn't get it in. However, we have to ho satisfied with what is given us. We hays finished thrashing and carting away the oats and my brother is busy ploughing. We had the mill for five days, and I wasn't sorry v/hen it went away. W© are having terribly cold, boisterous weather, amd Jack Frost is visiting us. My father and mother are down in Dunedin for their holiday, and they were at the show, so they would see the D.L.F. Bay. I am housekeeper now, and I like it very well, cnly it is very quiet. The Balfour branch of the New Zealand Fanners' Union held their harvest home and welcome to new settlers here on June 1. It was one of the most successful affairs of the kind ever held in the Balfour Hall. My brother was there, but I did i.ot go. There are not many D.L.I. abou,t here, or else we >ould have acma picnics. Jessica was the first D.L.F. I me' in Balfo'ur, exespt my cousin. — Yours truly, ALICE O.

Dear Dot.— Lady Stair and Chloc have been staying with us for n week, and we have had a great time. We went to the show on Wedm-aday where Lady Stair introduced me to a large number of D.L.F. We three went to tho social on Fiiday night, and spent a vent fiPJoxaMe lime, wiivuK lio.nie. ul the

small hours of the morning. The town wa3 full of country folk this week, but, as usual, i they did not get very good wea-ther. Chloe i has a pair of fantail pigeons at home, and she has promised to send them down to me. ! Lady Stair had a wedding cake in the bay, and* she says she is going to kill two birds with one stone. I think the bay was a great success, and the decorators deserve credit. I -went to see tho picture, "The Light of Die World," and thought it a wonderful -work of art. We three went to see the editor, but, unfortunately for us, he was out when we called. I am collecting post-cards now, but have not n.any yet. — Yours truly. INFANELLA. Dear Dot, — I do not think I shall write for special subject week, as the subjects arc -too hard for me. My sister, who is an old D.L.F., is going to write, though. Since I last wrote to you I have lost my father. He met with an accident, and died from the effects two days afterwards. Both my father and mother are dead now. I am going to see the Invercargill D.L.F^ Bay. We live about six miles out of Invercargill, so it will not be far to go. — Yours truly, MINNIE GREY. [I am very sorry indeed, dear, to hear of your great loss. It is sad to lose one parent, but such a loss as yours is indeed hard. I hope you have kind relatives to guide your footsteps and assist you with council and advice.- DOT.] Dear Dot, — As I was travelling to Dun-edin once I met some D.L~F. in the train, and the pleasant smile they had for me and the graceful way they spoke to me made me think about writing to you. I have a nice home situated in a little township 32 miles from Dunedin. I have a dear old cat and her frolicsome little kitten. I love to go out cycling around the township in which I live. It is very sad to hear that our good old Premier, Mr R": J. Seddon, is dead, and many people say that New Zealand has lost a very good man. — Yours truly, PRINCESS SYLVIA. Dear Dot, — Do you not think the weather we are having at present is very disagreeable, as one day it is warm, and the next is like to freeze you. Snow is lying on the hills only a few miles away. Some farmers have not got their harvest in in consequence cf "the unfavourable weather they experienced in autumn. Indeed, some only started cutting a few days ago. It is miserable here to-day, as a v-ery cold wind is blowing. The potato crops are very poor this season, and potatoes are very dear, which is good for those who have them to sell, but not foi the buyers. We got a holiday on the Prince of Wales'b birthday. I did not go anywhere, but stopped at home to help mother to wash and do the ironing. On June 4 the Invercargill footballers went up to play the Nightcaps team. The Nightcaps team won, getting six to none. There are 14 of vs — seven boys and seven girls. — but we are not all staying at home. — V'ours truly, A TELESCOPE. Dear Dot, — We have entered into the second month of winter, and. my, we are having awfully cold mornings here. It is enough to freeze one rising early in the morning. From the time I first heard that the Black Family of Musicians were travelling south I determined if ever they came to Milton to go and hear them, and did so last evening. My sister (Irish MoUy) and I went, and we had the pleasure of speaking to Angelesea. for a few minutes during the interval. I asked Angelesea when she was going to write to the page again, but she said as we were only allowed 450 words there would bo no use in her writing, ac she would want a thousand. Now, Dot knows, and -I know, and the L.F. know that one letter from Angelesea is worth all the others put together, so what I want to ask is that you will allow A. a column at least for her letter. Will you, Dot? Or is it too much to ask? I suppose the L.F. will be pleased to know that our Moneymore comrade, Hazel Stick, is getting better, though slowly. We were "sorry to hear of his serious illness, as he is (with the exception of Jimmy Bottlewasher) our only Moneymore boy D.L.F., and I hope he will soon be in his ordinary state of health once more. Well, Dot, this letter has lain aside for a week, co I must finish it if ever it is to be posted I am staying in Milton at present. It is a great change from the country, and my chief occupation is reading old copies of the Witness — the D.L.F. Page principally, of ■ course. What a. difference theie was in the page in the old days to what it is nowadays. — Yours truly, DUCHESS OF KENT. [I am very glad indeed that you have mentioned about Angelesea's diffidence in writing because she could not ooufine her letter to the 450 words limit. That restriction was never intended to apply to Angelesea, as her ietters are always given a separate heading, and axe entirely different from the ordinary D.L.F. letters. I hope Angeleeea will see this, and that she will find timo before long to write to the pag« once more, even if her Utter should occupy more than a column.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — The weather is getting very cold, and I don't like getting up in the mornings. We have only two cows now, but we had six in the summer time. We have four pigs, and we are going to kill one scon. Our school has been enlarged^ and the girls have got a new shed. Sally Nutmeg is a neighbour of mine. She rides a black horse to school. My father and mother were down at the winter show in Dunedin. They saw the D.L.F. Bay, and they thought it very nice. Igo to school in a van supplied by the Education Board. Fifteen children go to school in this van at present. My big sister, who is also a D.L.F., is- just at present scratching away on the fiddle. I have two goldfinches — two darling little -birdies. They sing when they hear the pan frying or the sewing machine going. They don't accompany Nita's fiddling, though. They just sit and listen. They like to be covered up warm at night. We were at a friend's house last Thursday evening, and had good fun at card-playing and games. Sunbeam II and Nita were there. It freezes very hard here, and there are a good many lagoons to skate on when the ice is-4hick enough to bear us. We have such good fun, if we don't fall too hard and come to grief — Yours truly, LORIS. Dear Dot, — I am going to tell you something about a wedding that occurred here a fow weeks ago, and also a holiday I had. ■The wedding, which took place on the 9th inst., in Gore, was that of my eldest sister. Leaving home at 9 a.m., father, my brother and sister and I drove about 10 miles to catch the train. Arriving at Gore, where we met other brothers and sisters, cousins and uncles, all in the best of humour, we hurried towards the church where the marriage was to be celebrated. After it was over we got into the tram and came homeward, to where a dance was to be held. When » large number of people had arrived the dancing bc^an After dancing* and enjoying ourselves for ;i while, tea aaid cakes weTe handed round at about 11 o'clock. Dancing then began again, and was kept up until 2, wher. more refreshments were- handed round. At daylight everyone went home, very tired, but very happy, after their night'a enjoyment, and hoping for another dance soon. Now for my holiday. On tho follow ing Friday my

sister and I went to meet the train for Gore. We could see farmers busy getting in their crops on our way down, with sheep, grazing on the meadows, and a beautiful bush in the distance. We got out of the train at Gore, «nd in about 10 minutes were in the coach bound for Waikaka. After driving 18 milea by coach we arrived at our destination very tired after our long drive. We went next day to where my sister was going to live, about two miles out of the township. The bride and bridegroom arrived home that night. My sister then went home, but I stayed for three weeks' holiday. Nearly all Iho men about Waikaka are employed in dredging. The dredge my brother-in-law works on is about a mile from his house. I was on it once while I was up there, and hzd a good time. The hill at the back of their house is covered with digger-holes, and some of them are very deep, too. One dredgeman lost two calves down those holes. If you throw a stone down it takes such a time before it reaches the bottom. After having a real good holiday, my married sister and F went down to C, to where there was to ' be a double wedding — that of two of my cousins. So, you see, between weddings and holidays, I ought to have enjoyed myself. I went home next day with my father, and my sister went back to her new home. — Yours truly, ROSELEAF. Dear Dot. — I have at last reached the age that all L.F. come to sooner or later — that is, the retiring age. Several times have I commenced to write a letter to you since I came home from Dunedin (that is, a year ago), but somehow or other I have never managed to get them finished, and they were always posted in the fire, so you see I have not bothered you much. While I was in Dunedin I went to the D.L.F. meetings twice, and also to their annual social, where I was made very welcome, and enjsyed myself immensely. I would like .very much to have gone to thsir social and bay this year, but, as that was impossible, I had to. bo content x o remain at homo, with the thought that perhaps another opportunity may be afforded me some time ot other of visiting the fair city of Dunedin. Blondel returned to Invercargiil on Saturday, and he looked a w-ee bit shaky after his long journey. I was pleased to hear from him that the Dunedin bay and social were a big success, and that he enjoyed himself as well as his health would permit him to do. He also stated that the editor was coming down to our social and bay, and I am sure -all the L.F. will receive that news with pleasure when they hear it,, and will do their best to make him as welcomo aa posible. Wouldn't it be nice if you, Dot, were to come, too; but I suppose that is out of the question. Maidie M., Zeaiia, and Ceres have also come back, and although I have not seen them since their return I believe they had a right royal time at the social. I am looking forward to show day, for I would like to go to the show very much, and I hope to meet a good many L.F. It is held here on the 19th and 20th of June, the latter date being the night of our social, so, L.F., one and all, don't forget to roll up and have a splendid time. I am 1 going to put some ferns in the bay, and Pakeha is busy making a tablecentre for it. We are both working for our church bazaar, which is to be held about August or Sept-ember. I stayed at a- friend's house while in Dunedin last year, and the little .boy (who was a great tease) said he was gping to write to yoxi. but although 1 look in the Witness every week I have not yet seen a letter from him. — Yours truly, - REWA. [Although you are retiring. Rewa, I trust you will' still be- with ni at O.W.W. and \ Special Subject weeks, and that you will also keep up your- papers for the' Club. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I am. now going to describe how the gold is obtained. The,, water that works the claim has to travel a good distance in races, and for a part of the way in pipes. The pipe line is a pile and a-half long, and at the end of the pipes is a nozzle that compresses the water in order that it may tear up the ground as a result of the pressure. The water and clay then flow in boxes to an elevator 20ft high. The wash runs on tables over mats fastened down, and the gold is caught by the mats. The mats are washed at stated times in boxes with water ; and the sand and gold are put in buckets and taken to the office, where the gold is retorted. The gold is valued at £4 an ounce. Dear Dot, I think this is all I have to tell you about the claims. — Yours truly, JACK FROST. Dear Dot, — On Thursday night a conceit and dance were held in aid of the Public Library, but as it was raining heavily there ! was not a, large attendance. There were j duets, recitations, solos, etc., and the performers were enthusiastically recalled. Our schoolmaster took us out for observations to-day, and we were very tired when we got back to school again. We have had very rough weather lately. My two sisters and I have a bicycle between us, and on Sundays or holidays my mates and I go <• for long rides. I think that you will soon have two tu-qtg little foils: -writing to you, stnd I h»ve a good idea v what N.D.P.'s they are taking. Was not the death of the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon a sudden and altogether unexpected calamity?— Yours truly, WDLD ROSE.

Dear Dot,— Seeing that we are all settled down in our new home, I just thought that I would pen you a few lines. Well, we are here at the Kauio, and it is not so bad. The other day three of us went up the Kauro Hill, a distance of about two miles. We climbed it in an hour and a-quarter, and boiled the billy right up at the top, and we enjoyed our meal immensely. We stayed there about two hours, in which time we had a beautiful view )f the surrounding country. It took us the same time to come back. After that we went up to the woolshed and saw all through it, and then, we went chasing peacocks, but were unsuccessful. I have two mates here just now, but one of them is going away to-day, so there will be only one left. I have had a few ndes since I came up. One day my couein was riding, and she fell off, but luckily she wasn't hurt. Even if she had been hurt, my mate and I couldn't have stopped laughing. I miss my mate Remember Me very much, but, «a they say, "I'll get accustom-sd to it." This is a proper farmyard, judging by the number of fowls there are in it. One of the men has a graphaphone, and he brought it up the other night, and it was beautiful. I saw that Angelesea was in Oamaru a short time ago, but as the family did not come to Maheno 1 hadn't the opportunity of seeing her. We are haying lovely weather— frosty nights and aunny days. On the 24th Maytwo of us went up the liver and took lunch r.-ith us, and we - had a grand time. After coming back we went for a ride. The DX.F. group takes on Easter Monday proved • success, didn't it, Dot? Our church held its bauftr on the Ist a-nd 2nd June. It proved a grofti success. I went down from her« t but I didn't think much of it, aa there was suoh a crowd that you couldn't get walking round. What times the Dunedin ItF. axe having with their club. I hope to be able to go to Dunedin soon, and I will come to the olub meeting and the Witness office, and I hope to see you. Dot. Special Subject Week will soon be round, and I hope it will bt * success. I don't think I eii*ll be j.ble

to contribute this year, as I haven't so niueitime for writing now. Two- of the men here wwe having an argument on the question o£ wbf a pair of trousers should be called a pa**, and why a coat, having two sleeves, shouldn't bo called a pair also. Now, deai Dot, could you settle that dispute and tell the difference. — Yours truly,

INQUISITIVE POLL. [It seems rather a knotty point to solv/3 I.P. Possibly the custom may have originated through the trousers being separated for double the length of the upper or single part, while in the case of the coat the principal part is the body, the arms being a. secondary consideration. This, I admit, is not a very satisfactory solution of the problem, but it is the only one that presents itself to me^-DOT.]

Dear Dot.— What a numbc. of correspondents you have. I would like to live in Dunedin and be able to attend the meetings of the D.L.F. L. and D. Club. My schoolmate is Wild Rose. We are indeed th» proverbial two little maids, though not exactly "little." We were very sorry when word came concerning our • Premier's death VVe hoisted the flag half-mast, and then" the schoor children were dismissed for the remainder of 'the day. What a shock it musf« have been to Mrs Seddon and the family; Xo-dav the school children were all taken up a hill some distance from the school for observations.— Yours truly, BILLY THE BUFFAL'b. ) AUTOS. J 0C r% w . oul j I J lUce l 0 e «nange autos with , Pembroke" ***"*'• " JOCk «*' <**• P0 -

Velyet.Rose would like to exchange autoa with Cornflower, Happy Ike 1I ( Violet Spray Grumpy, Sparrow, Queen of the East, iToiie..dalo. Lassie, Columbine, Lady Akafore, Fantail, Lady Clare, Ella's Fairy, Allegro, and any others who axe willing. Address: Velvet Rose, care Mrs H. Symons, Galloway, via Alexandra, Otogo Central " ' " • Priscilla Peel would like to exchange autoa pl^ t& Lw--,wL w--, wh °'^,0, 0 willin e "Priscill* reel, P. 0., Waikouaiti. Wild Bose would like the following to exchange autos with Lel», Lady Clare, Doll? trray, and any othen. who are willing. Address: "Care Mr J. Lennie, Westou Oamaru." Billy the Buffalo would like the following to exchange autos with her: L. O. L., Violet Spray, and Queen of the West. AddressCare Mrs D. Campbell, Weston via Oamaru." R. T. S would like to exchange autos with any L.F. who are willing. Address- "L. Spark, Torro, Clutha." Peony Rose would like to exchange autos with Jessie, Lulu, Dieudonnie, Lilianfels, Tangles, Giand Master, D. O. D., and any others whe are willing. Address: "Peony Rose, care Brooklet Farm, Clinton. *« Rewa would like to exchange autos or post cards with any L.F. Address: "JMias J. Groves, car* M'Gruor, Taylor, and • Co.. drapers, Deo street, Invercargill."

POST-CARDS.

Minnie Grey invites L.F. to exchange pos6 cards with her. Address: "Miss Minni« M'Ara, Woodend, via Invercargill." Peony Roeo would also like to exchange post-cards with any D.L.F. who are willing. Address: "Peony Rose, care Brooklet Faun, - Clinton." •

Would ' all post-card collectors who ara willing . exchange with me. I will be -?nr»* to return one. Address: "Lady Benusti, care Brooklet Farm,- Clinton."

TO CORRESPONDENTS. Peony Rose.— Yes, dear. I saw the buy. ra>... I was _ very proud indeed- of the splendid ' " collection of interesting things my frienda of the page gathered together. I om~ glad you had such a good time in Dunedin. Boy. — It can do no harm to ask him, but I think I hod better not make any rath promise, Boy, for I find you have * ~--t retentive memory, and are not daunted. I feel a wee bit nervous that hint about the Exhibition. ihe amount of work and worry attached to thebay projects in both centres has been so great that I am sure the willing workers both in Dunedin and Invercargill must hesitate before entering lightly into another project in the same year. Then there is another aspect to consider — that of cost. The bays have entailed considerable expenditure, as well as much labour; and this would be accentuated greatly at anything done in the Exhibition, as not oniy wonld space have >to be paid for, but the Christchurch D.L.F. are ngt a numerous body, and we could not lcok to them to take the matter in hand. Who, then, is (o do the work? In addition to all this the opening is too near at hand, so, altogether, I think on consideration you will admit that the difficulties in the way are really insuperable. How pleasant to hear that Con is still interested in our page; and: no less so that he continues to prosper, and holds such an important post in the land of his adoption. The possibility of his - coming for bis holiday to New Zealand is , almost too delightful to entertain. "What ' rejoicings there would be in both clubs were the possibility to actually develop into reality. It is too good for us to seriously entertain, I am afraid.

D.L.F. BADGES. Badges sent: Cementiue, Zeaiia, Go Hon, Corporal 11, Minnie Gray, Sweet Lavender, ' Jockey, Pri&cilla. Peel, Printfess Zetta, Princess Ziska. Catalogues sent: Chief Cook, Wild DucWf Feather (3).— Price Id, postage free. THE D.L.F. BAY. Deep hidden 'mid the lichen Gathered in by happy hearts, From ferny-3haded gullies, Where mountain streamlets start, Untrammelled by convention, Unhindered by its art, We found a little nook reserved for Brendlt She called us all to labour, Such courage had her voice It stirred ua into action — Made obedience our choice. 'Our task, of course, succeeded, Now one and all rejoice In treasuring the nook reserved for Brencfa. There were many who contributed In many different ways To make it warm and welcomeQuite the pleasantest of bays. And «v*n 'midst its beauty One couldn't help but gaze Upon tte cosy nook reserved for Bienda. Wo may not tell the secret of Hex outward beauty, true, But we've learned lier spirit's aecret— 'Tis the garden's Becrot, too. And we count it aa a blessing thu' i To gather flowers and strew Them round the cosy nook reserved fof Brenda. — BLO2JPBI* InT«ro»rg:U, June, ]00fc