AN EMPIRE CORRESPONDENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2727, 20 June 1906, Page 80

AN EMPIRE CORRESPONDENT.

- The following has been sent me. and I - gladly make room for it, ac I know that there is ..a great deal of Empire correspondence steadily going on. But I would ask New Zealand correspondents, in writing to other parts of the Empire, to write something distinctive, and to ask for something distinctive in return. For instance, a Dunedin boy writing Home could compare the early settlement of Otago with the early New England settlement ; and could show bow Dunedin is, in name, name of streets »nd streams, etc., a southern representation on a small scale of Edinburgh. Then there *r-e interesting facts concerning the Maoris, our industries, and our fauna and flora, which would make good reading. Here is the letter:— 108 High street, Wapping. { - London E., England. February"*®, 1906. Dear Edith, — I expect you have been waiting in vain for an answer, but your letters have been at the London County Council Offices waiting for a school to apply for them, and out school has only just applied for them. I never enjoyed reading a letter so much in my life as yours. I shall soon be leav-ing school. I thank you very much for that beautiful piece of fern, which happened to be in the letter that was given to me; I must take it home and put it away. Our pupil teacher, whose name is Miss Kathleen, aftked me to ask you if you had a sister about 16 or 17. She said she would like to have a letter from her, for she^ liked your letter very much. It must be very different where you live from where I live. When we get up there aTe wharves to be seen all round us. Dear Edith, you will excuse me for saying piece of fern, as £ did not see the others until after I had written it. I hope you will send me some more pieces of ferns. I have one younger sister (Rose), and three brothers, but they are all grown up, for the roungest is 20 next birthday. I have only a little way to go to school. Dear Edith, I suppose you had quite forgotten your letter, »nd never expected to get an answer af^er all -this long time. There are many places ' in London which people like to know about, . and, if they had the chance, would like to «cc. Tkere are tKe Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Houses of Parliament, St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, and many •thers that would take too long to mention, tt-'is very different in London from where fou live, I am sure. Instead of fields and uountains there are busy streets and high raildings. I suppose you have heard of the River Thames; well, I live right on the edge )f-it. There is a wharf, which is connected fiith. our house, where men load and unload [o'pds. such as sugar, cocoanuts, flour, tea, soffee-beans, and lots of others, from barges. i hope you will soon answer my letter — quickly if you can ; I also hope you will niy letter quickly and safely. Will you kindly tell me how old you are now, amd what date your birthday is on. Mine is on March 31. Our governess may give us a rewind card to send to you of places in London. The one I am sending you is of the monument, not far from our house. I kopa you will not get tired of reading my letter. — 1 remain, your loving friend, Milly Davis.