FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2728, 27 June 1906, Page 87

FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.

t(Conducted by Ma&istes, to whom all communications must be addressed.]

CORRESPONDENCE, I. — Fossil Remains.

Some weeks ago I asked for a piece or two of the shell-carrying rock taken out of the shaft when the Castle Hill mine was in operation in Kaitangata, but so far without result. I have been favoured, however, from another source. Mr F. W. Blair, of the -Stock Department, has sent me some foseil shells, and with them the accompanying letter, and promises to let me have some fossil ferns some day. I shall bo fflatl at any time to receive «nyihinjj that will help ue to read Nature. In tending fcpecimens, however, I hoy^e that contributors will send particulars of locality, bright alwvo M:a, etc., so that some inference plight be made, or something suggested : — Owaka, June 4, 1906. Dear Sir, — The accompanying fossil shells, together with specimens of rock in which they arr obtained, were got out oi the quarry on hill at Cannibal Bay, Catlins district, about 200 feet above sea level. I have much pleasure in picsenting them to you. I noticed a few ■weeks ago you asked for specimens got at Kaitangata, antfrthought you might care for a bpecimen or two from another district. — Yours, etc., V. W. Blair, Stock Department, Owaka. That this column i* appreciated the following letter shows. Dr G-unn is a Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society, and for some time. I believe, regularly tabulated a series of climatologies! observations at Kaikoura. Marlborough. For the benefit of obierycrfi I am giving the^sheet which is used by Dr Gunn for chronicling daily data, but to save space leave out most of the days. The monthly abstract I'll give next week : — " Magister," Otago Daily Times. Dear Sir. — As one who is much interested in all that concerns the training of our children, I wish to express my appreciation of the good work you are doing in the columns of the Otago Daily Times in cultivating a, love of Nature-study amongst the young ones. My letter to the Times will explain my views. [The letter appeared last Wednesday week. Last Thursday another correspondent wrote bemoaning the loss of our native birds. — Magister.] I post you two sheets for recording temperature, rainfall, etc.. as I think they will be of interest to you.— Your3 faithfully, Johii St. C. Gunx. CLIMATOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, As made at , New Zealand, at 9 a.m.. during , 190 . [ Height above sea-level, 50ft; distance from I sea, one-quarter of a mile; distance couth of Kaikoura Ranges (8000 ft), 10 miles. John St. C. Gunn, I 1i.8.C.M., F.E.Met.S.. Observer.

Mr T. S. Beck, of Roxburgh, sends the following, which I publish so that observers in other parts may make comparisons and perhaps communicate results to me. Perhaps Mr Beck and others willing to gather data will adopt Dr Gunn's scheme or mar make suggestions. Pterhaps after a while I shall be able to publish abstracts from places differing widely in climatio conditions, though not widely distant. As an instance: As low an annual rainfall a« 15in has been recorded at Clyde, while at Puysegur Point the other extreme is 22Sfrr:—

s -I I 5I 5 g C 3 j J3«s S « b 4> •si 31 j I j i > .Sg t .» 1 '4 CO I I I I I I I I I j I i ! i i I i j SI I ! i j i ! Z Mai fill Oo.eS j I I i i j i I i j : a : g : : ° : ;«S : : U • ' : 015 ; °S S • ou v : a, w w . .hocg g If §-S J S II 1 1 3 8 ■s a i— i 3 3 I s i | i ! ! I ! i I I .2 o I I I I l|° / _ & o I I I / I* hI ci ie o so Ifi

3 ! a o I c I '5 "3 19 -A 5 I ! 2 c * I 'I £ "33 « Qtti B II I ■E*2 "E I ■S 53 I a ~ $*> I I fa I jrf k" r s i tt xii-n >16\tt\tt\OV s pa o •5 «S I -J I S^ 3 1.21 .2 >>s»> >>■« £-S ** "S J? •B-S S£ Zt -2. 3 §§ §« H £? § i °2 S5 eep qffl oo P9O »o tfO si £3 j53 j 583 1351 35 j£B| S3 | 553 5 I n| ggi I gigs Isglas Igg 1 laa SI a a ! sa ! aa aa j aa J sa j aa aa. «s. <i A a=. I «P.la a. I ap. at 3 a •^> r» 00 O) I1= Wixd Force. Br = Light breeze. L = Light wind. F B = Fresh breeze. C = Calm. G = Gale B C = Blue sky and clouds. B = Blue sky.