CORRESPONDENCE NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 2862, 20 January 1909, Page 95

CORRESPONDENCE NOTES

| lam driven to the conclusion that correspondents Jo not read instructions heading .my columns. Two this week send notot in p-snoil, and no names or addresses, though one explains he had no ink handy ; and another writes in pencil, writes on both sides, and sends no name ! Aa I have said before, I do not wish to shut out correspondence, but correspondents shut themselves out when they do not obey rules that all newspapers insist upon. " The Swallow Tail " eends in some nores upon specimen killing. In my notes, and in "Alpha's" aho, attention was drawn to the deadly nature of cyanide of potassium, and young laurel leaves were mentioned as a harmless an>( effectual substitute. Mr Trotter's notes on the Maori remains aad on glacial action in the Wakatipu district are very interesting, and like Oliver Tn-iet I want more either from Mr Trotter or someone else or from both. The divergence of two small streams ought to interest young folk. If a map of South America is turned to, there will be seen a small river, the Cassequaire — I am away from my books, so am not sure of my Gpelling, — connects the Orinoco and one of the tributaries of the Amazon. One can stand on tho Alps in Southern Switzerland and almost see the origin of the Rhone and the Rhine, they are so close; and the Danube isn't so very far off. Talking "of Switzerland reminds me of a description of Switzerland given by a lad in one of the Oamaru schools. He eaid : " Switzerland is a country the rivers all run away from." Short, but graphic. Mr Roberts eends in his monthly record. I see that last year's rainfall for Christchurch was 25in. Near New Plymouth I believe it is about 120 in, and in Westland about the same. At Puyeogur Point, I am told, the climate is wetter than in any other part of fche Dominion. On reliable authority I learn that the downfall hae been so heavy there and steady on a calm day that the sea has been actually covered "with a layer of fresh water sufficiently deep for Hinemoa passengers to dip up a drink perfectly fresh. " Bushm/m's " lctt.gr was submitted to " Honey Bee," who has studied baes, and

r his answer is appended to " Bushman's " !; letter. r I should like more letteis from t2ach-~rs i on the lines oi thai sf^it in by " Tu-fock," I who is a fachai full of eiitnusiasm. and E who is willing- to help cithers. Correspondent? whose notes have not bcon referred to here, or whose letters are not I being published to-day, will know that their conesjxm-daiice is being held o\er , through want of s;ace. As usual, I ha\e ; exceeded the space supposed to be at my i disposal. Conotpondents ai-e thanked for , good wishes, which I heartily reciprocate.