TABLE TALK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3513, 12 July 1921, Page 47

TABLE TALK.

ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. Constant Reader,—l nm doubtful if 3-011 can learn the steps or the dances 3’ou name in any other way than by receiving l Easons.

Friday Evening. East Monday afternoon Mrs Edmond (Melville street) was “At home” to a number of friends, including Lady Roberts, Lady N\ idiams, Mesdames Tlieom-in, J. A. John- • '•on, James Begg, L. Wilson, Menlove, Acton-Adams, Callaway*, Garth Callaway, Sise, George Roberts, C. Reid, R. Dawson, Laidlaw, Misses Edmond, -h. ’Williams, Neili, Webster, Laidlaw, E. Roberts, Pharazyn, A. Neill. A very enjoyable bridge evening was given by Mrs ‘Laidlaw (Pitt street) last Tuesday for Airs C. Reid (Christchurch). Also present were Me sd ame 3 Galiaway, E. Eitehett, Riley*, R. Sise, Misses Ret tray, Graham, Neill, Webster, Williams (2). Denniston. Wedne3dr* 3' was the “Students’ Day.” when their capping carnival took place. The procession through town 111 the morning was very good, and greatly amused the crowds watching in the streets. The costumes were excellent, and many cf the tableaux well earned cut. In the evening llis Majesty’s Theatre was packed to the doors. From an early hour in the afternoon a queue began to term- outside the theatre, and increased to an enormous length before the doors were opened. The huge audience was well iepaid lor their efforts in getting scats, as an excellent evening’s entertainment was given. It was repealed on Thursday and End ay evenings. (hi Thursday 7, evening the students gave a balh A number of professors and their wives were present. 011 Friday' afternoon Lady Roberts gave an afternoon tea for her daughter, Mrs Hunter Weston. The guests were received in the drawing room by Lady Roberts and Airs Hunter Weston Delicious tea i\as served in the dining room, the table being prettily arranged with bronze chrysanthemums and red birch leaves in silver vases. The shaded electric light overhanging the table gave a pretty warm glow cf col: ur. Some of those present were Mesdames George Roberts, Menlove, Black, Russell Ritchie, George Ritclne, Laidlaw, Callaway, Garth Gallaway, Riley*, APMaster, Cheese-man, Sise, C. Reid, Fenwick, Kea y, Edmond, Misses Rattray’, E-. Roberts, Neill, Williams (2), Webster, Dcnnist-on, -b. M'Lcan, APLarcn, etc. Mr and Mrs Hunter Weston returned to Tima-ru on Saturday. Mrs Colin Holmes, who was- visiting her mother, Mrs A. C. B:gg, has returned to the North Island. Miss Easthsr has returned to Dunedin after an absence of some time. She has lately become engaged to Mr Bernard Petr:-, of St. Clair. Mr and Mrs Sanford Cox arrived in Dunedin last week from Geraldine. Mr Cox is taking Mr Parker’s place in the Bank of New South Wales during the latter’s absence in England. The engagement is announced of Miss Ivy Waugh, eldest daughter of Mrs J. Waugh, cf Bradshaw street. South Dunedin, to Mr Albert Lcapold, eldest son of Mrs A. L; apol d, oi Timar u. Monday. On Saturday the Otago University attained its jubilee. Fifty years ago* the doors of the University' were thrown open to receive students, and of the three first prof:'ssrs—Professors Sale, Shand, and Macgregor—only .Professor Sale is living, but a confirmed invalid in a hospital in England. The jubih 0 was celebrated on Saturday evening by' a banquet given in the Art Galleiy, and attended by over a thousand people. ' The tables were prettily decorated with chrysanthemum::-. During the evening many speeches were made, the University Band played bright and pretty selections cf music throughout the evening, and several vocal and instrumental items were also given. Amongst these present were the Chancellor (Dr Cameron) and Mrs Cameron, Pro tbs .--r.r and Mrs Thompson. Dr and Mrs Ca 1 malt Jones. Dr and Mrs Batchelor, Dr and Mrs F. Fitchett, Dr and Mrs Riley, Dr and Airs MTvibben, Dr and Airs Marshall Macdonald. Dr and Airs Inglis, Dr and Airs Gowiand, Profess :r and Airs Pringle, Professor and Airs Elder, Professor Short, Mr and Airs Skinner, Air and Airs J. Calian, Ali ps Bell (chairwoman of the "Women Students’ Association), and Air AlacLean (chairman of the A lon Students’ Association). The student*' capping. ball, which was held in the Art Gallery on Thursday’ evening, passed by’ most succi.-sfully. The ballroom was beautifully decorated with streamers and hallo ns, the University colours being used in deccraiing the walls, and small wreaths of evergreens encircling* the lights. Some of these r.it scut- '■ •< e 1)r a id Airs Fergus Professo • and Alrs X!:nmi 1 s*< n, DI and A 1 rs Ca rural t Junes. Dr and Mr Brennan, Professor and Ails Gowhvnd, Dr cud Airs F. Fiiehett, Dr and Airs R.lov, Dr and Airs Marshall AU donald, Dr and Airs Lmlis, Miami Ai'rs Sic inner. Dr and Mrs APKibVn, Dr and Airs Batchelor. Alisses Ala x well, Rose, Celnn. Grieve, Ladd, Dick, Glendining, Reid, Burt, etc. Air and Mrs Hunter Weston returned tc Timaru on Saturday. Mrs Undo Ferguson wont to Wellington last week. Mis Ac ton-Adams lias gone to Wailing ton.

INVERCARGILL. July 8. Af :s3 D. Sutton (The Willows, Centro Bush) has been in town this week for the theatres. Mrs MacGregor (Mount Linton) was also in town during the week. Airs J. M‘G. Watson has returned from Wellington. Airs W. Sutton is the guest of AH33 Stobo at Wuikiwi. Air and Mrs C. Ward have boon staying ing at the Grand Hotel. Airs Murray Menzieo (Diptoll) spent a few days in town this week. Air V. Ward lia3 been staying at the Grand Hotel. Hr and Airs Niccl (Christchurch) were also staying at the Grand. Mr and Mrs Wadsworth (Christchurch) and Miss W ads worth. al c o staved at the Grand Hotel. Sir Francis and Lady Boys (Christchurch) were the guests cf Mii*a Henderson (Tweed street). Air and Mrs B. Wood (Christchurch) also ; stayed wiili Miss Henderson this week. Airs Hobbs (Buned.n) is the guest of Mrs C. Hobbs at Gladstone. On Wednesday rooming a. very pretty’ wed°ing was celebrated in First Church, when Miss Edna Henderson eldest daughter of Mr W. Henderson, was wedded to “ Air Wadsworth, eldest eon of Air and Mrs "Wadsworth, Christchurch. The bride, who was given away by her father, looked particularly charming in a dainty frock of palest primrose satin and georgette. Her tulle veil was caught in with gold tinsel, and! peaked at the side. Dutch style. She carried, a bouquet of yellow chrysanthemums. The bridesmaids, Alias Lulu Henderson and Mies A\ adsworth, wore pretty' frocks of powderbluo crepe de sole with sleeves of georgette. Both carried bouquets of white and blue flowers, which harmonised with, their dresses. The bridegroom was attended by Mr J. . 11. Wadsworth as best man and Air W illiams as groom-man. The bridegroom’s mother, Airs W. J. Wadsworth, was dressed in a smart navy costume with black furs anl black hat. The Rov. Lawson Robinson officiated. The church was attractively decorated with yellow chrysanthemums. After the ceremony the wedding breakfast was partaken cf in a spacious marquee at th© resid.nee of the bride’s father. Among the presents were a, silver chafing dish from tit© Otatara. Ladies’ Golf of which Miss Henderson was secretary for <1 number of years. The guest: (relatives of the bride and bridegroom) included Sir Francis and Lady Boy’s, Air and Airs W. Smith, Alisa Smith, Mr and Mrs Cyril Ward, Airs Bernard Wood, and Air Vincent Ward. The couple left by motor on rente for the north, whence* they proceed to Australia, where the honeymoon will b© spent. The Allan Wilkie Company delighted their audiences here this week with their rendering of Shapcspcn r.c plays. The theatre was crowded each night. Among those who attended the* theatres were Dr APCaw, Miss APCaw, Dr and Airs A. APCaw, Dr and Airs R. Crawford, Dr and Airs S. Brown, Dr and Mrs J. G. Alacdonald, Air and Mra D. Macdonald (Edendale), Aliss F. Macon a Id, Aliss Roe, Airs Storey (Yenlaw), Alisa Storey',' Airs J. Macdonald, Mrs H. Macdonald, Miss Dundasj Air J. Bun das, Aliss Lester. Aliss Grace, Air and Mrs B. ITaggitt, Aliss Haggitt, Air and Airs R. Dunlop, Mr F. Handyside, Air and Airs W. Handyside, Dr and Airs Ewart, Air and Mrs A. M. Alacdonald, Aliss Gibson, Miss King, Mis AI. Alenzies (Dipton), Aliss Watson," Air and Airs G. Macdonald, Alias H. Alacdonald, Mr and Airs E. Hall-Jones, Air and Airs Caws, Aliss ILazlett, Aliss D. Smith, Mr C. Callender, Aliss D. S til ton (Centre Bush), Miss Hack worth, Aliss Lousely. Aliss Reid, Air T. Royals, Air G. Kcddell, Mrs R. Berndstone (Riveiton), Miss Ewart, Air and Mra T. Alacdonald, Air and Airs A. E. Smith, Mrs Rodger, Mrs J. Mitchell, Mrs Chewings, Mra D. Cutlibertson. Airs Hoyles, Mra Morrah, Aliss Morrah, Mr J. B. Thomson, and Mrs M 4 Ewan. Air and Airs 11. Kovels have returned from Christchurch. Aliss E. APLonn (AI cl bourne), who has been staying in Wellington for some time, has returned here, and is now the gv.'st of Airs C. J. Broderick. Air C. J. Broderick has gone on a visit to Alolbourne. Airs Brookesmith has re turn id to Invercargill after two months’ holiday in the north. T-JUAItU. July 8. j Airs Gillingham (Fontmell), who w. s in Timaru lor a few day's, has returned to Fairlie. Airs Alacfarlane (Waihao Downs) is staying with Aliss G'les at Ot-iritiri. Aliss Pinckney (Glenaray' is staying with Mrs H. Tripp (Wai-iti road). Airs J. Scott (Cannington) is in Tiroaru for a short visit. The Aliases Cox Nile street) are staying in Hastings with Airs Pinckney*. * Airs A. Scott (Bidvvill street) is spending a short holiday in Dunedin. Mrs Dick (Tc Wcka street) is spending the winter in Sydney*. Mr and Airs C. Buchanan have returned to Christchurch. Aliss Bews returned to Invercargill on Monday. CHRISTCHURCH, July 8. Air and Airs Guyon Alacdonald and family, of Orari, South Canterbury, are expected to arrive from England very shortly. Airs H. Van Ascii, of Rangiora, has left for a. trip to Australia. Miss Kathleen Lucas, formerly of Christchurch, is to be married in Auckland on July 20 to Dr Eric L-. Alarcliant, of Wellington. ATi.-s Olive Stra hoy is paying visits in the , country. : Surgeon-ccmmande v R. L. Jours, of JEALS. Philomel, and Airs Jones, after spending a little time in Christchurch, have returned to Auckland. Airs J. H. Watson '.lnvercargill) is staying ai Warner’s Hotel. Airs Ernest Lc-Crcn has return- d to Tima 111. Airs P. A. El wort nv (GcrdonV Yallev\ is staving with Bishop Julius, and Aliss Julius. Air.-’, Herbert E hr or thy (Craigmore), who came to town for r> tew day*, was the guest of Airs Ranald Alacdonald. Air and Airs Charles Weils (Lever Ri.earI ton) left during the wc k for Sydney. Airs GarUqt has also gone to Sydney* to ; visit re!at ives there. j Air and Airs lan Den ns have gone to j Sydney for a tew verbs’ change. ! Aliss Dorothea D inn v is the guest of the Alis.cs Cocks at Barfield. ! Aliss Hilda Williams (Wellington) 19 I the guest of Airs Alvar Williams at Fenualj ton. 1 The committee and members of the Canj terbury Women 4 ** Club gave an afternoon | “At homo” on Monday to welcome ucvr ! .members recently elected to tbe club, and an ! on joy-able time was spent. The president ! u.ady Donniston), in a happy little speech, I wclc:imed tli© new members. The drawing room and tea room were artistically arranged with bowls of tree lucerne and , berries. A few of tlu- guests were Lady

Dennis ton, Mrs Wilding, Mrs Owen, Mrs Bpeight, Mrs Chuddleigh. and Misses StodUart, Preston, Bromlev-Cocks, Thorpe, and Strouts. The club is also entertaining Miss Dorothea .Spinney at a morning tea on Monday, July 11. Mrs Thacker, the Mayoress, gave a large afternoon “At home” in the Art Gallery in honour of Miss Dorothea Spinney. iMiisioal items were much enjoyed, and a delicious afternoon tea was served. Miss Spinney wore a picture frock of bottle green, the ekirt being of panne velvet, and the jumper of georgette boldly designed in a rust-coloured pattern. She also wore a long necklace in shades to correspond, and a large black hat of hatter’s plush and coque feathers. Mies Aitkeu gave an “At home” one afternoon during the week at her residence in Fend-alton. Mrs B. B. Wood sung several Bongs delightfully. Other guests included Mrs Ranald Macdonald, Mrs GeoTge Gould, Mrs J. B. Reid, Mrs E. V. Palmer, Mis Beauchamp Lane, Mrs H. Cotte-rill, Mr.s ff. Fulton, Mrs Hugh Acland, .Mrs Pyne, Mr» Algar Williams, Mrs Boyle, and the Ivliase*. Bowden, Ootterill, Prickett, Sylvia Fov, Boyle, Pyne, and. Mrs Norton Francis. Mies Betty Ootterill has returned from a visit to Dunedin.

BLENHEIM, July 5. A most successful impromptu dance was hold on Friday evening in tli© Orange Hall, when four o t’ 1 he numbers of the Returned Soldiers' 0 rchestra 1 Sociefcy supplied oxce 1 icnt music, and, the flexor being good, dancing was indulged in until an early hour. A delicious supper, which was arranged on a long table on the stage, was provided by ’lie ladies present. Some of those present were Mrs Bull, in saxe blue silk ; Mrs Newling, black georgette- over silk; Mrs Robertson, black frock relieved with yellow; Miss O. Williams, black net; Miss J. Wil--1 i a ms, pink ninon ; Miss F. Meade, pink ninon over silk; Miss I. Wolferstan, black silk; Miss V. Murphy, white crepe do chine; Miss Zj. Clous-on, .pink satin; Miss G Griffiths, pale blue crepe de chine; Miss N. Ratter, black velvet; Miss M. Gale., creme silk; Miss Stewart (Wellington), b.ue t-alfeta; Miss Tiri-a Townsliend, black silk with silver sequins; Miss M. Be Castro, creme taffeta; Miss Coulter, saxo blue crepe de chine; Mis 3 Gudgeon, grey silk; Miss Robertson (Spring Creak), blue silk; Messrs Mitchell, Itevcll, Ncwling, Griffiths, Carrington, Reid, N. Parker, Williams, Murphy, Beckett, Chepcot, Robertson, M'Callum, and Bull. There was quite .a good a tendance at the River lands Golf Links oil Saturday I afternoon. Some of those there were Mrs ; Fell, Mrs Maclaine, Mrs Now ling, Mrs F.

Redwood. Misses Latter, Clouston (2), Williams, Griffiths, De Castro, Chapman, Gale, Messrs Mitchell, Pratt, Griffiths, Parker, Fell, R.?dd, Cal him, etc. Mrs A. Graham has returned from visiting friends in the North Island. The Misses Stewart (Wellington) visiting Mrs A. Latter at The *Bar‘on. Mi S 3 M. Bell left during the week for Wellington prior to taking an extended trip to America. Miss Janet Bell is visiting relatives in the North Island Mrs M. Grace is staying at The Terminus, Pi et on. Miss Ursula Grace, who recently returned from abroad, was in Blenhem during the week, I*ub has since- left for Hawke’s Bay. Mr and Mrs IV. T. Churchward have returned from a short visit to Wellington. Mr J. Scott-Smith (Sydney) is visiting' his parents in Custom-house street. Miss Mow at has returned from a short visit to Picton. WELLINGTON, July 6.^ A wedding of interest to Wairarapa people was that which took place in St. Mark’s Church, Kcnurra, Auckland, on Juno 30, wuen Miss Dorothy Alma Jones, only daughter of Mrs Percy Jones, of To Aroha, was married to- Air Roy Hunter Duncan, only son of Mr and Mrs T. Duncan, of Mangaia, Cook Islands, and formerly of Mastcr'on, Wairarapa. The bride, who was given by her mother, wore a quaintlycharming frock of sho: blue and gold silk made pannier fashion and a blue and gold hat wrea ther with autumn foliage and finished with blue velvet streamers. Miss ILna Duncan was the bridesmaid, and wore a nock of soft vieux rose silk with brocaded sash draped at the s de and a lack panne hat wreathed with blue feathers. Mrs Jones, the bride’s mother, was in a frock of nigger brown silk with hat to match touched with henna, and Mrs Duncan was in indigo blue silk with petunia-coloured. braiding and black panne hat After the wedding cereniony a reception was held .at lie residence ol Mrs Axford at Remuera. The bridegroom had served throughout the war with the artillery, and Mr E, S. Smith, iho" best mail, was with him in the artillery schools in England. An enjoys!© dance was held by members of the. Star Boating- Club in the Clubhouse -on Saturday evening. The social room was decorated with flags and fans of oars, while the club pint© set out on a billiard tab!© added to the- appearance of til© room. Supper was served in tho gymnasium, which had a.K-x> been decorated by th© members, with th© help of Mrs Bayfield, Miss Bayfield, and Miss Wakelin. Among those who were present was a party of cadets from the V\ align re! ta. Mrs Bayfield and Mrs Bvatt were the chaperones. Two other dances took place that evening, on© being the monthly assembly of Miss Borlase, held in til© Cabaret Club, and the other held by Miss Phyll.s Bates in the Art Gallery. Both were well attended, and a thoroughly pleasant time spent by everyone. . Mrs A. B. Cooke, a oc o m pan i c d b y 1 llt Misa 9- F. Cooke, of Highland .Parle, " ade «.* ow ». ls . leaving shortly by the Makura to attend the Imperial Conference of teachers Associations at Toronto, and to mak© a short tour of Canada and the United State® ~T . h ? engagement is announced of Miss maisie Gray, omy daughter of Mr and Mrs J. 1). Gray, of Bona Bay, Wellington, to 9? rd ?T l H ’ I f adfield, elder son of the ¥? A l ' i l % Ty lfadfield >and Mrs Ila-dfield, oj. Dm dale, Pa-raparaumu. . f m A lalfI al f° W ia k ‘ vin * shortly for a visit to Australia. lfr n °Tn Wn t ’ 9 announced of Miss Mm H C H S M ' l Pl lf . da ",ghter of Mr and Mis H. H Marshall, of Motu Kowhai, and granddaughter of the late Major Marshall, of i-utu Totara, to Mr Alex. Milne, only son hridS Canterbury. C " L " Mrs Will Lawson has returned to Wellington from a visit to Christchurch. , and Mrs Ben ham left on Tuesday to take up their residence at Cambridge, where ill© former has taken over a medical practice. Miss Laura Salmond left on Tuesday with Mr Justice Salmond for Auckland Lady Hall-Jones and Miss Hali-Jones are visaing Auckland. Miss E. Arrow (Pahiatua) is spending ■seme time in Wellington. ' Mrs John Barton has returned to Ileretaunga from Australia. Miss Hayes, who had been spendingseveral months with Mrs Peter Mitchell at Br rngenbrong- Station, Victoria, Australia, and With friends m Sydney, returned to vv el ling-ton on Monday. Mrs Samuel Brown and her grandMiss Znw Brown, ar© passengers by tho Tofua from Auckland for a visit to ih© South Sea Islands. Mrs F. V. Fraser is visiting Auckland. Mrs Ernest Haclfield has returned from a visit, to Hawke s Bay. . .I h « engagement is announced of Miss Alison Greig, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs id. Greig, Glen Almond, New Plymouth, to Mr Norman Day, eldest son if Mr and Mrs C. F. way, of Wanganui. THE COSY CORNER CLUB. NATIVE PLANT LIFE. Dear Comrades of the Cosy Corner,—This month s topic has called forth a number of pleasant descriptive papers. It is no l ivable that ail the papers (unless some exceptions should arrive later) treat of the forest and of forest trees and shrubs. Of course, it is tho forest flora that is most striking in New Our flora as a whole is comparatively poor in brightly-coloured flowers, yet v© have many strikingly beautiful flowering trees and shrubs, and our forest ferns are wonderful in their diversity and beauty. Vet we have many interesting plants and; herbs of th© open, and some of them with very pretty flowers; then ther© are our grasses, which give such a character to our scenery not transformed by the hand of cultivation—our tussock grasses (an unusual form of vegetation), our graceful tors, and our reeds and raupo. I will Iregin. with a charming description of some of cur grandest mountain forest, by a lady writer —a well-chosen selection by our lately welcomed recruit, Octogenarian. WESTLAND BUSH. Dear Esther, —An eminent member of th© Indian Civil Service once described to a junior two typos of officials. One, ho ©add, when he is called! on for a difficult report, scratches bis head and says to himself, “How on earth am l going to do this?” The other also scratches his head, but he says, “Who on earth will I get to do this?” And, as a rule, the latter furnished the more satisfactory work. Last month I tried the former plan, but got no result. This month I will take the latter, and call in the add of A. Maud Morefenfl, who, in “Through South Westland l ,” has given us a delightl.ff description of a ride through the Otira, down the coast, and back through tb© Haost Pass. Her botanical information is not always unimpeachable, but she avoids ooae

common error, and never miscalls our r.aiive beeches by the name of birch. “Hero wo were m a world untouched by man—save for that narrow winding track — where the very birds seemed scarce to lieed our presence, and the big bush pigeons sat and looked at us from the miro trees —too lazy to fly away. The very loneliness but added to the wondrous mysterious charm of this forest world. On and on we rod© in the dewy freshness, round steep mountain flanks, up deep gorges, along rock-cut Edges wii-fc re th© yellow sunshine lay bright and warm ou the rocky way, catching at times vistas of high mountains towering above us, shrouded always in impenetrable bush —it was, above ail things, a forest ride. Always there was the crowding undergrowth beneath —that riot of green ido ot forms strange to our eyes, beautiful in their infinite variety. And everywhere there were ferns. Who shall tell of the exquisite . beauty oi that fernery? They seemed to grow m colonies, sometimes of one kind, sometimes of another; and every fallen mossy trunk was covered with delicate hym-enopliyllums, like green lace. They climbed along the living branches, they draped the brown stems of the tree ferns from base to crown. There they live and die uncared for, generation uf;cr generation, perfect- in their beauty. There .are as many as 20 species ol tins genus alone, from H. rufeseens an inch long to 11. diiatatum growing to* a couple ot feat or mi'ie. In shine and shade alike ill© kidney-fern hung out its glossy lobes ot sat-ny-eme.lv,id, shaped exactly as its name implies. They vary from an inch across to three or even four. They creep up the trees and over fallen logs., each separate leal on its brown, hair-like stem, the delicate edges set with tiny, bead-iike seed vessels. When the sun shines through their fresh green they seem almost transparent, and now and again one finds a lob© of golden brown or coppery red. . . . Wlrero els© does on© see ferns growing in storeys i.k© a pagoda— whole colonies of them, two or three feet high? Th© settlers call it tho umbrella fern; and perhaps a little (•cither on grow huge clumps oi the Prince of Wales's Feathers, its tips bent over exactly like an ostrich plume. Other ferns, so fine they are like a skeleton leaf or dainty lace, grown in the bush —Davaiiia and many another whose name I never knew; and over them everywhere drooped the tree-ferns, straight shafts 30 or 40 feet high, crowned with curving fronds, often 20 feet long—Cyathea medullaris, Cyathea deal beta, with broader fronds, not quite so long, but silvery on th© underside. Dicksonia, slenderer than these last, and with longer fronds, grew in groups, all in their first freshness of summer, the central fronds still curved inwards like a coronet of huge brown caterpillars. But what use to try to write of the wealth of fern life in the forest? It is scattered broadcast with so lavish a hand, clothing and re-clothing tho living and the dead. On© must wander away into tho heart of this green West lend to realise it. . . . High in the forks of tho various pines—eighty or a hundred feet, perhaps, above us—hung great masses of ghee-ghee (Astelia), with swerdiiks leaves, three ot four feet long, of a light green colour. From the centre springs a silky panicle of sweet, creamy or purplish blossoms, several feet in length, not unlike that ot a cabbage tree. This is followed later by beautiful sprays of berries, red, yellow, and green intermingled. It has a. curious capacity for- collecting and retaining water, not needed, one might imagine, in this damp forest, but pointing to its origin in drier lands. It is an epiphytic plant, native of Australia, Tasmania, and the Pacific Islands, but six of the species are peculiar to New Zealand. And this tropical-looking plant is a lily, which has adopted this method of getting the necessary amount of light and air. . . . And the pjnc-3 themselves are a constant puzzle to the stranger, And on© seeks in vain for th© familiar forms called to mind by that name. There is the totara, with foliage of a brownish hue and stiff, pointed leaves. From single logs of this tree the Maoris hollowed their war canoes, seventy feet in length, and so highly prized wore large trees that they became heirlooms, and even led to tribal wars. The niii-ii is a different-looking tree altogether, with larger leaves. Its red fruit, as large as a small plum, is beloved of the bush pigeons. Sometimes the foliage resembles tli© yew, as in the black pine, or it is merely scales, as in th© white pin©, or as in th© rimu, light green prickles growing in spirals. Only a few pines bear anything resembling a cone. In th© case of the red pine its fruit is a fleshy acorn-lik© cup, brilliantly red, with a blue-black seed embedded in it; in the black pine it is a small black plum with on© seed; while the whit© pine carries its blue-black seed outside on the tip of a bright crimson berry. ... At one place the track led through what looked like a colony Sf giant lycopodiums. They dropped above the ferns in weeping sprays of bronzygreen; it was like riding under a shower of golden rain, yet these were young limns in their babyhood. In 21 years ol- more the moss-like forms will grow stiff and! branch erect into the forest tree, though the en Is of tho branches always, to some extent retain the graceful weeping growth. Among all tlie baffling secrets of the forest this utter diversity between the young and th© mature form of many of its trees is the most baffling. It is just as though some species preserved an incognito until they were old enough and strong enough to assert themselves.” OCTOGENARIAN. I am so pleased you are among this month’s contributors, Octogenarian. Miss Maud Moreland gives a charming description 'of the beauties of West Coast bush. I am sure many will be glad to have a peep into her book, which I have not seen. A spring'* MORNING IN WAITOHI VALLEY —A MONOLOGUE. What a perfect morning! It is really too lovely to stay indoors. 1 will go down into the swamp and gather a bouquet of wild! flowers to decorate the house. Well, here we are, outside the gate; myself, the two collies, Rag and Nails, and the cat (Bertie). -“Which way shall wo go, Rag? Down through the- swamp or- —no, w© will go down to Boat Point, take the flax punt and paddle ourselves across th© lagoon, walk out on

to th© railway line, and go down to the kowhai grove and gather a lovely bunch of the yellow kowhai.” "What a joyful harking! You quit© agree to that plan. Weil, off you go, you n.-cals. Com©, Bertie.” And away we go with a* great rushing and noise. What magnificent sprays of ilie yellow kowhai! They well repay us for our scramble down here. Now, oh, here’s a lovely lit 4 le bush of native popper! (ILoropito). I simply must have that lovely, beautifully-coloured branch of pal© olive green leaves with th© vivid red blotches. H is tough stuff to break, dogs; a good, thing I brought my knife with me. Ah, Rag! another treasure. So mo ramarama (Myrtns bullarta), with its new spring coat of delicate bronzy-coloured leaves, which later on are a pale olive green, and in the late autumn a vivid red. It is too early as yet for its sweet myrtle blossoms of pur© white, or another variety which is pink. The flower is exactly like the English myrtle, but tho fciiage totally cLifUreni. The lace-bark is already out, and, oh, what a treasure! There is some yellow clematis, with its masses of starry ycll-ow flowers. Now for some of those branches of lace-bark, with the white blossoms so thick the tree looks as if it were weighted down with snow. There are several varieties of the ake-akc. One lias blossoms, if one can call them so, like hops. Now we are on the road I will get some of the white ake-ake, with its flat masses of white daisy-liko flowers; some fern-weed, long delicate sprays cf pale green; whit© koremiko (veronica), of which there are endless varieties; white flax (a species of linseed) ; some of the swamp vine (I do not know i!s name), with long racemes of tiny creamy-white flowers, smelling like freshlycut cucumber. All these I will got on the bank along the roadside. And now 1 must go to tho “bush” on tho Bill to finish my collection. The dogs and Bertie have had enough of scrambling about and don’t want to come to the * bush.” As 1 go along the bush track up from tho sneepyards—it is but five minutes’ walk from the house—l will ga her some ferns, bracken, maiden-hair, and many others. I must have some of the large white clematis; some hireau. long sprays like lily, of the valley, only larger, and growing on a forest lice; some bul-bul, with its quaintly-shaped leaves of dark green and purple bell-shaped flowers with bright yellow centres; coral-red mistletoe, konini (fuchsia flowers), also a forest tree, properly called kutu kutuku. It is the berry that is tho konini—a very useful fruit for jam and puddings in the very early days of the dominion. 1 think everybody knows my next flower, the red kowhai, otherwise parrot's beak or glory pea. The white kowhai is much rarer, and very beautiful. I have only seen it in Queen Charlotte’s Sound. The flowers of the lawyer are very pretty, and the foliage lovely (tataramoa). W© have here a tiny white flower about tiio size of a shilling, like a miniature iris, which grows under the manuka scrub, as the fernweed does. The leaves of this little flower'* are spearlike, and in the autumn it has bright blue metallic-looking berries. Ther© is a perfect wealth of berries of all sorts and colours hero in the autumn. To finish my floral collection I mu fit got some coral-red mistletoe, some manuka (pink and red), and some spraj's of the beautiful white manuka, a much smaller flower than the former, and growing on a free or shrub which hangs m long trails of blossom. A large spray of th© tiny v.-liit© flower of the rar.giora will complete nay collection, but not by any means the “Flowers of the Forest,” even in this small spot. J will now get Peri, om-half-caste Maori maid, to make some pretty little baskets—all shapes and sizes—of the liutnwai (biddies). These are simply mad© by pressing tiie sticky burrs into each other, shaping one’s basket as one goes on. I am speaking of the spring, when they are quite green. Then we will make a veritable bower of the house HINEKOPANGA. A charming account cf a delightful ramble, H.nekopanga. I do not know the fern-weed; the spray you have drawn looks like maidenhair. Ail children lev© “koninis, ’ but I think they are a failure as jam. I remember in my teen? trying the experiment, and tb© result was just what Elsie describes — “a sickly, sweet, insipid mass.” BUSH NEAR THE HOME. Dear Esther, —The native bush in a mass dk.es not appeal to some people. It is too sombre, too depressing, and too much of a sameness to call forth the peons of admiration that a brighter-lined, and gaver-tened on© would do. But, take the plants and trees separately, and each and all are things of beauty. The “bush” has long been cleared flora round our home, but the few straggling plan's and trees that are left have an individuality and charm they never possessed in bygone days. Close to" the fence a few kowhai will soon attract the mokomoko and tli© tui. At present their feathery foliage fit r>ds like a network cf lace against the blue sky. Th© manuka at the back door (the solo survivor of half a dozen) is at present the happy flitting “ground” for some half-dozen fant-ail, their antics a source of groat amusement to the children. In th© early summer it will be a mass of creamywhite bice so m. SHI© be reid© with the manuka a cabbage tree keeps company, and whispers, no doubt, of days wli -u new v.-.-ro not solitary specimens. The back of tli© ;».irdel: is di;v;dcd from th© outer paddock with a row of native trees. First on til© lino tho mako-mako leads the way; its serrated leaves of pal© green show up clearly against the dark brown of its bark. In a few months its clusters of pal© pink blossoms will come, and this will gradually change till the tree is a veritable mass of bloom, ranging from the darkest maroon down to a creamy white; for variety of t.he “pink shades” recommend me to tho mako-mako tree. Later on these blossoms will fade away and their place be taken up with clusters of black lurries, very much like the black currant. This tree. I may add, is very easily grown from seed, and a rapid glower. Next in. order comes the native fuchsia, its bare branches already covered with hundreds of tiny green and red and blue floweia. The great fat purple berries will give delight to the little ones in th© summer days, as with juicy-stained lips and puiple-hned" fingers they climb tho many trees around for more of the luscious truit.

Personally, I think it is only a child who could, enjoy them. Once, in the long ago, I picked a pound, and made a pot of jam. My recollection of it is a sickly, sweet, insipid mass The next bush I do not know the name of. We call it lemon wood. The leaves are most ornamental, and worthy of a place in any garden. Further on a veronica or koromiko adds its contribution with long racemes of white flowers. There are several varieties of these plants, from the smallleaved “box” kind's to the large shrubs. One has light violet-coloured flowers, but these are insignificant compared with one on the side of the mountain. These plants or shrubs would form a small shrubbery of their own. Another very interesting shrub had a soft grey-green leaf and clusters of small sweet-scented daisy-like flowers. Unfortunately, a banksia rose grew to such an extent that my native shrub was smothered out of existence. A lace-bark is now in that interesting stage when it partakes of the nature of double existence, the lower branches retain their dark brownish-green leaves, while the upper ones differ in both colour and shape. Here a tree fern is pushing its brown fronds in their snug beds, the outer leaves spreading umbrella-like, sheltering several seedlings that have lately shown. A shrub that has a place in the collection lias smooth dark green leaves—not so beautiful as the broadleaf, but distinct in its shade from the others. Later on it will tempt the birds with its small scarlet berries. And that reminds me we always suffer from the small birds among the fruit, until the fuchsia berries are ripe, when raspberries and cun-ants are no longer a source of temptation, and the birds leave them severely alone, so please take the hint and plant rows of native fuchsia and see how the plan works. I’ve just space to mention two more out of our collection. One is the mountain lace-bark; it has soft grey-green leaves somewhat like the poplar in shape, is deciduous, and has large clusters of cherrylike blossoms. It is very hardy, and, I think, one of our most beautiful trees. The other i do not know the name of. It has a small round leaf, pale green, and underneath a silvery white. The flower is an insignificant creamy colour, but we find the foliage a useful asset in decorating vases. It lend 3 itself to almost all kinds of flowers. One strange thing, I’ve never been successful in getting a clematis to grow. All the other native shrubs wc have have grown from seeds that have lain dormant in the so 1, or from buckets of soil w\ ; have gathered in the bush and brought home, with the exception of the mountain lace-bark and cabbage tree. The rest are all self-sown. The above paper is really not one on the plants of New Zealand; it is more about the shrubs, but I had written some of it before I no 1 iced the mistake. Mount Fyffe is spoken of as the botanist’s delight from tlie number and varieties of its plants. One plant J’ve long promised myself is not to bo found here, and is the ranunculus lyalla. ELSIE. Thank you, Elsie, for your description of the native frees and shrubs around your home. I fancy the white clematis must be difficult- to grow, or surely one would oftencr eee it in gardens and parks. THE KAIKOURA BUSH. Hoar Esther,- — The plumy rimu, rain-twined. The graceful, tall kahikitea, With myriads of the leafy kind, And frond and liehcncd rock are here. Wc arc all familiar with tlie hardy rahnraliu, bra cue n or pig-fern that still flourishes over wide* areas of our hilly country and has established itself where magnificent forests have been destroyed to the careless and insatiable European. Often what was the bird paradise of the Maori is a desolation of charred and blackened tree boles, bare in tlie sun or the withering wind, boles that tower up from miles of dark, impenetrable fern. Through this fern every third or fourth year the fires will sweep before Mar.au, the warm nor’-west wind, leaving gorges and hillsides blackened and bare until, in the later spring, ten thousand brown-du-sted shoots start from the soil, and soon the hillsides are clad again with the dark green, stubbora-frooded fern that chokes down all lesser growth and forbids the passing of man or beast. Cattle, if shut on this fern in the late autumn, will cat much of it, and the roots are rich with n milky nutriment that pies seem to enjoy. They wiil burrow eagerly for the fern root and the long white phosphorescent worms that abound! in the soil that has never bceh turned by the plough. We should bo up tlie front of Mount Fyffe in mid-November, when the clear, sunlit air is rich with the aroma from myriad shrubs, bushes, and plants. The fragrance of the earthly paradise is there, where the hardy to tar a is dwarfed to a shrub and the sub-Arctic plants that have slept under the snows of July and August are building for white or yellow bloom. The mountain snows are fa/ back above us; tlie sombre-forested: declivities are be neat li, and the ferny foothills. North-east, soudi-west, for leagues and leagues away and away extend the long sea reaches, where by cuff-sheltered bays flourishes the glossy lar«e dark sree n-leaved, karaka, our onlv subtropical tree. We have no red rata or J.ohuiokawa. m Kaikoura. Their places are tak.3ll by tlie small white-flowered variety The loaves are small, dark preen, glossy the flowers small, white, starry, and easily shaken to pieces. There are half a dozen trees, same leaves, flowers, and seeds as the vine, growing near cur house, the largest about 15 pet Inch. When the old-man rimu and kahikitea flourished here I have wa vines from inches thick swing from the bougns far up, up, up above (he gloom of tlie time-old forest. The small white-flowered cor volvulus is a sisrht hv our country roads in the summer and autumn months, its mass of beautiful hells over macroearpa and hawthorn hedges a- thing cf beauty. OSCAR. . Thank you, Oscar, for your vivid description of fern-c.lad hills and mountain range. 5 on live in the midst of some of the finest ivow Zealand scenery. FOREST FLOWERS AND BERRIES. Dear Esther,- Many years ago two he-auti-fut coloured, pictures were issued hv the paper known at that time as the New Zcaland Graphic, one being “The Native Flowers of New Zealand, and the other “Tlie Native Berrios of Now Zealand.” Unfortunately, I have lost- the key to these two pictures, hut will do my best to describe them First there is the small white fragrant flower of the manuka, on long, slender shoots, and in .ermingled with it is the handsome variety •with red flowers. Next comes the rate, with its brilliant scarlet flowers, aW> a branch of golden yellow, as seen in the Otira Gorge towards tlie end of January. Then the beautiful clematis, with its wreaths of beautiful white, starry blossoms, has the most, prominent position in the picture. Our old friend of school-days, the purple fuchsia, is there, with its broad green leaf and silverwhite underside. The kaka beak is a very ■howy scarlet flower, often called parrot’s book or cl i an thus. Tlie kowliai, with its

bright yellow flower* and light airy foliage, has also a place. This is the flower that tells that mid-winter has been passed and spring is close at hand. The cabbage tree, called the ti or ti kouka, is very well known from its peon liar palmy shape and) the fragrant bunches of whitish flowers. Its berries are favourite food of wood pigeons. The veronica, or koromiko, has white flowers tinged with purple. In the early days this plant was valued for its beneficial effects in cases of diarrhoea and dysentry. What a variety of colours the native berries have. The fruit of the fuchsia was known to the Maoris as konini, and when ripe is an egg-shaped little black berry. Karo is a handsome evergreen shrub, with long leaf, deep green above and whitish beneath. The flowers are chocolate-coloured, forming clusters at the tips of the branches. It has fruit the size of small walnuts. The kowhai has a pod, sometimes five inches long, containing from three to seven yellow seeds. The white pine has bright crimson fruit with bl ack nut seated on the apex. Tara ire is a handsome purple fruit from one to one ana a-half inches in length. The karaka has bright orange-coloured fruit one inch long or more, like a plum, and is one of the few trees cultivated by the Maoris for food. The tawa has a deep purple berry one inch long. The ngaio is a well-known plant, often grown in gardens, and has a small reddish-purple berry. The flowers are white, with small purple dots. The pride of place in this picture is given to a beautiful catkin, ' resembling a pineapple, the mime of it for the time being lias escaped my memorv. “BUENA VISTA.” An assemblage of many of our most beautiful forest flowers and berries, Buena Vista. | I never heard of a yellow-flowering rata be- ! fore. fTo be continued next week.)