LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3549, 28 March 1922, Page 56

LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Ifotto. —We write for the benefit of others, for ourselves. No letter to contain more than 350 words. Dear Dot, —On Saturday I helped to do some mustering, and then helped to draft the sheep. When this was done we had lunch, and X came home and %ot the tea ready and milked the cows. It was late when uncle arrived, and both being tired, w© enjoyed, a good tea. As the next day was Sunday we did not get up very early. In. a, while rabbits will be Is 6d a pair, and I am going to set a few traps. The weather is very cold, with rain occasionally, and it is very miserable. I would not be surprised if we have a flood, but I hope that we don't. Dove to all the L.F. and yourself.—Yours truly, ABDUL. [You would certainly feel like a rest after your heavy day on Saturday, Abdul.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am 11 years old, and in Standard V. I have one sister and two brothers. I am reading a book called “Out of the Running,” and it is a very nice one. We have two cows and one calf, and a horse which I often ride. Love to all the L.F., not forgetting your own dear self.—Yours truly, THE RED ROSE BUD. [You are very welcome to join us, dear.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —Since the last time I wrote we have shifted into the hotel, and I like it very much The weather here is something awful—one day is fine and the next day-.it is raining. My brother and I are both learning music, and we like it very much. I have two hens with 19 chickens; one has 12 and the' other has seven. We are going to start football soon, and what about coming up and playing for us ? With love to Brown Eyes, Mifwanny, Diamond i’rince, Dad’s Jockey, not forgetting your own dear self. —Yours trulv, DADDIE’S SHEPHERD (Heriot). [I am afraid I would be rather out of form, but in my youth enjovod the game DOT.] Dear Dot, —We have a 4 phonograph. It is raining very heavily here to-niglit, and the farmers are vexed because they cannot get.their harvest in. It will soon be Easter, and I suppose town will be very busy during holiday time. My cousins are coming up here for a holiday, and I hope it is fine weather when they are here. Love to the L.F., not forgetting your own dear self.— Yours truly, A BUNCH OF BLUE RIBBONS. Dear Dot, —I have just reached home from a. month’s holiday. I was a fortnight jii Caversham and a fortnight at Maori Hill. I also stayed two .or three nights with a friend in Morning-ton. I had a lovely time altogether. While in Dunedin I met Burma, We have been, corresponding since a while before Christmas, so this was the first time I have seen her, though she sent me her photo. Burma wanted me to go in with her and see you, but 1 was too shy. She said that, she has always wanted to pay you a visit, but does not like doing so alone. The first week of my holiday was glorious weather, but I can't say as much for the second. We w'ent to St. Clair one day, and though it was a bit cold in the morning it grew warmer towards noon. After dinner we sat on the rocks, but after an hour or two the wind rose and the sky clouded over, so we thought it would be as well if we went home. We just caught a tra.m and got in it when it started to rain—and didn’t it rain, too! I went out to Port Chalmers to see some relatives there. It was a wet morning, but I did not go till the afternoon, when it had cleared up, though it was still fairly cold. I went to the pictures quite a number of times while I was in Dunedin. We generally went to the King Edward, as we always found a good programme on there. I am very fond of pictures. Up here they only come once every two or three weeks-. Last Sunday evening I went with some friends to hear some man lecturing on “Millions Now Living Will Never Die.” I forget the name of the lecturer. 1 was at the Museum one afternoon, and it was very interesting looking through it. I did a good bit of reading while I was away. Some of the books I lead were “Old Rose and Silver,” “The Larrikin,” “St. Elmo,” and “Bootle’s Baby,” and most of them were very nice. The day I came home was not an ideal day for travelling, as it was too cold. Coming from Beaumont in the oar it was very windy. We are having rather nice weather just at present. Mum and dad are both in Dunedin. Dad had to go down to see the doctor, and mum went down too, so I am housekeeper. Our neighbours picked strawberries to-day. I think that we are putting in more plants (strawberry) this year. We did not get any strawberries last year, as we had ,to cut all the flowers off. All our stone fruit is pretty well done. We have the apples now, and soon everything will be finished. Love to all the L.F., especially Colleen Rhu, Burma, A Bunch of Violets (who, I hope, will write soon), and all the other L.F., including vourself.—Yours truly, AN ENGLISH DOSE. Dear Dot, —We are having 1 very bad weather here for the last week. It was a lovely day on Sunday, but it- is raining as bard as ever to-day. My father, mother.

brother, grandmother, and grandfather went for a trip in the oar to Garst-on, which is about 50 miles t’romi our place. It was a

very nice day when they started, but it began to blow when they were going up When they were icoming home it started to rain, but, all the same, they had a lovely spin. The piano-tuner was here about a month ago, and made such a difference to the piano, as it was very much out of tune. We have a lovely lot of apples and plums this yea,r. We have had more apples this year than we have had for a good while. I like apples as well as any fruit. This weather is too cold for anyone that likes tomatoes, they are nicer in the hot weather. We are getting o. lovely lot of mushrooms this season. We gathered buckets full just after Christmas, and now we are getting so many we are tired of them. We all like mushrooms except my father and brother. Do you like them? Not many people like them. The other day. when I was coming home after taking the lunch out to the harvesters, I saw :l queer-looking bird ram into a rabbit hole. It was a, grey and white striped bird, with long leg's and small head. I saw a- pheasant here a good while ago, it was the first one .1 had ever seen here. I ! often go for rides on the fine days, but the I weather is rather cold for it now. Best love ! to Montrose Lassie, Ave Maria, Joker, Silver j Moon’s Pal, Silver Lining’s Cobber, Hazel Dell, Meg’s Friend, Little Son Eric, Red Fox, and all the L.F., not forgetting your- ! self.—Yours truly, AVICE’S NIECE, Dear Dot, —Yesterday was the first fine day we had for about a fortnight. To-day was just the opposite; it was dull all this morning, but this -afternoon it came on to rain, and we had a "ood shower for about an hour or so. I think we will be having rain for about a week now, a 3 we generally have a large quantity of rain this time of the year. The bowling season is over now in Bannockburn. The bowlers played their last match here on Saturday. There was a good number of people present to witness the last game. The ladies provided afternoon tea, a.nd it is surprising the large quantity of refreshments so few ladies can supply. In the. evening there was o, dance, and there was- a fair attendance there also. Refreshments were provided, and everybody enjoyed themselves I went into Cromwell to see Chautauqua last week. It was on for four nights, and I was in for two nights, and enjoyed myself very much. I liked the lectures better than anything else. Each night there was a packed house. All the apples are nearly ripe, and some of them have been picked and sent away. We have a few fruit trees, but only about enough for ourselves. We have cut our last crop of lucerne, but it is not’ ready to be stacked yet. Love to everyone.—Yours truly, AVE MARIA. Dear Dot, —I had a most, enjoyable holiday. The weather was glorious, ancf I was out all the time. It was short and sweet, es the lady with whom I was staying was called away to the North Island on veryimportant business. I spent a day with my aunt, but as my cousin was ill I did not enjoy it very much. We had & glorious trip across to -Stewart Island. It was a lovely day, and I am a good sailor, so I enjoyed myself very much. The sea was lovely and calm, and the scenery is beautiful going into the harbour. After we had lunch we went for a walk with a friend round nearly to Golden Bay, but we did not have time to go right round. The boat rolled a. bit going home, but nobody was ill. I have not- gone on other holidays yet, for miy sister is away, and I have to help mother, a.s she is not very well just now. I had my birthday while I was in town, and I had a lovely gold badge, among five or six other things, given to me. Love to all the Little Folk and yourself.—Yours trulv, EVELYN. Dear Dot,—We are having beautiful weather here—just the kind for bathing and picnicking and for playing tennis. To-day it was simply glorious, which was fortunate, as it was a big school picnic day. We intended going yesterday, but it rained, so we wont to-day instead. We went tc Lyttelton in a special train (which was needed, as there were over 503 girls), and then we walked to Corsica Bay. Most of the girls went in bathing, as it wa-s an ideal spot for t-liat, and after lunch a launch arrived, and we spent a great deal of the afternoon sailing about the harbour and bays. It was lovely i.ut in the launch, and it was rather exciting when a few gusts of wind made the sea fairly rough, but it only made us merrier in spite of getting slightly wet. I arrived home safely after a rather crushed ride horn in the train, and I thought I would finish up the day 'ey writing to you. This school picnic to-day was, I think, the sixth I have been to sinoe December, so I have not been having a. bad time. I went to our form picnic last Saturday, and had a good time. We vi-ent to Sumner, and after bathing and lunching we walked over the hills to Taylor’s Mistake, where we spent the afternoon, returning about 6 o’clock. Do you play tennis, Dot? I do, and i think it is lovely. I am third from top on the tennis ladder at school, and I am going to challenge the girl above rue for second place soon. Tennis is a splendid summer game, but I think basket-ball equals it as a winter one. Well, dear Dot, I must stop now, with 'rest love to all your, Little Folk and yourself.—Yours truly, SWEET LAVENDER (Christchurch).

[I hope you reach the top <.f the ladder before the conclusion of the season, Sweet Lavender. —DOT.] Dear Dot-, —We have been having glorious weather for quite a while now, excepting a couple of days’ rain which, I can tell you, was very acceptable, as everything was so dried up. The Taranaki A., and P. Show was held last Thursday. There was a large crowd there, but not so many as previous years. Like all other show's, it was very much the same, with plenty of side-shows, and also a jumping motor car, which attracted a great deal cf interest. Fine weather prevailed until about 3.30, when it came on very showery, ar.d people soon made their way homewards. A couple of weeks ago the H.M.S. Chatham arrived here, but as the wharf was occupied it was unable to berth, which was rather disappointing; but motor launches w'ent out at intervals during the two days it was here. Some of the crew also came ashore, and were motored to places of interest, including Mount E-gmont. There are quite a number of Home bouts visiting this port. The Kia Ora is here at present, and the passenger boat Pukeho will arrive next week. Wirtli's Circus was here a while back, and I thought it was very good, especially the animals. They were really wonderful. Tire tent was simply packed here, as, of course, it only showed one night. One local gentleman was feeding one of the elephants, and after having nothing more to give it., Uio elephant just picked him up and carried him round in his trunk. He got a severe shock, also a shaking. My word, they are huge animals, aren’t they? I should not like one to tread on my toe. The flower gardens are a picture at present, especially the asters, which make a beautiful show. We haven’t any flow-era worth mentioning, the ground doesn’t seem too good.

There have been quite a number of school picnics held here lately on the beaches, but the day the Eltham School came up the rain just tumbled down all day, but one -of the halls was opened up, and the children m dulged in games, etc., until the train returned. Although very wet, they seemed to enjoy themselves. One of the schools from here gees to Hawera on Thursday and another to Ngaere Gardens on Saturday. We

have been to the pictures several time? lately, also to several dances, and had a lovely time, only it is rather hot. yet fo> dancing. There was an open-air concert in Puke-kura Park on Saturday night. The platform was erected on the bridge over the hike, and being a nice moonlight night, it was very enjoyable. I was peeling shallots this morning, and my eyes were so sore for quite a while. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, PUS-S IN BOOTS (Now Plymouth). Dear Dot,---I enjoyed the history cf Dot’s page. I have often wondered how long the page has been in existence. What a host of L.F. have written in those yeais! We have been having most glorious weather until the last few days, .when rain and wind have set in, and it is also very cold in the mornings. Tom Mix started to write to you once or twice, but ended up by posting it in the fire each time Wc are terribly busy at work just now, and we are making down to m 3' mate’s auntie’s place at Charlton, and I am living ii# hopes ot* having a some lovely dresses. At Easter I am going goo:l time. Today is St. Patrick’s Day, and there is a dance to-night, but I am not going. There are also sports here on Wednesday, and I hope it is <x good day, ns it will be the largest sports meeting-ever held here. There is a lot of sickness in Gore just now, it must be with the cold weather. I have had a loan of my mate’s camera, and I have been doing a bit of photography and they turned out successfully. I think photos are nice to have. Love to all the L.b., especially Burma, Poliyop, Wyoming, A Maid of the Mountains, and Revlis, not forgetting your own dear self.—Yours truly', LOVER’S DREAM (Gore). Dear Dot,—About a fortnight ago I had the luck to have a trip to Riverton. It was the grocers’ annual pi-cnic. The morning was perfect, not a cloud to blemish the bright blue sky, and at about half-past 8 we were hurrying towards the station. The train left Invercargill at 9 o'clock. We were fortunate in getting seats, and soon we were rushing towards the end of our destination. We arrived at Riverton about 11 o’clock, and, walking through the small town and over the bridge, we soon found a suitable camping place. Unpacking the baskets and making the tea was the work of a few moments, and soon we were all enjoying our lunch. After the lunch baskets had baen packed and covered we decided to take a walk round the beach. A.s it was an exceptionally' lovely day- the beach was crowded with bathers and little . children paddling. At about half-past 4 we arrived back at our camping place, and I can assure you we were all ready for afternoon tea. Our train left at 6 o'clock, so as we slowly' strolled to the station we had time to admire the interesting scenery. Again we were fortunate in securing seats, but by the time the train left I was wondering whether I was sitting on the seat- or my' friend next to me. When we arrived at Invercargill the platform was crowded with people and sailors from the H.M.S. Chatham. Our next difficulty wa-3 getting a scat or standing room on a train. Soon we w-ere all packed in one, although walking would have b;en just as preferable. Home at last! tired, but happy] after a very enjoyable day’s outing. Rind regards.— Yours truly, GIRL O’ DREAMS. Dear Dot, —We are having some very peculiar weather here lately—one day it is hot and the next cold* and I am sure the farmers are not welcoming the stormy weather, as most of them are in the thick of harvesting. Some few commenced leading in this morning, but they would have to- stop, as it became fearfully stormy about 11 o’clock. I did not leave home during the holidays. The annual school concert was held in December, and it was very good, considering that there are not vary many children in the school. There were a lot of items, and the

children went through their parts very well. The concert was followed by a dance, and I enjoyed myself immensely. On Boxing Day a party of us motored over to Brighton beach, and we had a lovely 'lay, which ended in sunburnt foce3 and stiff legs, but I enjoyed every minute of the day. I contented myself at home on New Year’s Day. I was in town the day before New Year, and New Year’s Eve was one of the quietest I have ever known; however, some gates were lifted—a favourite New Year prank—and the bell was rung at 12 (midnight) to ring out the old and ring in the new. The school picnic was held at Taieri Mouth after the holidays, so that was another day spent at the beach. Have you ever been to Taieri Mouth, Dot? It is a lovely place, and. besides having the beach to wander on, there is lovely native bush in which to gather ferns and flowers. I always look forward to m-y day at the beach’, as we go there every Christmas. Tennis is in full swing here now, and they play every fine evening, several matches have been played between Mo-mona and Maungatua. I do not know who came out victorious at the last match, but I don’t 11-ink they got playing much, as it rained a good bit that afternoon. I have re-ad quite a number of very- nice books lately. Have you read "The Valley ot the Giants," Dot? It is by Peter B. Kyne, and is a very interesting book. I have also just read “Man to Man. My sister and I were in Dunedin to see the H.M.N.Z.S. Chatham and the H.M.A.S. Melbourne, but we were not- on board either of them, so I daresay we missed a pleasure, as it must have been very interesting to visit the different parts of the huge warships. Love and best wishes to Roseday, A Girl of the Bush, and one at Mokoreta (I can’t remember her nom de plume), and yourself.—Yours truly, MAID OF ATHENS (M-omona).

Dear Dot, —We do net- get the Witness now, and I have not seen one since just after I wrote my first letter. My eldest sister was married last year. Our dancing hall was burnt down one night in January, so that the place is very quiet now, as we never hold any dances. The last dance held in it wa.s on the night of the school children’s picnic and breaking-up day. It was rather unfortunate, as it was the only means of amusement here; besides, the district piano and cups and saucers were destroyed with the building. One of my brothers left school since I last wrote to you, and got his proficiency. My two sisters and brother who attend school were first in Standard V, first in Standard 11, and second in Standard I respectively. The two youngest -are twins, but not in the same class. They are nine years old, and in Standard 111 and 11. The weather is cold just now, and cold enough for snow. Love to the D.L.F. and yourself. —Yours truly, LILAC BLOSSOM. Dear Dot-, —There is to l>e an A. and P. Show here on Thursday next, and I am putting in two entries —acoues anil pikelets.

There is a concert and danoe on in Arrow to-night. hut it is too far for me to go in. After the show there will be * a social and dance in aid of the R.S.A. To-day I was away amng to the Frankton Jetty to U3e the telephone, but a 3 I could not" get connected I hed my long ride for nothing. Love to -.ill the D.L.F., especiallv Pearl White and 1 race.- - lours truly, SUSPIP.IA. [I have posted the badge. Suspiria, and nope It reacnes you safely.—DOT.] i went to several places for my holidays. Fust „f a]l I cau?ht the uoug t express to Mataura, where I spent a very enjoyable week. I then went to ‘ the ™ I.® S T part3 ’ where I met several of nia t- 0 -' i - I was very pleased to see them ° am - live years’ absence makes a big r 1 stayH in Riversdale for a Tft 1 7 a ? staying- next to mv old home. After I left Riversdale I travelled to Invercargill. I liked Invercargill the best, „ } .a- 3 a change, from the country. I was to got -Rome, as I was beginning I,rW Silver Moon went to Christchurch for her holidays. Love to mortals Tb’ Hera ' Qllc ° n of mortals, Grey Dawn> qj T}) „ r - Av J ice’T%ii® ker ’ V lC ‘„ Girl of tlw Li m her lost, for a! ‘ the «‘l»r D.L.F.. not yourself.—Yours truly SILVER MOON’S PAL. me <M fi, e -?° a ~' T, ' le ’T‘ Ster ’ instead of chasing me, Hies a mile when he sees nm T also % T.;-? }£\rr pits, Sr ,sa • blowing all the t;™®’ t* 13 ramin g and Cowboy also A T hm' o 7 ove in Sonia and your dear selfi-You's M * ah> “ nd

of”)* n tur£/°D ( haVe d T~ nS on D the Vife his death. DOT] * S '’ and W ‘R not mourn I always^lfthe^rtid^ l Witne63 - but to aee it. The I< * Jm evei T week awful for the past two ler « has been really farmers about he,T or three weeks. The harvest at 01l nt TT ** °n with either every dav t „ 1S generally raining year we hld ahnost fl da ?- Last this time but thfs finislled harvesting at ureat deai ofD ■ Bti " 3 f a TO d y H is verv OS soon as "they f l>eca " s<? Often to rain, and of eonf" 1 f rve3t| ng it logins stopped; but I th * work hna to I>* finished sooner or latd and lh W,l -‘ “ growling Th-ere iq t and 1S no uso Saturday at LawrenJ ™ school against tl,„ t' 13 our 2* «», ~,s. I ™ M non as I have left school, but I take a great- deal of interest in the game. There are quite a lot round here who think they know my nom de plume, and I am always getting teased about it. I haven’t enlightened anybody- yet who I really am. but it is dark'" tT I'® 1 '® c . them'remain in the d , Sunday School picnic was held 1 aTu. M , out, ‘ laat Saturday, but I did not go With heaps of love to all the Little hoik, especially Glenora, Merry Midgets, Conntluc, Mae Marsh, Only a Girl, Humoresque Irish Imp, The G-’rl Beyond the Trail. B.uefoot Trail. Saddler Teininiy, and not forgetting yourself. Dot.—Yours truly MAIDEN OF DREAMS.

Dear Dot, —By the time this letter reaches you I shall be in Melbourne on a holiday. I am only going for a fortnight, but still I am looking forward to a good time. It is over 10 years since I was last there, so I don’t remember very much about it. I will try and find time to write to the page while I am there, and tell you what I think of it. Everything is .very quiet here just now. There was a terrible thunderstorm here last Tuesday, and it hasn’t stopped raining since. It is awfully cold to-night, just like the middle of winter. ‘I suppose the storm has done a good amount of damage, as usual. Dad has just finished gathering up the fruit that has blown down, and there are cases of apples and pears, and, of course, they will all have to be given to the pigs, as they are | no 'good for sale. I went for a day’s outing down to Port Cygnet a few weeks buck, and had a very enjoyable day. The A ictorian Police Band was on board, and, of course, that made everything much I simply love band music—in fact, music of any kind,—and I wish I hadn’t been quite ! so lazy and kept my music lessons on when | I was younger, but I started to tell about I my trip. To start with, it was a beautiful ! morning when we left home, but, sad to sa\, iit wasnj the same when we arrived back. It was raining a.nd blowing a terrible gale, but still it was just beautiful on the water. It was my first time down there, and it will not be my last, as I think it a very nice littie place.' It takes about four hours to get there,, so you see that we are the best part of the day' on the water. Our luck was out again, as when we got on the tram to come i home the current went off, and it was about a-quarter of an hour before it started again. Of course, it happened to be raining at that rime. But still, for all that, I think we all spent a very enjovable day, rather better than the one at Bellerive. I told you about ! that in my last letter. With best wishes to all the Little Folk, not forgetting yourself.— j Y ° UrS tlUly ’ MARGARET. I [I hope the holiday was a great success. Margaret. —DOT.] Dear Dot,—We are having awful weather here at present. It rains almost every day, and the farmers cannot make much progress with their harvest. Almost every day they go out and take in a few loads, when it begins t-o rain just enough to wet everything for” another day. For my holidays I was up at Hampden, and I had a lovely time. I was there for a fortnight and a day, and it was lovely weather every day but one. We went to the beach twice a day, and we had a few bathes. Every night we watched the bowlers until dark, then we went inside to bed. I have noticed that my mate lias not written since the last time I wrote, but now we are back to school there is no time for any writing after our lessons are finished. Yesterdav we went to a picnic at Taieri Mouth, and it was lovely going and coming* in the boat. It was a lovely day until the afternoon, when it became showery, and this spoilt the sports. Love to Only a Girl. Red Lancer, Saddler Tommy, Glenora, Irish Imp, Freckles’s Mate, Sunbeam Marjorie, Humoresque, Meg’s Friend, Hera, Sonia, not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, FRECKLES (Milton). Dear Dot, —I am head c-ook at home now. One day 1 tried to make some scones. I had them all ready to put in the oven, and when I put the tray in it tipped, and all my scones fell in a heap at the back of the bottom- of the oven. I was telling someone about it who had had a failure too. I think they must have turned out like bricks. But I can make t-heni all right now. Another day we had a water-fight. This is how ,t started. We were playing concerts. When we clapped wo made such a noise that- my sister (who was chairman) called for “Order, please; order, please.” Buanyboy sai<L

" I’ll give you water if that's what you want.” So he threw a cup of water at her. So we went outside and all joined in the light. It was a nice hot day, eo v/o didn t mind the cold water When we had finished (at least I thought so) I was going inside to do the dishes. My sister picked up a basin of water and fairly drenched me. I was wet through, so thought that was enough for one day. To-day was a nice hot day, but it is getting foggy now, and 1 hope it is line to-morrow. Love to Brown, Wallflower, Mrs Bruin, Youngest But One, Bunny Boy, Jolly Jim’s Bride, not forgetting yourself.— Youre truly, TOUCHY. Dear Dot, —Wliilst looking through the L F. letters I happened to read Ploughman’s, and I thought it very interesting. 1 wonder if He knows how condensed milk is mode. I don’t know exactly myself, but I will try and give you some idea, h irst of all the farmers bring the milk to the factory. On the platform there are two men kept weighing it, and it goes from the weighing machines to the vats and then to the separators where the cream is separated. It then goes into another vat, wliere it is boiled for a while, and then the sugar is added. From there it goes up into the pans, and is boiled for a while and then turned into condensed milk. After it is finished there it is sent down through a pipe into the cooling room, where the men are kept going with the cans. It is then put into the coolers for «i while, and then it is ready for the filling. There is a big bath which is filled with milk every morning, ready for the girls to fill. Underneath the bath are two machines which are called the fillers, and the girls have to keep these going with tins, which are filled with milk and sent along by belt to the topper, where the lids are jrut on. Then they are taken out by an elevator into another room, where they are labelled, wrapped, end packed by girls, and then 1 hey are nailed down by machinery and put on to a trolley and sent to the storeroom, ready to be sent away to ail parts of the Dominion. With kind regards to Australian Boy, Mountain Daisy 11, Doleful Dick, Tre Yon, M.Y.0.8., not forgetting your own dear self. —Yours truly, A FALLEN SOLDIER’S NIECE (Invercargill). [lt. must bo an interesting process, dear.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —We have been back at school about eight weeks, and 1 am in the Second Standard and Mu Kctira is in the Fifth. We had our picnic this year, and we had plenty of games and races. My sister and I both won a race, but we fell over in the three-legged race. My little brother won a toy engine, and he was quite pleased with it. The boys did look funny in the treacle bun race, and also in the wheelbarrow race. There are a good many new pupils at our school this year, and there are 70 on the t oil now. The nurse who is looking after rnotjier used to be a D.L.F., and so did my auntie, who is with us just now. We have had a lot of raip lately, and it has been quite cold.—Yours trul;-, DAPHNE, Deal* Do(, —We went back to school on the .loth January, and the school sports were on toe 129th. We all went to them, and my little brother Jack came first in the boys under five years’ race. He touched the rope, said hurrah, then fe.il backwards. Norma and I both got one of the special prizes, ana first prize in races, but did not get on eo well in the three-legged race. It was a great success, the committee worked hard and saw- that there were plenty of prizes and races. The Maoris provided the dinner: it was pork cooked on stones, which they hengi.” They had 300 buns and plenty’ oi lollies and fruit. At the present time the Native Lend Court is sitting here, and the Natives come from far and near to have ilieir land partitioned, and also- to sell some o. tlieir : nitd to the Crown. A new prison «amp :s being started about five miles out, and it is said the prisoners will be emploved tree-planting, farming, and road-making. The tourist traffic this season has not been so heavy as last season, due. 1 suppose, 1o the financial stringency. The weather lately has oeen rough, and tourists are not getting to much fishing in Lake Taupo, but the fisli are in good condition. My mother is very ill and Las been for four weeks; she is still hi bed and the nurse is still with her.—Yours truly, ma kotira. [I hope your mother is improving, dear auc. will soon be quite better. DOT.] Dear Dot, —It is raining here just now, which is wonderful lor us. There was a live hundred tournament and dance here on St. I .iiiJck s Night, but X didn’t go. I suppose we will be starting our hockey again soon. 'lhe school has started already, but I think it. is a bit hot for it yet. There was a good team here last year. Love to ail the L.F. and yourself.—Yours trulv, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW FOR. [Such a practice leads to abuse, dear—not, ROT 1 ] 3 ’ lr ° ni thc ‘ but lrom outsiders. —’ Lear Dot, I have started school again. I got a prize at Sunday school. We are having very wet weather tip here. We have had our Sunday school picnic, and I did not win any races. I hope you and all the D.L.F. are well. Love from—Yours trulv, ANSWERS AND QUESTION. Dear Dot, —Y e are having terriblv windy weather here at present. It is not very nice for the faormers who have oats and wheat and grass to thrash, as they can't even stack when it is windy. There are quite a lot going to school here now. There was some talk of getting another room built on, but I don’t know whether it will come to anything or not. Dot, I have read several of Rosa Carey’s books; they are all nice ones. What a lovely picture of Princess Mary you had in last week’* Witness. If it was a little larger it could be framed.. Nearly all the fruit- is picked now, and the trees look very bare. Milkmaid 11, Our Bessie, and The Henwife have a long drive to catch the train on Wednesdays to go to Gore. I wouldn’t care to he them, especially if it is wet or cold. The days are getting very short now, and 1 s quite dark here by 7 o’clock. Love to Teddy Woodbine, Our Bessie, Milkmaid 11, and her mate, not forgetting yourself.- Yours LOYDY. Dear Dot,—\\ c have i.ad very changeable weather lately. We had the mill on Thursday. the 16th oi March. To-day is verv warm up here. As we are going out to-day I did not go to church or Sunday school. Love to the L.F, not forgetting your own dear self.— Touts trulv, PATCHES’ LITTLE MATE. Dear Dot, —Wo are having changeable weather here at present. The winter will e»on lie here again, which makes one feel like lying a little longer in bed in the mornings. Mother set a lien or, 1A eggs, and she brought out 11 chicks. The flowers am, nearly all finished blooming now. There is a send-off here on the 26 th for the ministei. Kind regards to Silver Moon, England's Red Rose, Mary, and ail the D.L.F, not forgetting your own dear self.—Yours trulv KIRKINTILLOCH.'

Dear Dot-, —Could you, squeeze my letter into a corner of your respected page in the Witness? I am 11 year® of age and in Standard V at school. We have a master and lady assistant teaching in our school. We are milking- six cows just now, and they are not giving very much milk. The weather has been very wintry here lately, and the farmers cannot get on with their work. Some of them around the district are not finished harvesting, and others are leadingin their crop. Wo have a hen with nine chickens, and they are growing fast. Love to all the L.F., not forgetting your own dear self.— tours truly, GOLDEN KEY. [I think we shall find roomi for your letter, Golden Key.—DOT.j Dear Dot, —We ore having cold, wintry weather at the present time, hut I hope it clears up shortly, as it is aggravating for tiie fanners who have not all their crops cut. There is a lot of water soaked into the ground owing to the quantity of rain which has fallen. Dad will be harvesting toon, and that is the time when I do not like going to school. I was in Dunedin for a week, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I went to see the Dunedin Gardens, and they were a glorious sight. Our fruit- is all getting ripe now, but owing to the bad weather it does not ripen so quickly. We are milking, six cows, as one came in last week, and as I like milking it will be another one for me to milk. Love- to Maud’s Tart, Nib and Nob, Flannel Flower, Jessie frae Islay, not forgetting your own self.—Yours truly, SLEEPING BEAUTY. Dear Dot, —We are having some very bad weather here just now, but we must take what is given us. We have not much .timefor play now, as it gets dark very early. I like school, and enjoy school days verymuch, and everybody wishes that they could get back to school. It is coming on winter now, and we can prepare for bad weather, but we cannot just now. This is the best time of the year, because the apples are ripe. Our school is very good at sports, and w’e- have the netball cup, and have a good chance for the cricket cup. Love to all the L.F.—Yours truly, KIWI. Dear Dot,. —The weather here is terribly wet, and the places are all muddy. The farmers are having a rough time with their crops. My mother is away to for a holidav, as she has been in ill health since Christmas. My eldest sister and 1 keeping house just now. 1 went to the Y niton sports on Friday, hut I did not enj y 1 self much, as the ground was all and wet. It was a-lso very cold. Ye do no, get the Witness at home, but we get- it now and again from a neighbour Mushiooum are to be seen m the paddocks at pies-nt-I go out gathering them, as we ore fond of them. My father end- uncle killed two pigs the week before last. Our hens are on strike just now. There are not many hens laying at- the present time. We are nnLung six cows, but we will have another one unhang in a- week or two for the winter. Lore to Golden Keys, Silver Bell, Aeroplane, and all the L’ttle folk, not forgetting your own dear seH.—Yours truly, pE@{ , y Dear Dot.-May I join your happy band of LF.? I am eight years of age and in Standard 111. We arc milking six cows atthe present time. 1 wont into Dunedin ior mv holidays. We have two- teachers now. The weather has been, very wet, so 1 hope it will clear up soon The farmers are not finished harvesting yet. The Dunedin Gardens look glorious with oil the flowers cutin bloom.-' Love to all the L.T., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, SILVER BELLS. [You are very welcome to join us, Silver Bells—DOT.J Dear Dot,—The weather here is verychangeable—some days it is fine and other days" it is wet. I go to town to the High School now, and I like it very much. 1 travel 17 miles in the train, but many other girls also go in the train to Invercargill. The people about here are busy with the harvesting, and the weather is not verypromising for it. Most of the flowers aredone. We had pictures here about a week ago, and it wes something new, for we very seldom have pictures here. Well. I have a lot of lessons now that I am going to the High School, and I do not have much time for anything else. Love to Uriah Heep and Golden Branchen, not forgetting yourself.— Yours truly, RED RUBY. Dear Dot, —The weather has been very cold and wet. The fanners are grumbling because they- cannot get their thrashing done. 1 have a dreadful cold in my head, and I am very disappointed because I will not he able t-o go to the- dance. It was a very bad day for the Waimate races. My eldest brother learns music. He has only learnt for one- quarter, and he is going- in for an exam. It is very lonely here, because there are no other girls my own age, and the mate I have lives a mile and a-half away. She is going into the hospital for appendicitis, so I shall have- no mate et all. My little brother has just started school, and he likes it very much, but lie cannot go just now, because he was badly scalded with, boiling water. Love to nil the L.F., not forgetting- yourself.—Yours truly, SNOWDROP. [I hope your small brother's burns are healing.—DOT.] Dear- Dot,—We have shifted since I lest wrote to the page. I am going to Waitaki just now, and we get a good many lessons to do this year. 1 am on the sick-list just now with an abscess on my leg, and have to be home for two weeks. We have some fruit growing here—apples and grapes,—but all the grapes have been spoilt, so I didn’t get my expected ones after all. Y'ne-n the H.M..8. Chatham came here, the wharf was filled, because a ship only conies here once in about a month. It couldn’t get in the harbour, so it had to anchor, out- of the harbour. The only thing that livens u,p Oamara is when the band plays in the Gardens on Saturday night. Tiove to all the D. not forgetting- yourself.—Yours truly, SIRIUS. [I hope the leg is getting better, Sirius DOT.] Dear Dot. For I lie li:sl 110-ee ....

Dear Dob For Hie last three weeks we have been having rain nearly all the- time. My little sister came home from Wa-ikouaiti, but she was only home three days, and she went back again to stay up there. My b rot her and sister-in-Jaw a.re home from Wa-ikouaiti just, now, but. they left my other sister staying with a friend up there. They came home on Saturday night, and no one knew they were coming. On Sunday we had quite a houseful. We had six visitors for dinner and tea. I have read quite a number of books .since I first wrote to you. The one I am reading just now is a hook called “The Valley of tlie Moon,” by Jack London. Our hens are nearly all moulting. Quite a. number of them have Ilieir new feat hors, and some of them look quite big when they have their feathers, but now they are all losing their feathers: they are so small they do not look like 1 lie same hens at all. The Young Helpers are having a bazaar at the S.D.H. School on the 29th r>f 1.1, i- nwmtl] () n l,n i’fkl.v mornimr 4 Iwvimi

was a coat of Snow on the mountains, but it didn’t stay very long a,fter the sun shone a while. The farmers around, are having bad luck with their harvest. They just r _get everything ready when down comes the ruin and spoils everything. Love to the D.L.F and yourself.—Yours truly, MISCHIEF. Dear Dot, —I cm studying up for an exam just now, so it does not give one much time to write letters. It is a nuisance the mail express being cut out three days a week. If a person wishes to travel from Invercargill to Dumedin in one day he or she has to leave Invercargill at 10.15 a.m., and they do not reach Dunedin until 8.40 p.m. It shows that the railways are not running for passenger traffic when they put off the express and keep the fares high. The last book I read was named ” The •Splendid Outlaw,” by Jackson Gregory’, and I thought it a lovely book. Oh, well, Dot, as there is no news here and I’m only taking space, I will close. Regards to all the D.L.F. and vourself.—Yours truly, THE BOSS OF THE ‘LAZY Y. Dear Dot, —May I join your happy* band of Little Folk? I quite enjoyed reading the D.L.F. letters in the Otago Witness, and at last decided to join myself. I am I'2 years, and in the Sixth Standard. I ride my* bicycle to school every day, as it is too far to walk. We are having dreadful weather just now, and most crops about are being spoiled with so much rain. It looks as if it is going t-o be bad weather for Easter, and will spoil our holidays.—Yours trulv, CHAUTAUQUA 11. [Another writer has the above X.D.P., so, to save confusion, it would be wiser for you to choose another.—DOT.] AUTOS. Puss in Boots (Dorothy Goodav, Dawson street, New Plymouth) wishes to correspond w ith any' L.F. about 17, especially any' out of New Zealand. Lover’s Dream (Miss Mary M'Kinlay, care of Stewart Bros., Main street, Gore) wishes to correspond with E-rot aka and Electricity. Freckles (Mavis Hawke, Milton) wishes Meg’s Friend and Ilcra to write •again. Meah (Annie Ilawkes, Kyeburn Diggings, via. Naseby) wishes to correspond with Lovely and The Hen Wife. Daisy' (Irene E. Hawkes, Kyeburn Diggings, via Nas-eby*) wishes to correspond and exchange autos with Ploughman and Blue Eyes. Sinus (0. Dawson, Glen street, Oamaru) wishes to correspond with Rcsella, Footballers Girl, Lenora M*Kav, Gold Chimes, and any other L.F. about 15 years of age. A Bunch of Blue- Ribbons (Myra White, Dunrobin. via Heriot) wishes to correspond with Dad’s Daisy and any L.F. willing. Ave Maria (Mabel Parcel!,• cole of Mr H. C Parc ell, Bannockburn) wishes to correspond with Poor Pidge, Motor Girl, Lenora M Kayg and any L.F. 15 years. The address is Margaret O'Brien, care of Mr Porter, Main street, Uddington. near Glasgow Scotland. Dc.ddie's Shepherd (Lindon Pei riani, Henot.i wishes to correspond with Tickle Me Quick. T)^ vic w? Wiolet Walker, Kaweku 1 .U., layersdale, Southland) wishes to correspond with Beaver Jim. Liekls- Tickle, Red Lircn, Kitty Clover’s Son, and any L.F. about 16 vears old.