LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3619, 24 July 1923, Page 63

LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

§s: tto.--\7e writs? for tbe benefit of others, sic; ourselves. Ho letter ta ccntaia mcii thtin ZlO words. D-ear Dot,—Since last writing we have had ierribJe snowstorms. When it started it forgot to stop, and so we hnd snow for a fortnight, and it is not all away yet. The frosts are stopping it from doing so. We have terribly hard frosts here every night—in fact, it freezes through tbs dav " as “mi’ , q<i>o a tea-towl outside after she had dried" the allies m uie morning, and when she went to get n to dry the dinner dishes it was quite stiff. It had frozen, although the sun w=.s shilling. Our tanks up here are frozen . f ana t*he crocks are ail frozen over w f tei ; i 3 running down under the „ t Potation up here has closed down J°L + a “Hmght on account cf the snow and ni^ht'-h 1^ 19 S ° C ° ld , in t!le m °rnings and at = ‘di h Bcarce! ? I**3 leaving the fire at w'’ "if get our 015 1-side work done at m te ht oetoxe the sun goes down 03 wo ill gfr'rd’N f 63 £ ° tremendously Im’rf, and we g-t M...j Lozcn. Royal Victor went to <he - 8 baU at Ciookstoiq and enK \T y T ch ’ t as thc >' much TK 1 1 ookston than they are at Horiot -I he employees of the Greenvale. Plantation hod a. dance at Kelso last month, but as°it £ to" ah” my Ycurs'" truhg Dell Snd GOWBOi! JIM’S SISTER. (Park Hill). D mC>T' 6 f re , Ilavijl - bitterly cold lirrrl A, ' I ? ave had snow, and it is frozen 1 Aif d ou i IkKQW,1 kKQW , wlla * l:ke is. Dot. ; new -Ha h u T >3<2U trozen for f°ui- days 1 r .v" -< ’ . e doeJ3 not seem much chance i nam- e -% ln2 ’ Vlr ‘ S yet cUller - Judging by the ! £he'V’ \ "e R | S ? mS to bc bß <* weather everyi i U Vr, 1 a young people’s-bail on the | Thev 6l h a r erybody a Wa3 very pleased with if Haii" h enough money to run another wi h i t I£ p, Cl ° j 1 kuo "' v they will do r!,, \ V 1 llke dancing very much- it is mjcii better if it is not too hot a’ nhht I™V s Sti V oi - ng here ° In *32. %asrss-p-ayed m Dunedin), so it should be V e’-v WATER LILY. ecarf Ar and a i acio P mornm-s" U / c , me warm cold Thursdav Show « to be held on I don’t "think there‘”wilT'b^ e 4l?y S tum P Up I have some nice pieces of m» te n -“?- h er ve b V y f° Jd + Pl -f ” b o“ U °davs 1 Vt sill lhut- a , te f ib i- e - f i ,!l of arid it 13 flturda/tef U ' W f naV ® l uadl -iUes here on competition a°s ihey We hiwfinf our winter holidays. This weather is k« p ! i n& " * e ar2ne rs back from their wo'k Onr d-Mv f° F tf laying two or three* eggs a day. My father is putting two hens in thl snow, and I hope they get a prize I wish wnte to me again 1 Love to'all self.-Yours truly/ O * S ? y ° ,5r own deir A BENCH OF BLUE RIBBONS (DunioAn). T Dot ’ -It is about three years since L> St T l)e f n . ed f tew words to the dear oH fn<? i’-r/ff f Sham ! <i of , m ?: self for not havthat my L 'onl 0 nly lO excu S e C! is lazinJf“^nflu^ 3 Z *ar y i P ha Vale i lt “ tlw> I distr ' ict ' just so mr I ha-.e been very lucky, and I have forif.ff-ft th ? raalad >"' Wo are having t.iormus Weather here, but the mornings—l Rot possibly describe them. We 'have onl\ one cow in now, and it is delio-Mfni 4 ne m bed on a wet night and think “Well I have not to get up early and m'lk I ii°iws vcf -f the f^tory-last season a J it w„s Veil interesting to watch the m-n making cheese. They have built a now iOiy here, it is a huge structure, and very interesting to go through. Have yen been through a dairy factory, Dot’ Father iff 8t Lake Te “d he brought I Male three very email wild pio-a One dav i a , “ an -7“ islhing to my little sister, and ] sue said to lnm, “Come and see daddy’s | paradise piffs.” He was highly amused at I fie.. Small children are very amusin'* to j “ sten . I have been reading some of Zane ! f ra y ? boons, and I thought them very interesting. My two sisters go to the li-ph School, and they seem to like going. The mountains do lock glorious when the sun slimes on them. It makes one wish that the snow would never melt, so as the* black and barren rocks would never be exoosod I have not- seen any letters of ’ Minnaha'ha’s ter a long time now. I hope if eh* sees this she will write, also. Bast wishes to all the D.L.r., especially Minna haha, Lyon Rose Rocket, Bush Clematis. A Ccckej-" Farmer’s Daughter, Auid Lang Sync, and yourself Yours truly, A HIGHLAND CINDERELLA (Darkly). Dear Dot.—l enjoy reading Scotch Lassie’s and Blue Golliwog’s letters; they are very interesting. To-day has been a lovely dav. It was very cold in the morning, but"in the sun it was simply glorious. There is a terrible lot of influenza going about. Our school was closed for a week, ar.d I can tel! you I was very glad, as that week was cold and wet and dreary. I have been longing for snow, Dot, but wishes never come true. Snow may be cold, but not when one is snowballing as fast as one can go. I suppose up country the people will be wishing the snow would go away. "We have a lovely gramophone at school now, and about every Thursday afternoon we have a recital. It is nice to look forward to, I can tell vou. I would like to enter for the competition on birds, but as I am not very brilliant on that sort of subject I will not bother my head about it. The cows are going dry now. We only milk two just now, but what we get from them is not worth the trouble taking time to milk them. A Ydllow Sunflower and I go to the same school, and so does Gasbag, so we see each other every day. Best wishes to Gasbag, A Yellow Sunflower, An April Girl, Queen of the May, Plain Anne, and Bush Clematis, not forgetting your owii dear self.—Yours trulv, LY’ON ROSE. Dear Dot,—Since I last wrote we have been having terribly hard frosts, and we have to walk to school. We have good fun coming from and going to school eliding on the ice. On Tuesday morning, when Daisy in the Field, Beautiful Land of Nod, and I were going to school, we were sliding on the ice, and I fell down on if. They thought it was a good joke : they didn’t know whether I was laughing or crying, and when they

saw I was laughing they laughed too. That night, coming home from school, the ice was still hard enough, so Beautiful Land of Nod plucked up courage and had a slide, "and she also fell down on it. We laughed so much we had to stop, as it was too painful. Mic got- the bottom cf her coat wet, and by 1 . 1:1110 we reached home her coat as fro/ f ii qmte stiff. Have you had the “flu” vet Dot? I haven't, and by no means want it. I see m last week's Witness that L'cn Rose had actually « letter in. I thought fhe was 100 sparing with her paper to write. With Jove to Rocket, Lyon Rose, A Yellow Sunflower Crimson Taniger. Chip. A Dark Damsel, Daisy m the Field, An Egyotian Marigold, Loie, Beautiful Land of ‘Nod Lilac, and yourself.—Yours truly AN APRIL GIRL,’ (Dipton). o r,ear J Dot V l enciose a cutting from our paper describing a rare bird. There was * similar bird here for some time a few months ago, and it was getting quite tame. As some others may have seen one at some time or other, it may be worth while to reprint the description; if not, just pass this on truly° me ° ne " h ° mUy be interested.—Yours , .. JULIE (Invrcargiii). LV\e puolisned the cutting you sent as a local m our issue of July 10, Julie.—DOi.] Dear Dot,—May I join year happy band DoD . W e have been having some nte! ,J h - er ’ vl- d , U 13 Jnst beginning to ”, p " sa ‘ n i V ‘ e all had a turn of llu Ar 1 have been home from school a o am Mv mother is sick too. and has a ternbte cold, and I still have o very bad SEtJFTVtt 1 T a “ 11 yeQrs old. and "am in .rfandaia 111. I do not like missing school. Love to all the Little Folk, not forgetting your own dear self. —Yours truly, g r^r . bluebell in. [You will need to think of another N D P as the present one is much in demand! Please enc.oae your name and address with vein- next letter.—DOT.] Dear Dot—l have read the Witness for a conquerable time, and I have now plucked up courage to write and become a member of your DI F. page. I have left school now and^ am at home, and I like it verr much! ttrf-ti i *A e .‘“'Hners around hole have nearly finished their ploughing, but owing to the wet weather they cannot get on very fast L“self b Rio ?“ l a °, W kaii,ln ? a Juniper tor my , the two colours are kingfisher blue re A anc * r,i “° a hat to maten, and they look very pretty. I have a little black pony whc. s e name is Mick. Ho is very tricky, and and wt Up 10 the door for a piece of bread and bdt.e., or even an apple. If it was allowed he woula come inside. We have not many flowers out just now, for most of them are frosted. V. e had same lovely coloured chiysantnen-ums, which would have taken a prize, but they got frosted down. We have quite a number of hens, and they aie layn® tairly wed- considering the wet weather I have quite a number of school prizes, inv'o? inS l rf'rf t . r , a ‘ i '’n Girl's Annual” for 1921 and 10-2, -Only Fiov.eis,” “Gladys and . ,’,, and a number of others. I have not lead thorn all, but I intend making a start some night when 1 have plenty of time. My sisters and I are doing work for the Busy ; KS - I h ? ve done a handkerchief with cliaun thread work, and round the outside is to be crochet. I go for music lessons every Inursday, end my teacher is very nice. I think music is very interesting one- one gets in.o the way of things. We had two pet iambs, but they got into such mischief that daei took them away to a paddock with otter mates, and they never tried to come Rack, ihere is quite a lot of football and hockey being- played just now. My brother plavs AO°tba. j l. I was at a match on Saturday, and 1 thought it was a rough game, but the players seem to lee hardv. The thrashing mill seems to be going its round in this weather. It is thrashing grain tc-dav, although it vva3 raining fairly heavy last "nteht Kind regards to all the L.F. and also yourself.—Yours tiulv, A MUSICAL GIRL. [We are very pleased to have vou loin us, A Musical Girl.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—l was pleased to see that you bad accepted me as a member of your circle I enjoy reading the letters from the Little F°iks. Independent is one of my relations, but I have not met him. Since last writing I have been raised to the Fourth Standard! and 1 can master the work. vVe placed two football matches with the Kia Oio School team.. Their school is like ours, a small one. and neit ! er nave full teams, so vve played seven a-side. The first match was a draw, and in the second ono we were defeated by S points. We have had very wet weather with several exceptionally heavy frGsts, but when one read 3 of those pc i. unfortunates in the flooded areas wc must consider ourselves lucky. The cliaffeutter came to our farm tfl-day, but owing to the rain they cannot cut chaff. It is raining, with little prospect cf clearing. Can you tell me why the external nostrils of tile adult shag are absent. Best regards to all.—Youts truly, LIVE WIRE (Five Forks). [Perhaps Dr Fulton will notice your question and answer you, Live Wire.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Wc have had very rough weather here lately, and there have been severe frosts this last week. There was a church sale of work here about a fortnight ago, and they raised a substantial sum of money. Did you hear Harry Lauder when he was in Dunedin, Dot? My father and mv two brothers went to hear him, but I could not get in, although 1 would liked to have seen him. There are a number of cases of inuenza in this district just new, and the local school is closed, as the teacher has it. Dancing is in full swing now, and it is a very good pastime these long winter evenings. I was at a bachelors’ ball about a fortnight ago, and I enjoyed myself immensely. There is a plain and fancy dross ball at Momona at the end of this month, so I hoy>e to go to it, although I don’t think I will go in fancy dress. I have not had a letter from Mustard Keen for some time, ao perhaps, if he sees this, he will write again. Love to all the L.F., especially Buck Jones, A Ploughman from the Bogs of Ireland, Sinbad the Sailor, Mustard Keen, Happy Larry, Tom Mix, Lonely Don, Rosella, BluRo3e, and White Fleece, not forgetting your own dear self. —Yours truly. TAIERI LASS (Allanton). Dear Dot, —Lately we have had very ehowery weather; however, we have to contend with such as that, and think ourselves very lucky that we have not fared like Canterbury and Southland lately. I have joined tha library, and have been reading some very interesting books. The last two were “Convict 99” and “The Story of Charles Strange,” and I thought they were both very good, especially “Convict 99.” Football is all the rage here ju3t now. and nearly every Saturda\- there is a match. On the 24tli June tlio unveiling of the memorial was held, and altluiugh it was raining there was a good attendance. There have been a good many dances eo far this year, and there is to be a ball on Thursday, 12th, but as I don't dance I will not go. I see by the L.F. page th“re is a bird competition, but as I do not take an interest in birds I will not compete, but the letters should be very interesting. The “flu” is going its rounds at pro-

sent, but so far we have been lucky enough to escape it. Winter is here again, and all the paddocks look very bare. I will be glad ■when spring conies again. With best love to all the L.F., not forgetting yourself.—lours trulv, PATCHES. Dear Dot, —I just got up yesterday after being in bed over a, week with the ‘ flu.” Tho weather here is bitterly cold, and I am glad we have our holidays. Do you like skating, Dot? I have not tried to skate yet. On Monday night four girls who were on their way to the dam took the wrong road, and wore found early on Tuesday morning under a big rock. There was a plain and fancy dress ball here last Thursday, and my mother and sister went and enjoyed themselves very much. My mother is in bed with the “flu.” About two weeks ago my sister's rabbit escaped out of its cage, and we wondered how it got out, but later we found that the wire netting was broken. It got out into the garden, and the cat caught it. It has been snowing here to-day, and in some places the ground is quite white. Yesterday we had to chop ice to get water. Best wishes to all the L.F., especially A Little Herd Case and yourself —-Yours truly, LADY BUESTALL (Alexandra). [I hope your mother has also recovered from the attack ot influenza, dear. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —The mornings are cold just now. I like the frost when I am going to school in the mornings. My brother and sister used to write to D.L.F., but I don’t know what their names were. I have been reading some very good books lately, and I am very fond cf reading. We have 11 white hens and four Rhode Island reds, but none of them is laying just now. Love to all the L.F., not forgetting jour own dear self. — Yours truly, A LOVED GIRL (Glencoe). Dear Dot,—Wc are having very hard frosts these mornings, and it is very cold going to school. I was awav from school last week with a bad cold. ’There are a number of children away fiorn school with the influenza. Our dog had six pups, and my father drowned three. We have dried all our cows off but six. We had four cats, and we gave one to a friend. We have good fun at school playing rounders. Our neighbours are leaving the district, and there will be two children less at school. My aunt came to see us yesterday, and she is going away north for a holiday. There is going to be a big football match near here on Saturday. Love to Holly-berrv, Queen Lily, Mousegrass, Curly, and all’the other L.F., not forgetting your own dear self. —Yours truly, A SPRING FAIRY (Isla Bank). Dear Dot,—We are getting very cold and miserable weather up this way. It has been raining all day to-day. It is very cold in the mornings now, but one cannot expect anything else. I have this letter started, hut I cannot find much news for it. I hope it is not raining to-morrow. I am going to town. I am looking forward to going to a ball at Kakanui on the 19th, so I hope it is a good night. We were in to see Sir Harry Lauder when he was in Oamaru, and he was very good, although we had to stand all the time. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting Yourself. —Yours truly, WALNUT. Dear Dot, —Two weeks ago to-day we had a fall of snow, and the weather has been very cold since. The frosts have been so hard that the snow is still on the ground. There were icicles hanging from our kitchen window, and yesterday we measured one which was 4|in wide and 13in long. I hope there will be no more snow, but it does not look very promising to-day. We have missed ■ good many school days owing to the bad weather. I have read with great interest the letters on bird life in the Witness, and should also like to be a competitor, but I mm afraid I do not know enough about birds. In a high bank just close to our house, in which there are some rabbit warrens, a few owls live. At night they often fly over and ■it on the tank near my bedroom window, mod their cries waken me. I can hear their nates answering in the distance. Love to ail the L.F., not forgetting your own dear self.—. Yours truly, R. K. Dear Dot, —It has not rained at all to-day mnd yesterday, but I think it will rain tonight. We got our stocktaking holidays from work on Friday and Saturday. My sister ■Dd I went to Waitati to stay with my aunt. Although it did not rain, we could not go out, as the ground was wet and muddy. We watched our aunt make butter and ■cparating the cream. On Thursdav we had very little work to do, so we asked’ the boss to let us go home, but he was frightened we would go out and see the Capping Carnival, so he said we would have to stay in. Mv father, mother, two sisters, and’ my brother have had the "flu,” we others have kept away from tt so far. Love to all the L.h., not forgetting your own dear self Yours truly, LITTLE MEG. Dot ,\ —l become a member of the D.u.F. ? Tiie Witness comes here on Sat-ur-dmy. an! 1 always look forward to reading ■ifi co.umn. There has been a terrible accident about nine miles from Taum*. runui. A train ran into a slip, causing the carriages to run into one another and killingmany people. This has been one of the biggest tram accidents up the North Island, krom Rotorua we have to travel 58 miles by motor car. Leaving Rotorua we pass through some very pretty native bush, and touch Lake Rotoiti, Lake Rotoma, and Rotoehu Long after leaving Rotorua sulphur can be smelt. The sulphur comes from the geysers. It is a great treat to watch the Maoris cocking t-heir food in the liot springs, and having a tangi afterwards. At Whakarewarewa the Maori boys dive for pennies which are thrown from the bridge by visitors! Last year I went to Nelson for my holidays, and am hoping to go to Gisborne next time" Nelson is a very pretty place. Have you been to Nelson, Dot? We are having our choir social on Thursday, and I am looking forward to it, as I haven’t been to one before. I work in the post office, and like the work very much. Well, I will say kia ora to you and all the D.L.F.—Yours truly, LAKE ROTORUA (Whakatane). [I hope the social is a great success, Lake Rotorua.—DOT] Dear Dot, —As it is ages since I last wrote to you I thought I would tell you and the Little Folk about the Hawera Winter Show It was a very good show, and I enjoyed it very much. Of course, there were plenty of side shows, but I did not go and see any of them because dad said it was only waste of time, and, anyway, I have seen a good many of them. On the last day of the show there was a football match played between the New Plymouth Boys’ High School boys and the Wanganui College boys. The New Plymouth boys won. There were two beautiful whit© swans. We play hockey at school, and on Wednesday I got a hit on the knee, and the next morning I could hardly walk. Best love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting your own dear self. —Yours truly, BUTT. [I have posted the badge, Butt, and hepo It has been received safely.—DOT.]

Dear Dot,—l missed writing to you last week, as I was in bed with the fashionable “flu.” About a fortnight ago I was at such a lovely fancy dress dance in town. Some of the dresses were beautiful. I think the best costume there -was a girl dressed as a powder-puff. She had a black and white dress trimmed with fluffy po-»vder-puffs. One of the boys, who was dressed as Robin Hood, was also very good. I had a Chinese costume. There is no use saying anything about this dreadful weather, as I see everyone is getting the same, according to last week’s D.L.F. letters. There were 90 girls absent from school last week, but as there were only two teachers away we missed getting a few days’ holiday 7. I was awfully disappointed to miss the carnival, but it was so wet that it would only mean a dueling “, we . , had ,S orle - Our garden is looking very ailapidat-ed just now, as the only flowers we have are a few faded chrysanthemums. However, the spring will soon be here now As “if getting near school time I will close itii best love to yourself and all the L F.— Yours truly, TEA LEAVES. [I hope you escape a recurrence of the influenza, Tea Leaves.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band? i to Gore last Wednesday. I go to the Middle School. The weather is very cold here The snow was up to the fences at Garstcn last week. This is the coldest winter tor 20 years, so the residents say.—Yours truly, FLEETFOOT. [Please enclose your name and address with your next letter, Fleetfoot.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I hope you will be kind enough .? f. IV£> m e a. little room on the page—that is, if this scribble does not get the blue pencil through it all. I never see any letters in from this lovely town, so I will be able to tell you all about it. It is called Niagara, and t?- s ‘luated a- few miles from the large port Waikawa, to which the Kotare calls for a cargo of timber. This town is thickly populated with manukau scrub, with an occasional house-roof peeping out of it; there is also a church, a school, and a store. One lias to be very careful that they do not get biimpeG. with a tranu car as they are going ?i Onj AT t le street - There is a bridge across the Niagara River, but since the flood one has to be an expert driver to turn all the corners on it There is a football team down here, and they have not lost a game this year so far They start playing for a shield on Saturday, and there will be five teams to play so I hope the local team wins. With heaps Of love to all the L F„ not forgetting yourself.—Yours trulv, ONE FROM THE’ CITY LIKE LONDON (Niagara). [I suppose, though you write so scathingly of your- small township you think quite a lot of it., dear.—DOT.] 1, D ° t ’U TlleT 1 e have been some very haid frosts here this last week. The car. working at the school at pre- , *, r, iire Pitting up concrete tanka and building a porch. We are getting coke stoves in the school. Our teacher has left a , ■ we have, a new teacher, and we “L 11 " 5 hjm T? ry much - There is also a man topping the trees at the school. My two brothers are home to-day, and are goin°away soon. There is a concert and dance here on the 27th. The influenza is going about agarn I was in bed for a week with , V eil a “ d my left arm last Tuesday, and I can t bend or straighten it yet 1 have to keep it in the one position all the v ‘r 13 very P alnful sometimes. The Llue Mountains are covered with snow at present The grass will soon be coming again. There is an awful lot of mud here just now. With love to Jinks, Jinks’s Comraue, W am gal, Tea Cosy, A Dancin’ Fool, Housekeeper EeauUful Star, Milkmaid’s Mate, not forgetting your own dear self 1 ours truly, BUNYIP (Tuapeka Mouth). [I hope your arm has completely recovered by this time, Bunyip.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—lt has not been a very nice day here today. My youngest brother was one year old the other day, and he is such a trick. I have not been at school for over Mv W venV, !? Ve u all had tke mfluenza. My youngest brother has eight teeth, but he cannot walk yet. W T e have had some very severe frosts lately. One of my sisters has just started school, and she likes it so much ‘hat we cannot keep her at home. The quadrilles have started here again, but I do not go. Since I last wrote to the page I have another little cousin. Love to all the Little Folk, not forgetting your own dear self.— Yours truly, FAIRY RINGS. Dear Dot,—May I join your happy band of V 1? \ 2 y ? ars , oId > and m hifth Standard at school. I know two or three other I/.F. round here. I go to a manual training school every Friday. I have three other brothers and one sister, who is only 13 days old. I have been in bed for ™ re ? d ? ys "? tJI the influenza. Love to all the Little Folk, not forgetting your own dear self.—Yours truly, r GINGER (Woodend). DOT 3 ? ale VGry we * come to i° in us > Ginger. Dear Dot, —W e have been having very bad weather lately and a heavy fall of enow. I did not see my last letter in the Witness Dad is m bed to-day, as he is not well. We are having our school holidays now. I was going up to see Peggy O’Neil, but I did not get, as the snow was too bad. With best love to Peggy O’Neil, Grandad’s Mate and Golden Shoe, not forgetting your own dear sell.—Yours truly, BELLS OF PEACE. [I hope you will not ovei'look this one dear.—DOT J * Dear Dot, May I join your happy band? I am in Standard I, and I am seven years old. I heard the King and Queen’s message. I could not hear the Queen’s so plainly ns the King’s. We are having our winter holidays now from Sunday School. Love to all the L.F., not forgetting your dear self. Yours truly, PRINCESS TINYTOT. [You are very welcome to join ue. dear DOT.] Dear Dot,—The weather down here is very frosty and cold. There is no ploughing going on, as the ground is too hard. Since last writing I have had a lovely holiday at Dunedin. I think it is a very pretty town, with plenty of amusements. There is a lot of sickness going around here. The school was closed for a fortnight, but has started again now. The high standards are going to be taken in at half-past 8 so as to make up for what they have missed. Some of them will have to rise fairly early so as to get there in time. We were out skating this evening, and it was lovely. That was a very interesting letter Ploughman had in last week, and I quite enjoyed reading it. It is strange the ways different nations have. Love to Teddy Woodbine and Smiler’s Sweetheart, not forgetting yourself.- 2 -Yours trnfy, LOYDY (Balfour). Dear Dot, —The weather down this w 7 ay has been very spiteful lately. I was going to the bachelors’ ball, but it snowed aud rained,

so I had to stay at home. Dad was glad, but I wasn’t. He doesn’t like going to dances because he has had his share of them. I w 7 ent to a dance last Friday at Pukerau. I was up for nearly every d&nce, and I danced a sailor's hornpipe too. Did you know I was a Highland dancer, Dot? Well, I am, or at least I was, for I have given it up now. I have a good many medals for dancing. I was down in Dunedin at Winter Show time, and I went to see the girls and boys dancing. I was only in town for four days, the rest of the time I spent at Warrington. It must be lovely there in summer time. My uncle motored us into Dunedin a distance of 17 miles, and from the road we had a nice view of the Peninsula. The accident on the Main Trunk line was dreadful. I have been up that line when I was young, but I have a very dim recollection what it was like. It must have been a ghastly sight to see the mangled bodies of the people. It is a good thing that the fire was put out or else the death Toll might have been bigger. I have only one sister and no brothers. Her name is Winifred, and she is the biggest trick that I know. She is wanting to write to you too, but it will be a while before she can write. I will close now, or else there will be nothing left to write about next time. —Yours truly, GIRLEEN. [No doubt you would be very interested in the dancing competition, Girlecn. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I go to Winton School, and am in Standard V. We had our term exam, a few weeks ago, and I came top. I ride to school, and it is no joke getting up in the morning and feeding my pony. There was a First Grade football match held at Winton last Wednesday between Winton and Star. Star was the lucky team, and won by II points to nil. All our cows are dry now except two, and w© only milk them once a da;-. One of our cows got staked a few days ago, and she died to-day. The pete my brother and I have are a white rabbit, one greyhound, two collie pups, two kittens, and two ponies. One pony is a roan colour while the other is cream. The roan is a bit larger than the cream, and we drive him m the gig. The influenza epidemic is going around just now, and ell our family had it except me. Love' to all the Little Folk, not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, ROCKET. Dear Dot, —I am the only one in our family who 1,116 i ot had the inuenza. We had a bazaar in our church on the 4th and sth of this month. We are only milking one cow twice a day now, the others are all dry. We are having holidays from school just now as both of our teachers have the influenza. My birthday was on the Bth of this month, and my brother’s on the 11th. 1 was 15, and my brother was 18. About two weeks ago we had a flood down here, and the road was covered with water 2ft deep for about a quarter of a mile. With love to Maid Yvonne and Lorna Doone, not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, JACK’S COBBER. Dear Dot, —Since last writing I have been over to Australia with my uncle for a five months’ holiday, and just returned last month. I owe all my correspondents an apology, but aa I have been away so long they will quite understand my position. We left New Zealand just after shearing, and Mter a. .our days’ trip we arrived 6afely in Sydney. After spending a month in Sydney we journeyed overland to Melbourne, which I think is the most beautiful city I have .to Jtet. I was very unfortunate in catching the “flu” while in Melbourne, having to spend three weeks of my time in hospital * 1C 1 took V€I Y hard. I would like to tell of all my travels, but os your space is limited I cannot do so in this letter Well I must say I did feel the cold very much when I arrived home again after being used to it so hot. Well, Dot, I hope to write much oftener now, as I have settled down to the old life again. With best love to yourself and all my correspondents, whom I wish would correspond again, as I have mislaid some o 4 their addresses.—Yours truly, A LONELY BOY. [We shall hope to receive an account of your travels, A Lonely Boy.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —A few days ago we heard the King and Qneen’s message through a gramophone. The King was very plain. I have a football, and get some of my mates to play witlj me. Once I found a ferret in our stable, and when I tried to catch it the brute bit me. We are having our Sunday School holidays now. We go back again on the third week in August. ' Love to all L'F. not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, ’ LORD OF THE JUNGLE. Dear Dot, —May I become one of your happy bend? I read the D.L.F. every week, and think how nice it is to get the Witness! We have at present 9in of snow, and it is very miserable and oold. We have all got the “flu ’ just now, but we are getting on all right. I have three brothers and fire sisters. I have not seen Vanilla for quite a considerable time. Love to all D.L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, GORS E-CUTTER (Moa Creek). [You are very welcome to join us, Gorsecutter.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —This last fortnight we have had an. enormous lot of snow; that, of course, is a great annoyance to the farmers, because the ones who have sheep out on the hills have an awkward job to bring them in. Have you had any hard frosts in Dunedin,yet, Dot, and do you ever go for slides? We have been having very hard frosts lately, so that gives us anthems of time to have glorious slides, as we call it. The “flu, ' as you know, is going round, but it hasn’t visited me yet. Well, Dot, I have been following Silver Island, and liked it very much, and I assure you I am unspeakably sorry that it has come to a conclusion, but I m going to trail the other up. I have been reading those competition letters, and have been very interested in them. I think that I will join with them before long. Love to Little White Lily, Soldier Bell, and all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, FAIRY' BELL. [lnvoluntary ones which are not at all appreciated are the only slides we get here, dear.—DOT] Dear 'Dot, —We are having a very hard winter this year, and hard frosts have lasted for a whole week now, and I think you will agree with rue in saying it is very cold getting up in the mornings. We all enjoy the skating very much, as there is ice everywhere. I have escaped the influenza, which is going round, so far, but I had better not say too much, for my turn might be coming yet. Quite a number of the men on the works have had it, as well as the _local people. The construction of the railway, which is going from Beaumont to Miller’s Flat, is completed for about four or five miles from Beaumont. Of course, there are a good number of men employed on tho Public Works. My uncle and my father are both employees on the Public Works. Beaumont seenfs a very quiet place indeed just now, as there are no dances. We have not had pictures for over a year now, and no football matches have been held for a few months, as they could not select a permanent team to play, as people are always coming; and going. Nearly everyone is having a bit

of bother with taps and tanks. I am no good at skating at all myself, but my mother and second youngest sister are quite brave and can skate beautifully. My second eldest sister is learning to skate. Love to Plain Joe, Sweet- Blossom, and Rose Mervyn, not forgetting your own dear self.-—Yours truly, MISTRESS NANCIEBEL (Beaumont). Dear Dot, —Since I last wrote to you I have been in Dunedin for my winter holidays. I went to the show and saw many things there. The weather was very cold till yesterday, which was very hot. I had the influenza for 3 days. We are milking seven cows and feeding five pigs. We have put all our calves away, as they were too big to feed. I did not go in to see the Capping Carnival, but my eldest sister did, and thought it was very nice. There is a lot of mud here, but one expects it when there has been so much rain. We have not had the school inspector yet. The thrashing mill has not been round this way yet, as the roads are too bad. We had a party at school about a fortnight ago, and it was very nice. Love to all_ the Little Folk, not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, FLOOD FRIGHT Dear Dot, —We have been having fairly good weather lately. We have been at school three weeks since our first term holidays. Since we have been back at school we have been trying to win three prizes which our teacher is going to give at the end of the year; they are tor spelling, conduct, and mental. Hare you had the influenza yet? I have. I had it for a week. Three of my sisters who go to school have had it, and my father has also had it, and is not better yet. We are only milking seven cows now, but expect two in shortly. Our hens are shut up now, as they were pulling our stacks to pieces, but I wcuid rather have them not shut up, as they are not laying any eggs. We have 10 ducks, but only three are laying. Flood Fright is writing to you also. Best wishes to Jappy Dene, Chickabidy, and all the D.L.F., not forgetting your own dear self.—Yours truly, LADY LYNDEa. Dear Dot, —I like reading the competition letters telling us of native bird life, although some write of imported birds instead. With the exception of waxeyee native birds are very scarce about here. The only ones I have seen is a fantail, tom-tit, and grey ■warbler, and as they only seem to have strayed from some distant bush we just manage to tell each other to come and admire before they flutter away again, so I am unable to write of their habits. I hope to learn about them from the letters of others who live near the bush. I have started the new story “Topsy Turvy Town,” which I think is going to be very funny. Dad took us in to Oamaru to see the “Cinderella” pantomime, which was very good. The only part I did not like was going down a muddy road. We have to put the chains on part of the way to keep the car from eliding all over the road, but we always manage to arrive home safely, which is the main thing. With love to you and the Little Folk. —Yours trulv, LEIGH (Kia Ora). [I suppose you are always very pleased when the bad bit cf road is safely passed, Leigh.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am seven years old, and in Standard I. May I join your happy band? Our house got burnt down, and my mother saved us all. She also saved some furniture. I saw a bird last year fly into our house, and we tried to catch it. It flew on to the window, and was then easy to catch. Wo put it in a tin, and when father came back from work he let it go. When mother was in town she went to a shop and had flat fish and chip potatoes.—Yours truly DOT’S DARLING (Westport). [Many thanks for the photos, dear, which are very nice. The one in which you are looking at your "baby” is very nice. The child is in a rather precarious position in the other, isn’t she?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —We had a very hard frost this morning, and the ground was white. It was Dancing Day’s birthday on the sth of this month, and she was 15. lam busy making a workbox for myself, and I have half finished it. We have been having bad weather lately—hail and rain,—but to-day is not bad. The chaffcuiter is round here now, and some of the farmers had to cart their stacks out on the road to be cut. A few people have the influenza here. There is a dance up at Tuatapere to-night, and my brother is going. Love to all the L.F , especially A Basket-bailer, not forgetting your own dear self.—Yours truly, LAUGHING EYES. Dear Dot,—May I join your happy band °f k.F.? I am nine years old, and in Standard lv. I have two brothers, and they are both going to school. We have to walk one mi.e and a*half to school, and the roads are very dirty just now, as we have had so much rain. I have been away from school for a fortnight with influenza. Our hens are not laying very well, as we have about 40, and are only getting about six eggs a day Love to all the L.F. and yourself.—lours truly, GORDON. [The weather is sufficient to make any selfrespecting hen stop laying, Gordon.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —You will be thinking that I have forgotten all about the page, but the fact is I get very lazy at times, and do not feel inclined for writing. The weather here has been cold and miserable lately, and quite a number of people are bad with the flu.” I was one of the victims, but I am gettin" quite all right again, though I am not goiinto school for another week yet. I am lookin'forward to seeing the Maori football match on Wednesday, and if given a fine day the game should be interesting. With best wishes. —Yours truly, KING OF THE REDSKINS (Invercargill). [I hope the weather leaves nothing to he desired on the match day.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—l am 12 years of age, and in the Third Standard at school. I like school very much as far as I have gone. We play basket-ball at our school, and I like it all right. I have read a number of books out of the library at school. Numbers of people around here are laid up with the “flu,” but I have managed to escape it so far, and I hope you have also. Dot. Love to Sweet Apple, Little Miss Lily, and Cherry Blossom, not forgetting your own dear self, —lours truly, YELLOW PANSY (Centre Bush). [I hope you continue to remain one of th# fortunate ones, dear. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of Little Folk? lam nine years of,age, and lam in Standard 11. I only know two of your L.F. —Buster Brown and Poppy of France. My sister Toby is going to write to you to-night also. We have two little black pigs- I have two little twin sisters, and they are just learning to talk. I have five sisters and one brother. Love to all the L.F. and yourself.—Yours trulv, ANN PAN. [You are very welcome to join us, Ann.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, —It is about two years since 4 last wrote to you, eo I am almost ashamed to see my letter in print. It is very cold weather here. We had rain, and then it froze, and on top of that we had snow. I have had the whooping cough for about three months, and I tell you it is not very nice. I am nearly better, but I have still got a cough. There is a fancy dress ball here tonight, but lam not going. My mother lias been down at the shop for two weeks, as our man has been away. We have a fortnight’s holiday from school. This is the last entertainment in the old hall, because it will be pulled do«vn soon. We are getting a new hotel, hall, and garage, so Pembroke will be up-to-date. Love to all the D.L.F., especially Marecbal Kiel and Averil, not forgetting your own dear self.—Yours truly, CLOTH OF GOLD (Pembroke). [ls the new hall being built on the same site a-s the old one, dear? I was at a Saturday night dance to collect funds for it. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I suppose yon will think I have forgotten the page, but I am afraid I have been a lazy girl since I had the “flu.” i was in bed a week with it. My father was taken into the hospital last Friday with influenza and bronchitis, and was put on the dangerously ill list. I have just finished reading a book called “Not Like Other Girls, which was very interesting. I went to the pictures last week to see tho “Bond Boy. We have been having a real winter this year. I am doing a piece of fancy work at present. Love to all D.L.F., not forgetting your own dear self.—Yours truly, NOBODY’S LOVER. [I hope your father is now out of danger and making headway towards recovery, dear. —DOT.] Dear Dot, The weather this way hs lovely, but very Jiard frosts in the mornings. The lagoon was frozen, and we ail had lovely fun on it. I have a good many correspondents now. There was a basketball dance here on Friday night, which proved a great success. They took j£l4 at the door. lh© Balfour schoolboys played football against Riversdale yesterday, and Balfour wen by 12 points to 7. We have one cow milking now, but expect five in for tho factory. There wa3 a clearing sale here on Thursday, which brought a great crowd around Balfour. Best wishes to Nirvana, White Rose, Zellah, Rusty Beauty, White Lily’s Mate, Fescue, Oueen Sweat, Blossom, not forgetting your own dear seif.—Yours truly, PRUDENCE (Balfour). Dear Dot.,—As I have never written to you before I now take the pleasure of asking permission to become a member ot your happy band. I have been away from home tor nearly six weeks, as I am spending 1 a holiday with friends in the country. 1 hav ® had a very enjoyable time so far, and I will be very sorry when the time comes to return home. X was 14 years old last month, but I have left school. I have often started letters to you before, but 1 never seemed to succeed in finishing one, so at last 1 have plucked up courage. Ido not know many Little Folk, but I suppose I will know a few more before long. W e have been havin" some very hard frosts here lately, but X ha°ve been keeping by the fire till the sun has risen. Kindest regards to all the L.f., not forgetting yourself.—Yours [You may rest quite assured your letters will always be welcome, Erin, and we are delighted to have you join us.—DOT.] Dear Dot —I wrote to Freckles about seven weeks ago, and have had no answer yet. The electric poles are up now, and the lights will soon be going. There is a concert on the 27th ol this month. There have been some very cold frosts here lately, and there has a.so been a fair amount of rain. We have about one and a-half miles to walk to school, and as it is winter the factory has stopped, and we cannot get a ride. It will very soon be spring again, and the flowers will begin to bud, and also the fruit trees will bud. The bees will soon be working again, and the birds will be building their nests. The cows will soon be milking. It will not be long before the ducks and hens will be sitting, and then we will have chickens and ducklings. Love to Tiny Tot, Freckles, Benita, and all the other D.L.F., not forgetting your own dear self.—Vcure truly, VIOLETTE (Ryal Bush). [lt is wonderful how we are always looking forward, Violette, always hoping and waiting for the brighter times.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —We are having fairly good weather here for this time of the year; some of the frosts have been very severe. I have been home a month to-day from a nice holiday in Dunedin, which I enjoyed very much. I would have liked it to have lasted longer. Heap of love to all the D.L.F., espccijuly Mother’s Little Angel, Euganie, Sweet Brown Eyes, Forget-me-not, not forgetting your own dear self. —Yours truly, GIPSY QUEEN (Wairio). Dear Dot,—What a lovely correspondent I am’. I haven’t written to you for nearly six months. We have hard frosts in the mornings, but we usually get a good day. We have all had the “flu.” Our school closed for a week, and I think it will have to close again, because the attendance is gradually decreasing. I suppose you like reading, Dot, as nearly everyone does. At present I am reading “The Doings of Doris,” and it is very nice. I think we are getting a halfholiday on Wednesday to go to the football match" Maoris v. Southland. Last week we played a hockey match against High School A and won, the score being 2to 1. With love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, A SCOTCHMAN’S FRIEND. Dear Dot, —We are having very hard fro3ta these mornings. There are a few cases of influenza about here. The school is not closed so far. It is very cold getting up in. the mornings to go to school, but wo have had some good slides on the ice lately. The name of the book I am reading is “The Conquest of Claudia,” and it is very interestin". We are getting some new books for our" library at school. We are very sorry that Hollyberry and Queen Lily are leaving the district. Ido not milk now, as we are only milking six cows once a day. There are no "leaves on the trees, arid no flowers out in the garden, and it looks dreary. My sister wrote to the page last week. Father is cutting the tops off the trees round about tho house to make them grow thicker. Love to Holly Berry, Queen Lily, Curly, A Basketbailer, Blue Viola, Winter Daisy, and A Spring Fairy, not forgetting your own dear self. —Yours truly, MOUSEGRASS. Dear Dot, —The weather is very cold up here just now. We have a parrot, and it can talk. We have also two canaries, and they whistle beautifully. My brother is in Wellington just now; he is learning the engineering trade. Love to Patches, Patches’ Little Mate, and Silver Moon's Pal, not for* "etting your own dear self.—Yours truly, VILLAGE BELLS (Maheno). [I have made the change, dear. —DOT.J

Dear Dot,—May 1 join your happy band? I am ten years ot age, and am m tile Fourth Standard at school. Our school is not a very large one, and there are only eleven pupile going to it. Oar teacher allowed us 10 get out a quarter oi an hour earlier to sec some men felling a large xir tree. -*-t made a great crash and broke the top another tree that was growing near by. -Lots of lovo to all the L.F. and yourselt. lours trulv, A COUNTRY LAD (Nokorr-ai). [You are very welcome to join us, A Co-ontiy Lad.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I received the badge safely. X will now tcU you about my little pony which i ride to school. If he gets a chance to come inside he will do so. One day he came in tiie iront door and walked down the hail into the kitchen, knocking two jugs oi' rui-k oil the table. He is very fond ot miik, and often drinks the milk that i 3 put out tor the cat 3. I call him Tricks, as he rs so mischcvious. I have also two pups, but we have three other dogs which belong to my father, as we have a sheep farm. Hind regards to all L.F., not forgetting yourself. lours trulv, WHISPERING WILLIE. [I think the pony is well named, Will. DOT.! Dear Dot, —The weather up here is very disagreeable, and with frost and snow one nearly gets frozen. I was going to Dunedin last week, but we all got the "flu,” so that stopped me tor a while, but I hope I shall have better luck next time. \\ e have no quadrilles this year, as the men folk are all too busy rabbiting, so we do not know what to do with ourselves these Borne of tne boys go to Ophir to a weekly dance. It is six miles away, so you can guess how fond they are of dancing, but that is all we have to look forward to up this way. I saw a letter in last week’s Witness from Vanilla. I have not seen her for quite » long time. With the snow we cannot g° and visit the same as other times. With best love lo Vanilla, Vanilla’s C-conut Tree, Marigold, Lonesome, Tired Tim, and Kaphine, not forgetting your own dear sell. — *oura truly, VANILLA’S MATE. Dear Dot,—lt is very cold just now, with snow, frost, and fog, and it is very miserable. Barney is writing to-night also. I am veiy interested in the bird competition,- and like reading the letters. Dick Turpin and Cousin Jack Pasty are playing cards. Treacle Pot is nursing her little baby girl, and is sorry she never wrote her retiring letter. Do you like Estelle for a name, Dot? That is my little niece’s name. She is called after me, so I feel proud of her. We call her Stella for short. I suppose it is very cold in Dunedin. Igo to school still, and my mates are Wee Muff and Sohroochie. Our school i 3 closed on account of the snow. My teacher’s mother is ill with influenza. She is a dear old lady, and has been in bed for two years. Love to Queen Sunbeam, Wee Muff, and Sckroochie and yourself. — Yours truly, GRANNY (Lindis Crossing). [Treacle Pot can remedy the deficiency by joining us at Christmas time in our annual reunion, dear.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have come to light after a long spell of not writing, and I will write more often in the future, as I often hear my sister saying she wishes she had written often. We are having holidays just now. I cannot set traps, as the snow is still lying on the ground, and the hard frosts make the ground so hard to dig. I went up to Tarras with Wee Daddy a few days ago. A cousin, Jack Pasty, is going to work in the grocery store at Tarras. He has been in bed with the “flu.” Jumbo left school a year- ago, and he is working out now. Can you play caids, Dot? I play every night with --ick Turpin and my brother, and it is a good pastime. I have been sick in bed for a week, but I am better now. Schroochie and Wee Muff go to the same school with me, and their father is ill in bed. Hove to all my mates and yourself.—Yours truly, BARNEY (Lindis Crossing). Dear Dot, —I have not written to your page for a long time. I have been in bed for a few days with influenza, but I am going about again now. All the schools up here are closed just now on account of the influenza. lam still in Christchurch, but I am going home again after my seven, months’ holiday. A few relatives and 1 went up Cashmere Hills a few days ago, and we had an enjoyable time. With kindest regards to yourself.—Yours truly, KREMO (Mandevillc). Dear Dot, —Fcr some time past I have taken great interest in the letters* that have been published in your column, and I would like to become a correspondent and to write freuently to your page. I live in Rangiora, and I am the one and only of the family, so I have plenty of time to write. Ido a great amount of reading, and my favourite books are the “Magnet” and “Popular,” which 1 buy every week. The other night when my mother went into the front room she heard something purring, and when she lit the candle to find the intruder she cliscovered the cat lying curled up in a ball on the sofa. When she approached him he raised hi 3 head and gave her a sleepy book as if to say, “What do you want?” but we chased him out and I made a bed for him in the shed next day. He is now contented with his new home. Now, Dot, as it is getting late I propose to make this a stopping place. —Yours truly, WILD IRISHMAN. [We are very pleased to include you among our correspondents, Wild Irishman, and I feel sure we shall receive many interesting letters from you.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of Little Folk? lam in Standard IV, and lam 10 years of age. I have three brothers and no sisters. I walk a mile to school, and it is r.ot very nice going to school these mornings, as there is frost and snow on the ground. We have a week's holiday on account of the influenza. We are milking seven cows in the mornings and four at night. Love to all the Little Folk, not forgetting your own dear self. —Yours truly, A CAEELEON LASSIE (Lowburn Ferry). [I am sure it must take an effort to make a start for school in the morning, dear, but usually making the start i 3 the worst part of the business.—DOT.] Dear Dot, May I join vour happy band of Little Folk? I always read the letters m the Witness, and find them very interesting. lam thirteen years of age. Mother is away for a holiday just now. I have five brothers and one sister. We are milking two cows night and morning. There are not many flowers about just now. We have two little pigs. I have a cat, and we taught it to jump. lam knitting a white woollen hat for myself. Love, to Rose Red, Jot, The Star of Promise, and all other L.F., not forgetting your own dear self.—Yours ’ truly A CLEVER SCHOOLBOY (Gorge Road). [lt i* very nice to be able to make things for oneself, dear, and the woolly hat should

be nice and warm for this cold weather. — DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy baud of D.L.F. ? lam 11 years old, and in Standard HI. We are having wet weather just now. My brother and I drive home the cows night and morning, and my friends come with me. We have two pigs—a black one and a white one. We have a black-and-white cow that calved lately. My eldest brother is in Wellington working on the tramways. Love to all the D.L.F, not forgetting your own dear seif. —Yours truly, THE NIGGER (Mahano). [Certainly you may join us, The INiggen —DOT.] Dear Dot,—May I join your happy band of D.L.F.? lam 12 years of age, and in Standard V. We have a quarter of a mils to walk to school, and we have to cross a. punt one way. We have three cows, and my sister milks one of them. We have 10 ducks, but they are not laying yet. JBcsc love to you and all your Little Folk. —Yours truly, QUARTZ REEF MAID. (Lowburn Ferry). [You are very welcome to join U 3, dear. DOT.] Dear Dot,—May I join the happy band of D.L.F.? I am in Standard IV, and t am 10 years old. I have two sisters and three brothers. We Have had very bad weather, and it has been snowing. We go to Sunday School on Sundays sometimes. We have 27 hens and ten ducks. W r o have a horse and caTt. Love to all the L.F., and not forgetting vour own dear seif. —Yours truly, POPPY PINK 11. [As the above N.D.P. is already taken, you may be able to choose another suitable one, dear.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —We have been having _ some very hard frosts here lately, but I think t is ail right, as we have some great fun skating on the ice. I have two pairs of skates, and I can say that they don’t get much rest when there is any ice to skate cn. The “flu” has been going the rounds lately, but none of cur family seem to have had it. There have been no football matenes here for four weeks past on account of the snow, which is still lying on the ground. My father says that this is the worst winter we have experienced since we came here, and that is over nine years ago. Two banks are being built here now, and one of them is going to be a double-storied building. I have been reading the letters in the bird competition, and find them very interesting, but I cannot go in for it just now, as the only birds to be seen about here at this time of the year are sparrows. The children at the school that I go to have been having some great snow fig his, but to-day we had to amuse ourselves :’n some other way, as the enow was froze l and very hard. There have been some great curling matches at a township which is*’ about nine miles way from here. Although this game is played so near I have never ssen it played. Love to all the Little Folk, not forgetting yourself.— Yours truly, „ STOCK AGENT. [I found it very interesting watching the curling, Stock Agent.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —My sister and myself have just got over the measles. We have three cats, one dog, six cows, about. 25 sheep, and one horse. lam in Standard 111 at school, and I was ten on the fourth of July. Fcr my birthday I got a pencil ca.se and slate pencil and a lead pencil, a box of paints, and a silver vase. At our our school picnic 1 won a work basket and a brooch and a prize besides. We have a piano, and my brother and myself are learning to play. lam writing with a fountain pen. One of our cats is "’very playful, and likes to come into our bed. The name of our teacher is, Miss Iliddleston, and she is such a nice teacher. We have a garden at the front of the school, and tlieie are some pretty flowers in it. There are four in my class. At school there are two swings, a tennis court, and four racquets to play with. My brother goes to the High School in Takaka. Our teacher had four miles to come, but it was too far for her, so she had to board. I have a quarter of a mile to go to school. Every morning last summer and winter I had to go two miles with the cows. Wo have 30 hens and In pullets. The name of my prize is “Little Frolic,” and my sister’s is “Our Little Do‘s. ’ My brother’s is “Arthur Peck’s Sacrifice.’ We have a tame seagull, and we call him Charlie. If we wanted anything when we were ill my brother had to pull a string ana the bell would ring. Love to the L.F., not for°*ettin<z vour own dear self.—Yours truly, GOLDEN BAY. Dear Dot, —I have not been to school tor a week, as I have had a bad cold. There are pictures here every Thursday night, but I have not been going to them fox a while. I had a lend of a Puck Annual, and the stories were very interesting. I had some dreadful chilblains, but my brother cured them for me. A good many people have the influenza. Love to all the Little Folk.— Yours truly, RAIN FAIRY (Clyde). [I have posted the badge, Rain Fairy, and hope you receive it safely.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I had a delightful time at the ball, and considering tbe horrible night there was quite a good number attended it. The dance finished at about three o’clock, so we had quite a long dance. There was a sendoff to" the doctor and a welcome to the new one here a week ago. The doctor’s present was an illuminated address and some views of Herbert in book form, and his wife’s was a set of fish knives and forks and a cake stand. There were some fairly lengthy speeches made, and some of the singers were horrible. After supper -was handed round and the old folks had a yarn with each other the floor was cleared. The dance which followed lasted into the small hours of the morning. There is quite a lot of mud up here since the last dose of rain. For a while the hills looked very nice a while ago with their mantle of snow, hut now most of it is melted. Love to Brunhilde and the rest of the L.F., not forgetting yourself.— Yours truly, LAMBDA. Dear Dot,— May I join your happy band? I am 13 years of age and in Standard VI, and lam hoping to get my proficiency. l have had great difficulty in crossing the river on the way to school, as the river has been practically frozen. I have had the “flu,” and have been away two weeks with it. I ride to school, which is about three and a-half miles away. I have two sisters, one who is learning dressmaking in Invercargill, and the other one is at home at present. Love to All Black, not forgetting your own dear self. —Yours truly, ACE OF THE SADDLE. [You are very welcome to join us, Ace.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —"We are having good weather at present, hard frost at night, but the eun shines brightly during the day. I have great fun sliding on the ice with two of my dogs. Sometimes, when they try to turn sharply, they' come wollop. The Mossburn

Football Team are doing well this year. Out of the six matches they have played they have won five and lost one. They had hard luck in losing one, as most oi the players had the “flu” the Saturday they played, so they could not field a strong side. At the beginning of the year the Mossburn School boys played a match against the Hamilton Burn boys and won by 27 points to nil. The days are starting to get longer now, and I am not at all sorry, for I do not like the short winter days. Have you ever been t-o Mossburn, Dot ? If you are ever ill at any time, and wanting to have quietness, I would recommend you to come here, for you won’t be disturbed. Love to all L.F., not forgetting your own dear self, —Yours truly, ALL BLACK. Dear Dot, —May I become a member of the happy band? I always read tbe letters in the Witness, and find them very interesting. The weather up here has been very frosty, and I do not like going to school in the frost. I have two sisters and two brothers. I have not been to school for three days, as I have had the “flu. ’ Love to An April Girl, The Beautiful Land of Nod, and your own dear self, —Yours trulv, A GIRL FROM CAROLINE". [I hope you have quite recovered from the effects of the influenza, dear.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—We had Stick to Me Kid’s Mate from Saturday to Wednesday, in the mida 1 e of June, and we quite enjoyed her visit. It was lovely weather while she was here, but the following week we liad rain, snow, hail and floods, and then frosts. The snow must be terrible up around the Lakes Listrict. I hope you have escaped the flu. W e have had bad colds here, but not the pneumonic “flu.” I saw a letter from Pink Rose in the Witness some time ago. My father knows her father, and he wa3 sorry to hear that he had been in bed. I saw a letter from Erin’s Girl last week. I once wrote to her. I admired her pluck when she pulled up the piece of turnip. I have to do my share of milking in the milking season, but when a cow starts kicking, or has to be doctored for eye or hoof, I’m not seen in the shed. There is always something I sec that needs doing. . I once let cut a cow with a leg rope cn. I noticed it iust as I pulled the pin cut, and then grabbed her round the head and forced it through the rails in the partition and held on and ycl.ed for mother. I always looked to see that I had the rope off after that. When 1 was travelling to town a few months ago I saw a D.L.F. in the carriage. I heard her say she was learning dressmaking. I ciiciTi t have a badge on, so I didn't speak. M e have been having some severe frosts here, but not a.s bad as the ones they have in Lawrence. I don’t think Winton is as cold as Lawrence, for all that Stick to Me Kid’s Mate says. Love to all the L.F., and yourself. —Yours truly, A WAIHOLA LASS DOWN SOUTH. Dear Dot,—For quite a long time I have been going to write to the page again, but, unfortunately, there has always been the same old excuse—nothing to write about. v\ e are haying very unsettled weather at present. lor about a week we had very hard frosts. These last few davs the skv has been overcast. The “flu.”" seems to be very prevalent. What a terrible accident that was in the North Island. A friend of mine was on the express, but she escaped without any injuries. There was a sale of work here last month in aid of the Doctor’s Residence Fund. It was open for three nights, and every night was wetnevertheless the results were very satisfactory. There have been a good number of dances, in our township and surrounding districts. Dancing is a very pleasant diversion these cold, winter nights. Football is the chief amusement now. There is a match at Nightcaps to-dav between Nightcaps and Orepuki. vve have been very fortunate in Southland. So far we have not had any serious floods. Kindest regards to al! my correspondents and other L.F. —Y'ours truly, ZExA. Dear Dot, —We are having very hard frosts now, but lovely days, so that i 3 the main thing. There are some lovely skates about now. The ice has been from three to four inches thick. My father and mother just arrived back on Saturday night from a holiday. My father was up as far as Vv hangarei, so he had a good long trip. He just escaped that big railway accident by one night, so he had a very narrow escape. It must have been an awful scene. Our bens are not laying many eggs at present. i think it- must be owing to the cold weather we have been having. Have you got the “flu” yet, Dot? We have not had it yet, and I hope we do not catch it. There seems to be a big number down with it in the big towns. The ground lias been so hard with frosts that the farmers can’t get their ploughing done. I -see by the papers that there is no feed for the sheeps away back on the liills on account of the heavy fall of enow, so it will be a poor look out for the farmers if they loose all their sheepo. Kindest regards to A Little Vincennois and all the other L.F., not forgetting your own dear seif. —Yours truly, HOME FLOWERS (East Chatton). Dear Dot,—No doubt you will be wondering what has happened to me, and I am sure you will have scratched me off your long list of writers, as it is nearly two years since I last wrote. The only excuse I can make is laziness, which is nothing new for me. We are having lovely weather here, but it is very cold in the mornings. Have you had the “flu,” Dot? Nearly everyone one meets has had it. I have liad it, and I was off work a week, but am‘back now making up for lost time, as we are up to our eyes in work. We are growling if we have no work and growling if vie have too much, so we have just to sit and do what wo get. Burma was saying in her letter that she was wondering what has happened to me, but if she sees this she will see I am still alive and well. There is a big football match on down at Invercargill to-dav, Maoris v. Southland, and half Gore is away down to it. Dancing is in full swing just now, and I have been to several ones at which I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I haven’t noticed a letter in the Witness from Patriotic F’aul for a long time. Since they shifted from Gore they have been very unlucky, as Patriotic Paul’s father died about three weeks ago, and lam sure tires’- miss him very much. I often see Revlis in Gore, and he was saying that he had sent in his retiring letter. I am afraid it is going to rain, as it is blowing something awful outside. My brother bought a new gramophone, and it is going every night in the week. Love and best wishes to Burma, Patriotic Paul, and all L.F., not forgetting your own dear self. — Yours truly, LOVER’S DREAM. AUTO'S. Cowboy Jim’s Sister (Mrs W. Benfell, Park Hill, via Heriot) wishes t-o correspond with any Dunedin L.F. from 16 to 18 years. Water Lily (Miss Molly Lusk, Box 2, Cxooloston) wishes to correspond with Tom Mix, Tired Tim, A Racer Boy, and N.D.R. Lyon Rose (Maisie M'Kenzie, 45 Eye street, Invercargill) wishes to correspond with any

Little Folk willing from 13 to 16 years ot Patches (Mildred Buzan, “Melrose,” Maheno) wishes to correspond with The Hawk, Who Am I, Ploughman From the Bogs of Ireland, A Scotch Lassie, and any L.F. over IS years. A Loved Girl (Margaret Mackay, Glencoe) wishes to correspond with any L.F. from 13 to 15 vears. Little Meg (Maggie Shallish, 37 Richardson street, Dunedin) wishes to correspond with Mother’s Only Girl, Jim’s Chum, Greedy Bill, and any L.F. from 13 to 16 years. Corse Cutter (Charles Dundass, Moa Creek) washes to correspond with Vanilla, Vanilla s Cocoanut Ice, and Marigold. A Country Lad (Donald A. Cameron, Glen falloch Station, Nokomai) wishes to correspond with Johnny From the Sirotover, and wishes him to write first. Zeta (Annie Ronald, Box 22, Nightcaps) wishes to correspond with Sulky Boots, Silver Moon’s Pal, and A Ploughman From the Bogs of Ireland. Girleen (Grace Poight, Pukerau, Southland, New* Zealand) wishes to correspond with Scotch Lassie and Slim Jim.