We revisited several of the towns of Ota^o. Gideon, our former driver, again wielded the whip, and mounted the box in charge of some at least of his old team. The weiither being bracing and clear, the whole trip was nothing but enjoyment. We went down to Balolutha, through Tokomairiro, and found both places thriving. Popotunoa was also progress ing rapidly. An extensive tract of country in one of < the gorges is now open on deferred payments, and ''hundreds" (blocks of so many acres) are interspersed through it, to prevent squatters from amassing large portions of land. How insignificant were the things that amused us during these delightful journeys ! All along the road our red vehicle was con stantly being mistaken for the public coach, and the amazed appearance of the folks when we did not stop at their call was in the highest degree refreshing. Two men came tearing down a lane, and several people popped out of their cot tages, but drew back suspicious when they did not recognise the driver ; a man rode fully half a mile after us on horse back ; and another came flying with a leather bag across a twenty-acre field, exclaiming when he reached the coach, " Well, I am sold, an' no mistake !" The wind with its biting sharpness brought out the purple hue upon our faces, and caused us to wrap ourselves up in great coats and cravats. Every now and then we met a coach. " Hallo !" cried Gideon, jerkins; his head familiarly to an acquaint ance, "here comes Yankee George, a bullockin' his horses along ; he's a card, an' no mistake .'—hot wind day this, eh George / ah, ah. ha !" and this powerful joke was answered by yells of laughter from the other vehicle as it swept past 113, the peals of merriment being heard for a long time after through the clear frosty air. This same piece of humour on the part of our driver was repeated and re repeated, with the same cachinnatory response from every person on the road, till at last we could not help seeing some fun in the "hot wind" joke, and laughed as loudly as anyone ! Our second journey lay up towards Oamaru, this time by way of Blueskm, a suburb of the metropolis. 