AMUSING SEASIDE ADVENTURE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 213, 8 September 1899, Page 4

AMUSING SEASIDE ADVENTURE.

THE OFFICIOUS OFFICIALS AND THE HOLIDAY-MAKING : SCIENTISTS.

The little se.'f.ide toAvn of Barmouth ought to haAre a place in the ,; history of our times all to itself, as being the scene of a real detective I story, i The, "HaAvshaw" of the drama, (says the London "Mail") is a local fisheries' inspector, and the sub- 3 jects of his observations were three men AvhO Avent a-fishing, and Avhose I movements appeared tO the keen vision of tlie lyoi-eyed detective to be< more than mysterious. It is fair to say that the detective did not knoiv9 that the suspects Were Mr Charles Bassano, a Staffordshire magistrate, Dr. Frederick Bassano, and Professor Bassano, his brothers; but making aloAvance even for that.the course his investigations took is someAvhat peculiar. One day the three sportsmen Avent out in a boat, and returned with a haul of nine bass. This Avas the beginning of the trouble. Long-headed fishermen, Avho spend much of their time on the quay at Barmouth, drew deductions. Some of them said the •bass must have been got by electricity; a feAV hinted at magnetism; others, with bated breath, spoke of dynamite. The more cautious came to the conclusion that at any rate

IT WAS SOAIETHING. From that moment observation was kept every time the three gentlemen took a boat. One day a policeman Avas sent over to an island to watch to better ad\ rantage. It rained all the time the policeman was there, but, faithful to duty, he stood like a post. A day or two later the climax;.. Avas reached. The three mysterious visitors Avent out for a sail, taking their cameras with them, and on their return they found "Hawkshaw," an elderly gentleman, waiting for theioy who, immediately they stepped on shore, demanded to search the bo&t and tackle. Air Charles Bassano absolutely refused to allow him, whereupon "Hawkshaw" produced a certificate, showing that he held the post of inspector or some similar^ office. "Right you are," said the trio, and forthwith they proceeded to get the cameras out of their cases. But the crafty "HaAvkshaW"

WAS NOT TO BE DECEIVED —he must see the inside there and then of these boxes. Air Bassano, to this, retorted that, if "Hawkshaw" dared to open the cameras, except in a dark-room, he would sue him for damages. This resulted in the whole party—the Alessrs Bassano, "HawkshaAv," and a policeman—marching to a dark-room, the Alessrs Bassano, of course, practically in custody. Mr Fred Bassano's camera Avas opened first, and "Hawkshaw" was at length convinced that it was a camera. .The I case, hoAvever, assumed a serious, aspect Avhen it came to an exaimination of Mr Charles Bassano's camera, for "Hawkshaw" came upon a loose, spiral-spring which holds the .films down. "Ha!" he exclaimed, "this i 3 quite different. Now we have got something important." It cost the photographer to whom the dark-room belonged a lot of trouble to convince the old gentleman that this camera Avas not some lethal engine for killing fish. When he had accomplished this feat the photographer AA'anted payment for his time and the use of his room. "Hawkshaw" at once declared that the Alessrs Bassano must do that, and in this exposition of the law he Avas backed up by he policeman. Noav the talk of the group of fishermen on the quay turns on the big law case that may go to "coorts in Lunnon," and which will settle* the great question. "Who pays the photographer?' ..____.