DETERMINED TO SEE THE DUKE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 152, 28 June 1901, Page 2

DETERMINED TO SEE THE DUKE.

TWO CHILDREN WALK 130 MILES

DUNEDIN, June 20.

The fact that their Royal Highnesses would not visit Invercargiil has been a great disappointment to many loyal subjects in the southern city, hut two little residents there, aged nine and eleven years respectively, were determined that they would see the Duke, so, with plenty of youthful hope in their breasts, and no money in their pockets, they started off on Thursday morning of last week" to walk the 130 odd miles which separates Invercargiil from Dunedin. They supported their courage and inner man by eating turnips, and at night they sought wellearned repose in ditches, by the sides of haystacks, or in railway trucks. Following the railway, except when approaching a township, and creeping through two funnels, they reached Dunedin on Sunday in a pitable condition, half starved, in rags, and with their feet cruelly lacerated, but not one whit damped in ardour or pluck. But, alas! Nemesis, in the shape of the law, suddenly pounced down upon them whilst dreaming in a railway truck of the glorious visions they were presently 1o see, and they completed their dreams in the cell of the police station last evening. The performance of the two little vagabonds created no end of admiration, and a leading hotelkeeper has beon granted permission to make the two young lads his guests lor the next week.—"Truth's" correspondent.

The Southland "Times" received a call from Mr Adcoek, the father of the two adventurous small boys who journeyed to Dunedin to see the Duke. The father explained that the family were totally unaware of the youngsters' intentions. No one, he said, imagined that they had started for Dunedin, and as they slept in a straw stack at Gore, 40 miles away, on Thursday night, they had got out of all probable range. When apprised by Sergt. O'Neill of their extraordinary escapade, Mr Adcoek at once tendered sufficient money to pay the expenses of sending the boys home. On Thursday last he received two letters from Dunedin formally asking for his consent to the boys remaining there till after the great events of next week. Mr Adcoek says that he would rather the children had never attained this singular notoriety, but in view of the kindness shown to them at Dunedin he cannot gracefully refuse consent. Regarding their pedestrian feat and fearlessness in leaving home and shelter, Mr Adcock says his immediate relatives were tireless walkers, and that active men have remarked upon the rapidity with which these boys get over the ground and also their eudurauce. According to statements attributed to them in the "Evening Star" their stages were; —Gore (40 miles), Thursday night; Balclutha (47 miles), Friday night; and Dunedin (52 miles), Saturday night at 9 o'clock.