WELLINGTON AND AUCKLAND.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 556, 10 July 1909, Page 14

WELLINGTON AND AUCKLAND.

A.GOOD STOEY. "A' KEEN HEAD AND ; A BIG MOUTH."-(By-Telesraplii—Spccial Correspondent.) ' ' Auckland, July 9. The following story was told by Mr. H. R. Spence;: Acting-Collector of; Customs, at a farewell gathering. held yesterday, prior to his .departure • for InvercargillWhen ■ the seat of Government was shifted from Auckland: to Wellington, a large nninber of Civil Servants- were ' transferred there in consoquenco, and .many ; of them were loth' to -go and put as longvas- possible. ' One particular man who had managed to "dodge" .it longer than the others -at. last ' received notice that he had to •go also: ; His family, were :muck affected, and his littloi'danghter, in saying her Sprayers, on the- before their, departure, said: "Dear, God,ygoodrbye. We • aregoing to . Wellington." ;V» hen . the .laughter excited by tho recital of the incident ' had - subsided, Mr. ,Sponco Baid he sympathised with that child, because , . she must havo felt as he felt; that he was leaving many, good things and good frieids-be-hind him. ; . ... •

i Speaking. of> the future of Auckland, Mr. Spenco said ho could aeo a great future, in front of; Auckland, ..' especially,,- > when ' the Native- lands - wore opened.vup.:- but' in this connection -he . reminded, his iheareTS- that AhckJand would bo subjected', to keen competition from" -Wellington; According ■to Maori mythology, .the North Island was a fish' drawn up-from:the sea with 'Wellington as the headj" and Port Nicholson, as the mouth. ■ "It is that head and. that mouth I .want{you to:keep your eye on*" said/Mr. Spence, "for I oan assure you that Wellington, is- a very keen head, and has a-very big mouth.". : . . . 1 • ,