AT THE WATER OFFICE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3069, 28 April 1881, Page 4

AT THE WATER OFFICE.

He stalked in early yesterday morning. Qne.could see that he had something on his mind, and that he intended to have justice if it broke his neck. Walking'up to one of tho windows in the long railing, he boldly demanded:

" I want to. know of some of yoii folks in here if the river dried up last night ?" . If was a long time ere'any one replied. Then one of tbe clerks said that while it was barely possible that such an event had taken place, he had received no direct information to that effect.

"Ohj ; you haven't! Then perhaps your old pumping works have been blown up?" "May be. so; but it seems as if they would have telephoned down." "Well, then,-if "the "river didn't dry up and the pumping works are all right, how happened it that I couldn't get any water at nine o'clock last.evening P" "Cold or hot?"

"- Cold, of course! Who said anything about hot water ?"

"Then you couldn't get any ?"

"Didn't I say I couldn't, I pay my water tax, and as a ratepayer, a taxpayer, and; a citizen, I demand my rights. Now, sh-, why couldn't.l get any water.at my house last evening?" ''It wouldn't run, eh ?"

"Wouldn't run ! Haven't I been telling you that it wouldn't run ! Suppose there had been a fire in my house ?" "In what part of your house ?" absently queried the clerk. "In any part, sir, from cellar to garret. Suppose I had wantad a pail of water to drown an incipient conflagration ?" " You eoulden't have got it."

" No, I couldn't; and I want to tell you right here and right now that I figure my damages at §100!" " One hundred," replied the clerk, as he marked the figures in pencil on the desk. "Yes, sir;. and I won't pay my next quarter's tax!" "Won't pay next quarter's tax," wrote the clerk.

" And you take notice that if this thing happens again this winter I'll make this Water Board sweat!"

"Perspire," suggested the clerk. '" Well, perspire, then, and don't you forget it!" ■■■•■.'.. .. ' "Nosir." ..

" If it wasn't winter I'd sink a well." "Yes, sir."

" And be independent of this monopoly." " Yes,' sir."

"And I want it understood," he was going on, when the-door opened and in walked a citizen who began : — " Wbat ails your old pumping works ?" And the clerk with the far away look in his eyes had to leave his ledger and come forward and explain that the pumping works were all right, and the river was all right, and the board was all right, and that if the water wouldn't run it was perhaps because ifc had got tired.—Detroit Eree

Press