WET DAY MUSINGS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3145, 27 July 1881, Page 2

WET DAY MUSINGS.

(BY AN OLD BUSHMAN.)

I am a resident of the Seventy-mile Bush, consequently a property tax does not concern me. I wish it did. To pay a fair land tax or a big property tax would not be at all against ray principles. But I haven't the chance; I haven't the chance. Whenever you hear an M.L.A. denouncing either tax, you may be sure he would like to see a poor man pay more for his tea and sugar and other small necessaries. But if my possessions are small my happiness is great. Why shouldn't I be happy ; I have fifty acres of freehold ; fifty acres of nice standing green bush, and ten of as good sound half-burned logs as any lying in the district, aDd each evening, as I watch tbe old cow's wary movements-as she dodges around the latter articles, I feel an honest pride in the thought that all I see before me is mine—when it's paid for. Notwithstanding all this happiness, I sometimes think, as I earnestly gaze on a back log, that the original framers of the Hawke's Bay land laws might have done a leetle more for posterity in this \ direction. As things are at present, it would almost make you think that the early law makers never thought about posterity at all until they got right to the edge of the bush. I have a vote now, and of course I feel my political importance. The question is, who am I to put my lever to at the next general election ? Am I to vote for a man whom I can trust to represent the wishes of the majority, or for one who will represent himself only and his own interests P After due consideration I have decided thus: If one comes forward whom I regard as a representative of the people, I shall go to the poll and vote for him. If, on the other hand, he is a man of large possessions and no employees, one who in the past has proved

himself to be no friend of the working man's, or if he is one wbo for years can nurse an imaginary slight and when (as he thinks) the proper and opportune time has arrived, suddenly drops his dynamite in the camp of his late " pals,'' I ssy, if a candidate of the latter description comes forward, then I shall stay at home and saw wood. The Rabbit Trustees threaten to let loose £200 worth of weasels on us. I hope they will change their minds and let loose £200 worth of rabbits instead. A great deal can be said in favor of the rabbit, but tell me one redeeming point about a weasel, and he may come. But allowing that the weasel is not quite so objectionable an animal as he is said to be, is it possible that a handful of men can thus act in such an arbitrary manner ? It looks like it, for a few years ago some fogies in the South Island, calling themselves an Acclima-something Society, let go some sparrows and linnets, and now how many thousands of pounds would the South Island people not give to be rid of what they call " the small bird plagae." lam ignorant of the law in these matters, but I suppose, if destructive birds and other vermin are to be let loose on us at pleasure, there can be nothing objectionable in a dozen settlers, calling themselves Tucker Trustees, letting go a few score rabbits in some of the most desirable localities. In Dunedin and other towns South no butcher thinks his shop is completely provisioned without a few score fat rabbits are hanging up. Poultry shops, too, are never without a supply. How many families in the Seventy-mile Bush would turn their noses up at a pair of good rabbits for their Sunday's dinner ? Besides the rabbits would do all the under-scrub-bing, and their skins, at the worst of times, are worth twopence half-penny each. As for the weasels, well I hope if the " varmint" do come they will have to be caught asleep. I don't know though if it is wise for a man to trouble himself much about politicians, weasels, or any other varearthly subjects. I meant to fall ten acres this winter, in fact I had some under-scrubbing done when the shocks came on. One evening as I straddled a log I suddenly remembered the year we live in—lßßl. What if there was soroe.thing in Mother Shipton after all ? It rains hard now even for tbe bush ; there has been an eclipse of the moon, and the firmament at present looks black, very black. Now I can understand a man ploughing, or fencing, but to risk falling ten acre& of bush—well I have other things to attend to; the weather is against busbfalling, and—and I think I must let it stand until next season.