SATURDAY NIGHT ON A TEAM.

Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 125, 23 November 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

SATURDAY NIGHT ON A TEAM.

[Original ] A Wellington working man, who is at a loss how to spend Saturday evening and a " bob," might for once, instead of wasting them both in nips or billiards, take the Missis a train rido from end to end on top oi ono of the " two-deckers," or in one of the " Synagoguos." My " old woman " and I, after the youngsters had been put to bod and left iv charge of our biggest, Mary, caught a " Synagogue " last Saturday night at Government Buildings, and had a jolly good time. During most of the journey stoppages were frequent, and we could spy out and chatter together over all the little bits of fun going on under our eyes ; for what with the electric lighting and the brilliaut beams from the shops one could see as well as in the daytime. We watched friends critici9iug.tho wares exposed for sale, small boys rattling the coppers in their pockets while they decided what sweeties to buy, purchasers haggling with Chinamen, young people of opposite sexes meeting by appointment and walking away together, a shooting gallery in one open space, Salvation gallery in another, and what a eight there was when our tram turned into Cubastreet. "Whoever would see the two Smiths' sbopi aright Should look from a tram on a Saturday uight," as Sir Walter Scott almost observes. The brilliant lighting, the windows dressed beautifully in all colours of the rainbow, the jostling crowds, all showed where business is of the busiest in Wellington of a Saturday night. Cuba-street is generally taton slowly by the tram as there are so many stoppages; how one wishes passengers would be less selfish and more considerate .towards the horses by taking advantage of a stoppage a few yards from their destination to disembark, instead of insisting on pulling up immediately opposite their own doors. At last we leave Cuba-street and get into comparative darkness, and a smart flirtation starts between our conductor and two very 'juvenile ladies. Does he let them pass free ? I won't say. I wonder what Sydney Smith thinks about it. All I know is that when it came to our turn the boy only took one nick out of our ticket, though I told him that we were two, riding to Newtown. Had love turned his head? Now we breach the Panama Siding, and we wait for the down tram, our laddie switching the rail just one second before a wheel reaches his heel. Wonderful, isn't it, that one of these youngsters hasn't lqst a foot long before now at this game ? While we are waiting, let us note that lad of sixteen, standing hands in pockets, cap at back of head, cigarette in mouth, leaning against a shop window, receiving the homage of two milliner girls who are in a constant state of giggle. Surely, to deserve such attentions, he must at least be a crack "forward " in the second fifteen of a junior football club. I put it to the wife how it was that the colonial lads in this boy's Btation of life had no gentlemanly ideas, no respect or consideration for the other sex, while their sisters were really nicemannered. Missis said the difference arose through the girls' mothors or elder sisters having been in service or somewhere whore they had seen and copied the good manners of those about them ; whereas the boys had a bad example set them by their fathers, who thought it manly to be rough and coarse. That was a " wanner," for tug The wife can hit pretty hard when she likes. Off we go again, passing the tram we have waited for, which is crowded with housewives bound to town for marketing. I don't suppose the Newtown storekeepers love the tramway. "Tommy" rattles us down the hill, round the corners of the Eeserve, and away ■we run up Adelaide-road, watching the full moon rise, feeling the fresh breeze and wondering whence the customers for all the little grocers' shops come. Perhaps, as the district is not well off for "pubs" it can grow a bigger crop of grocers to the acre. Past the tram-station we go, master the bit of a rise beyond, turn the corner and have a straight run to the terminus. Now then, wifie, five minutes here ; let's have a ramble. Soon "all aboard" is heard; we take our seats again; start; stop time after time; how quickly the tram fills. Conductor's girl friends return with us, and he chats gaily with them; what a pity he has to break off in his best story to punch a ticket. We get the wind in our faces now, refreshing, cool ; we made room for Jack Williams and his Missis who aro for a trip to town ; the two bettor halves talk shopping, Jack and I discuss Oddfellows' business. So down the road we go, and what we noticed on the way up looks different from the new point of view. What a bustle in the Chinamen's shop in Manners-street. Jack remarks how queer it is that in Frisco the working classes are so bitter against tho Chinese because they compete in all departments of labour, and the Capitalists there look complacently on " John ; " while here the " 'orny 'anded " are his best supportors, and the retail traders wish him at the deuce. How prepared all of us aro to shed the last drop of our brother's blood. Now to Willis-street ; what a wretched lane it is. "Not very crowded, Jack?" 'No, and not half so well lighted as Cuba-street." It and Manners- street will be backslums presently. Wonder how long before the tram takes Victoria- street. Well, her© we are back at Government Buildings, not far from home ; had an hour and a half's air, seen a lot iv the shops without any temptation to spend, and the wife won't feel a bit tired when she reaches home. Anil our trip has coßt us just oue shilling. And now, before she takes off her things, my Missis goes to see if the youngest is all light. Good night, mates; try this ride

some fine evening, and you'll feel as happy as if you were being driven in your own carriage with two fellows in livery on the box, and their Jolded top-coits hanging down behind them with the buttons staring you in the fnce.