ON FOOT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 27, 1 February 1912, Page 8

ON FOOT.

"FABE, PLEASE," FROM THE EXPRESSMAN. WHAT GOOD IS THE ILL-WIND BLOWING? -"THE WEATHER'S TOO FINE." The ansemic-looking equine, with shadows in its eyes and resignation in its 'every limb, rolled its gaze "sideways as footsteps approached and stopped. It smelled a " fare." The cab heaved as the man on the seat leaned over enquiringly. Explanations were made brief, and the cabman understood what was sought of him. The hoi-fie again ,J, J drooped its head musingly, not disappointed, while the Post reporter examined the driver as to whether the ill-wind of the tram strike had blown, any good down the cab-ranks and else.where. Later, expressmen and taxidrivers were held up, and they all agreed (1) that it is just a little too soon to expect to notice any change; and (2) that another reason was the brilliant weather which finds the cars snuggled up in the car-sheds. Still, comnieut of the various informants is not uninteresting. THE VOICE FROM THE CABRANKS. "No," said the cabby, "it's done us no good co far, believe me. There are just as many cabs on the .stand mow as. there were' yesterday at this time. People have got the tram habit co strong that it wi'l take nothing less than a touch of winter such as we have been having of late to drive them to the cabe. This bright weather' they'll .walk till they're tired, . and longer. What about the theatres last evening? The horse sighed openly. The driver denied the animal's suggestion. "No," he continued, V that was no good to me last night. I don't know how the other chaps got on, but it was no good to me. The night was too bright, and people accustomed tr» paying penny fares think hard a, long while befor^ they 'spend a ' bob ' on a cab. As a matter of fact, things have been dull in our line since the holidays. Yesterday afternoon several cabs that met the AuckJand express were ' left ' — that is to say, came away_ empty. Too many passenfeisf walk into town now and send their ags, when^ they have any, up by the express. No; so far the strike has not affected us at all.' The jolly weather's too fine." COMMENTS IN GREY-STREET. * Towards midday iliere was a line of about twenty expresses in Grey-street, jwaiting for custom. TO AND FRO FROM SUBURBIA. Now many inhabit such suburbs as Miramar, Hataitai, Berhampore, Island Bay, Karori. Newtown, and' Kilbirnie, because (perhaps) the rents more fit the pocket, , and, doubtless, also because there ifl room on the section for a horse and wagon. Again, a considerable section of those who earn their living by the sweat of their brow, or by the grace of a Civil Service examination, finds it convenient to both pocket and temperament to dwell in these tame suburbs. Many of these people relied upon the cars to land them ' at work at an early hoar, ' but to-day the car-wheels swe not going round. Several enterprising expressmen, properly keen to both convenience this part of the public and Recompense themselves, seized the opportunity, put seats on their vnhicles, and invited "fares" at reasonable rates. Up to date, there has not been a great rash. The porridge and the chop nave boon' cooked and consumed a half hour or an hour earlier, and the people tra'4

yelling town-wards have faced the morning walk with equanimity and a cheerful mmd — thanks to the bright weather. Still, the expressman ■ who does not attempt to get ric*h in a week at the expense of his fellows, should pick up much stray silver if the "hold-up continues. For instance, it is estimated that there are 7000 people south of Mount Victoria, 'and many of these will' be watching the Dominion Meteorologist's predictions as to the weather. "BUSY— LOOKING FOR WORK." One expressman had something to the following, effect to offer : "We have not had too good a run since the holidays, and, as you well can see, there is no rush for our services to-day. Going home this evening? Yes, it might be ! different then (he lives at Berhampore). I think it's only fair we should pick up a shilling or two if we^can out of this ! trouble. Personally, I don't intend my horse to be overloaded for nothing. You can get a crowd of 'dead heads' in next to no time, but that's no good to me, I can tell you. With me, it's going tp be a 'bob' a timu." Another of the craft: "That's a 'bit stiff. I'd be satisfied with sixpence' a head. You'll find very few that's willing to part up a shilling for a ride in or ride out on x a wagon. Sixpence 'd be a fair thing." "And, are you busy?" "Oh, yes. Busy looking for work." One can foresee, should the caTS still lie idle, fashionable milliners, men from | the . coal hulks, bank clerks, and civil servants, cheek by jowl, seated on an express clattering towards Suburbia with an even gait. What the driver will say ■ will refer chiefly to small change, j The patient tractor can only pull ani think hard. It ie understood — this is quite pri-vate-^that such people as cabdrivers, expressmen, - and taxi-controllers are beginning to be hopeful that there will be a change ior the worse in the weather. WHAT THE TAXI-MAN OBSERVED. The taxi-driver was not over cheerful when approached. He watched, in silence, a car pull out proudly, and said no to the obvious and inevitable question: "This fine weather" — he accompanied the ellipsis with a hand that 6wept the Heavens bare. "I notice no difference," he added, "as yet, but perhaps you are too early. Most of us have made our own 'fares' — people who know us, and people we know. Too many come to us. and expect us to take them to tlie top of that building opposite *(at the back on The Terrace) for a shilling. Bujt it can't, be done. Much of that would break us and our gear. No, ' there was little ' doing at the theatres' last evening. Droves of theatre-goers 'filled tho streets walking home _in the moonlight after the play. I cruised slowly down the road on the chance of catching something, but no hoßp! A well-known one-time athlete, Eustace Miles, thinks walking one of the finest of the exercises. If he could arrive in Wellington now, he could be pardoned for jumping to the conclusion that half the city had read his books. The novelty of having to walk and the lure of the sun have kept the perambulating throngs cheerful. Will the strike last long enough for the novelty to wear off? And what then?