THE COLONIALS.

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 2855, 28 January 1916, Page 1

THE COLONIALS.

TWO GOOD STORIES i'"KOM HOME

A tale is told of one of our boys who. incidentally, is ;i very -wellknown footballer in the North lshmd. ■Ho was having luricli at a certain liouwo, and, as per usual, was lauding Nuw Zealand to the ekius. Well, the question cropped up between the daughter of the house and this soldier as io what they should <lo during the- afternoon She suggested a motor car drive into the, country. This <li<l not meet with the footballer's approval, and ho expressed himself very forcibly on the point. ,"D°. .V°", know," he said, "I'm heartily aick of motor cars. I've practically lived in thorn for the past few years, and just before 1 left Auckland I disposed of both my cars. I had had absolutely enough of them, and even my doctor ordered mo to give them up yenrs ago. Since I have been in the Army, my colonel lias always insisted on my going everywhere with him, and lie's always got the- same old car. But, say, I'd like to have a rido on one of your trams. 1 have only been on them about four times in Now Zealand, and twice in England, so I am a bit in favour of them. We'll take such-and-such a ride." In Manchester there is a certain Jine which runs practically right round the city, or. at any rate, you can go for quite a long ride v and laud back in the same place, without getting oil" the car. This was the route ehosun, and all the way tin's footballer explained the joys of tramriding, etc., and the beauty of everything generally, until, bis jittle guide really imagined that- she was roing her Xew Zealand friend & great favour by taking him for a ride in the tram. But be kept himself in her "good books" and now wants to know if he did not work things very \tfell. " A fellow had to do something, and I only had Is 9d, so, with a motor-car. 1 guess I'd have to borrow, and this would not do, for 1 had the reputation of New Zealand in my keeping."

Another lit.tin f-toiy, in which ati Australian Light Horseman figures as llr-:> principal, is goiing t,h,. rounds. This particular man is cert a fitly a "character." and can talk "till'tin. , cows conn; home," as one boy descrilu'cl it. Me wns in a hotel in London ono evening, and met a couple of l£nglis.h liciitcinii.iil,s and a. nvajor. 01' course, one tiling Jed to another, and at the finish the major invited (he party to. dinner with him. The two "subs" had otjicr business, and politely declined, but the Australian, thinking that he must make a show of hospitality, replied: "Oh, no. .sir, come- a.iid •Iμ vo dun nor with iiiie." Of eoui'se, as he explained afterwards, he expected the major k> insist on him being his guest. But, to his surprise, the major was delighted (or appeared to be), and promptly took him at his word. So they adjourned, and walked what must have been many miles through the town, until they came to a- " fish and chips shop," anil here this Australian took hie friend to dine. The major seemed quite pleased, and onjjoyed his meal, but Jialfiva.y through :he '.could contain his mirth no longer, and roared with laughter. " You know." he said, "I could sec through the joke all the time, but thought I had better see it through. I like you colonials, and admiro your coolness. It's wonderful." Of course, explanations followed, and the colonial explained that he would really have "hit things along n bit." had ho " had the goods," but a big day had only left him with a little over a shilling. However, trie officer took.it all as a great joke, and took tho man -homo with him to meet his wife, and afterwards tho whole party spent the night at the theatre. This man is now a very popular soldier m tho major's household, but the little episode of the " fish and chips " is not yet known to Mrs , or either of the daughters, and we think the. major a good enough " sport" to keep it to himself.