Travellers’ Experiences.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 145, 1 July 1901, Page 2

Travellers’ Experiences.

WHY DID THE WAIHORA WHISTLE ?

, The ways of the traveller are not al- , ways smooth. Last night intending pas- ■ sengers for the South wearily waited hour after hour in the hope of the Waihora . showing her lights around Tuainotu ■ island. But at a quarter to 12 all hope [ of toe steamer's arrival before daybreak was abandoned ; it was then officially . announced that the boat would bo tendered at seven this moßHing. Lights on the Waihi were extinguished, and captain, crew, and others went of! to their bods. Mr Cramond himself went to the trouble of visiting the Club and leading hotels to ioavc word of the hour of departure. A low minutes after midnight, a steamer ifovc in sight, and whistled three times. This was presumably tho Waihora. The whistles were hoard near and far, there was a tumult in the hotels, lodgers arousing from their cosy beds and hurriedly donning garments, and rushing off in the fear that they would miss tho launch. It was moonlight, but damp and cold, and the wind was keenly felt by those who were not attired in the usual amount of clothing. It was an amusing sight that met tho eye of the Times representative, as he strolled down to tho wharf on the chance of a trip out to tho steamer. About 20 individuals, not in the best of humor, and carrying their luggage, quickly arrived at the wharf. “ Has the boat gone '} ” excitedly exclaimed the representative of Messrs Kirkpatrick and Co.'s IC Jams, but whoso friends did not know him, attired as he was in a blanket, with a price ticket prominent thereon. “ Gone 1 She hasn’t woke up yet,” said a leading sheep farmer who had been waiting for hours for | friends who were to land. Explanations were being made by those who knew very little about it; the assurance of our reporter that the boat would not leave before seven was scouted. An indignation meeting was being held, when a j representative of a leading firm of wholesale stationers arrived on the scene, gasping for breath. lie evidently thought it was as simple a matter to get a passage out on tho Waihi as it I was to order a cab, and expressed his intention of seeing the captain and getting hhn to convey him (the representative) out to the Waihora. Our reporter gazed in amazement, but recovered so far as to be able to direct the gentleman to Captain Neale's house with what result we have not yet heard. The representative of a hardware firm described the position as worse than Greyrnouth, but whether or not that is complimentary to Gisborne is not stated. “ Why did the steamer whistle, and make us get out of our beds'? ” demanded one gentleman. “Soas to let- people know that she had arrived,” was the reply. None seemed to think of the incoming passengers. Most of those who had been so rudely awakened retired to their slumbers, but one knot of indignant persons remained for a time discussing their position ; a slutting light was espied from Custom House street, and it was declared to be the launch. Our reporter, from sad experience, knew better, and as the group persisted in satisfying themselves, with a knowing smile he speedily withdrew, but oefore he had got beyond earshot he leard exclamations which satisfied him I ;hat they had been, undeceived.