The China Shop Diversified.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 169, 14 July 1888, Page 3

The China Shop Diversified.

The well-known saying about the mad bull in a china shop'was practically diversified at Auckland last week. This is how a local journal puts itAn incident, at once alarming and amusing, occurred yesterday at Remuera Saleyards. Whi'e the veteran auctioneer? was smilingly and quickly knocking down the usual weekly supply of beef to the butchers, a bullock, or an ox as the old gentleman politely terms his beeves, evidently dissatisfied with the looks of his new master, was seized with an uncontrollable desire, like Mr Roberts, to return to pastures green and quiet waters. After several ineffectual attempts to clear the seven feet of stockyard fence that surrounded him on three sides, he conceived the original notion of escaping through the opening between the top at the side of the alleyw «.y and the roof. The narrow gangway w»s full of butchers, graziers, and others, including the vendors of apples, oranges, and nuts. The knights of the cleaver laughed at the insanity of the beast attempting what no bullock had ever done—within the memory of the baldestpated butcher present ; but on came Roberts with a spring, and getting his brisket over the rail, soon drew his hind legs over also. Then it was a case of clear the gangway, and no tim *to do it in. The butchers gave a wild ye 1 ! of dismay and climbed the fence much faster than the bullock, but in an opposite direction The blue blouses scattered like the clans nn Culloden. The agility displayed by the heavy weights of the Hellabv stamp was something to be surprised at. Lucki’y the bullock tu r ned down the end of the alley, which was tolerably clear. Had he charged alnng the crowded end there would have been much mourning in Butcherdom, the city ambulance in request, and the butchers’ picnic and football match postponed for a season. When last seen, the escapee was quietly grazing in Major George’s paddock, anxious no to make the acquaintance of Mr Nelson. Another fat ox got so excited over this occurrence that he lay down and said, as plainly as a bullock could speak, that he wanted to die. The ready slaughterman, who understood the language, promptly dirked him in the spine, while an equally ready fellow-craftsman poignarded him in the heart. Then they got a tripod and hoisted that eleven hundred of beef to market, and the reader who had steak for breakfast may now be picking his teeth of the same. The world moves fast, especially when there is a bullock on the job.