A CROSS-COUNTRY HUNT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 4984, 8 February 1877, Page 2

A CROSS-COUNTRY HUNT.

TO THE EDITOE OS' THE ITTTEXiTON TIMES. Sib, — Being one of that numerous class who have a decided objection to hard work, and having become noted fot a passion for travelling, honouring every new rush with my presence, patronising steamboat excursions, new lines of railway, &o.; in fact, always longing to go somewhere in search of something ; add to this that I have no fixed income, and you can easily imagine with what feelings of disgust I recently viewed a gradually failing purse, and found it absolutely necessary to do something to replenish it. Not having acquired the happy knack of living by my wits, harvesting seemed about the best thing to supply the needful. Accordingly, rolling up as innocent a looking swag as possible, I took the North train for the Downs, having, heard that crops there were generally light; and as I was whirled pleasantly along, reflected that my situation was not so bad after all, for had I not, on a similar occasion in Otago, gone harvesting, and received £3 per week, with comfortable board and two nips of the right sort per day. If such was my treatment by, the canny Soot, what had I not a right to! expect in hospitable Canterbury P Having reached my destination, I made a virtue of necessity, and commenced in right earnest to search for work. The first farmer I visited' offered me contract work, tremendous heavy crop, 10s per acre, find myself. Couldn’t see it, so travelled on some miles to a “ gentleman," who, I heard, was badly in want of bands, where I arrived about dinner time, very tired and very hungry. He at once took me into a field of corn which hod been out, and I, unwilling to travel further, agreed to take it. I looked enquiringly at him in the expectation of an invitation to dinner. Said he—" You had better commence at once 5 I want it tied as soon as possible." But, I explained, “ I have neither food nor cooking utensils, and have had no dinner.” "Well,” he replied, "you had better work away until evening, and then go to the store—it is only a few miles—and purchase what you require." If looks could kill, Sir, the withering glance I bestowed upon that individual, as I moodily picked np my bundle and stalked away, would havespeedily furnished a job for some up-country undertaker. Bather chagrined but not quite disheartened, I interviewed a few other farmers, but mot with no better success, those who had a docent place for men to stop in being supplied, while those who wanted men had either miserable accommodation or some other drawback. One offered mo a job for a day or two, and was quite indignant when I retused. Another would board me, but candidly told me I should have to wait till after threshing for my money; while a third, an old gentleman who sadly wanted me to tie his corn, told me my money was as " right as the / Bank,” as ho intended to sell some pigs the I first chance he got. I drily asked him if it would 1 not be bettor to stubble feed them for a short

time, when, to my no small amusement, be replied, “Be gorra, that same ud be no harrnm, if ye weren’t in a hurry for money.” Refusing all these tempting offers and breathing anathemas on Canterbury cockatoos, 1 returned to town, and now wish to give them a bit of advioe. Provide suitable accommodation for your men; cook their meals, and treat them generally a* men working hard deserve to be treated, and you will always be able to obtain harvesters. Until they do this, Sir, I for one shall leave them to wander sadly through their fields of untied corn, and betake myself to a more congenial clime, where I shall be properly appreciated, and in travelling to which I shall gratify that passion which has given me the distinctive appellation of PERIPATB TIC 808.