WANDERING'S.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 143, 15 June 1909, Page 7

WANDERING'S.

(By Weary WillU-.)

"He that spurts h tin- rod hateth hi>- cv.-ii son; but he that ioveui nun ahabVLuieth hiiu betimes." The scene was the "Wairan Ferry Bridge, in course of construction, and the time the evening, when the shades of night had fallen thickly o'er the lands-cape. Faintly discernible in the murky gloom, a weary wayfaTer might have been seen approaching the puntage from the lurther side. The hour was late, and the punt-keeper was

just beginning to dream of a rise in his salary—cr the river—and our traveller, who was in the main fond of posing as a good Samaritan, bethought of some means of crossing without disturbing the dreams of the aforesaid puntman, and, this only incidentally, without having to pay the "Colonial Robert" which was the puntage charge. The workers on the bridge had vevv considerately left an eight-inch plank lying across _ the struts, and this seemed a providential means of transit to our friend. Shouldering his bicycle he valiantly essayed the passage, which he thought he could safely negotiate. He was steady and full of nerve, and was not a bit afraid. He reckoned, however, without the bicycle, which was rather in the way when doing "jolondin" tricks. When half-way across the bicycle refused to longer "walk the plank," and our young friend got into difficulties, 'l'o add to his troubles

the darkness came down as a pall of black, and he had to feel for the plank. He could see far below the gleam of the water where it rippled up against, the piles and his head grew dizzy and sick. The bicycle became as an old man of the mountains, but, unlike Sinbad, our young friend was able to rid himself of his burden. He could stand the strain no longer, and the bicycle found a sacrificial destiny in the bottom of the*Wairau River. The remainder of the passage was accomplished in fear and trembling, and it was a thankful man that stepped on to solid ground again. Next time

he has occasion to cross at night the puntman will have to xoostpone his dreams.

For ways that are light and tricks that are dark commend me to a Government Department. Verily, it is a true and trite saying that a certain forked-tailed gentleman looks after his own. It will be remembered that some time, ago the Seddon Domain Board offered to give up their present Domain in exchange for the Government nursery, which was being abandoned as a nursery. The request, which was a very reasonable one, was backed up by the wishes of all the Awatere people, but, alas, the project found no favour in the eyes of the powers that be. When the request was refused it was naturally thought the property would, in the usual way, be put up to public tender. _ This would have been a fair and equitable way of disposing of the property. But Government Departments may always be depended to come lip with something unexpected. The Forest Department, in their wisdom, handed over the nursery to the Agricultural Department, who, in turn, leased the property privately. The afore-going piece of news is the common talk of the man in the street, who also states that the lessee intends to sub-let the nursery as a spec. "Dusty Rhodes" sends me, all this interesting information, ancl if it is correct the indignaton so freely expressed by the Awatere people is fully justified. Truly, the ways of Government Departments are beyond the grasp of the average brain. . v

Our new municipal team have been getting rather- out of hand lately. First we had Brother Parker rearing up at some fancied shadow, then we had Councillor White wobbling all over the shop until his yolk-mate, the steady going Penny, brought him up to his proper bearings again. The one and only Carr, too, has been laying on the Birch rather too heavily, and it is to be hoped he now "wood turn" over a new leaf; at least, it were "fitter" that he would. The whole question of the Council-owned hardware shop and gas-fitting business deserves serious consideration, and ."Weary" may return to it on a future occasion.

Congratulations to "Dusty Rhodes and the Swimming Baths Committee. They have decided to take a jump, even although they are 100 jerry o goblins behind. There is still some Scotch caution on the Board of Control, however, hence the letting of the tender has the proviso "provided the More Men Fund is handed over. However, I am quite pleased to think that something is being don© in the matter. I hope I will be able to get a. bath—l mean, a swim—during Jubilee Week. There will likely be a run on the paper which contains the report of the next Harbour Board meeting. When Scot meets Scot then comes the clash of tongues. The "doon ender" frae cross the brig waxed hot and strong against his absent compatriot the other night, and the first round certainly belongs to him. But, ma certies, the oatmeal will fiy when they meet again, and I am not going to say that his Wash-up will not score a point or two in the second round.