TRYING EXPERIENCES.

North Otago Times, 3 August 1903, Page 1

TRYING EXPERIENCES.

ft (By Jackeroo.) lr The deputation from the Wuitaki It" County Council journeyed to Hamp,o den (as requested at last meeting) , by the morning train on Thursday, and were met by the member for Moeraki, ,wlio had mounts ready f;r all tho members except one, and for that gentleman provision was made I in the shape of a x strongly built twoj wheeled vehicle, with a well harness--1„. cd sturdy horse attached; After a j low "preliminaries," mainly in. tho !-. neighborhood of tho Hampden Hotel, g' a start was made. En route,, the h ' oilier of a seat .was mado to tho i' complainant in the caso in dispute, 1S ■ but seeing the member for Incholme, s J in the trap ho said tho horse was alii [ready overloaded, and absolutely re- -- fused to accompany the deputation, i, who had to proceed on their way I n I.under the guidance of the defendant 0■ in the ease. The complainant has 1 held tho rank of "Major"' in tho | New Zealand army for many years, s and I think- ho is qualified to be sJ" General,"- as his prognostications - re overloading the horse- proved quite correct,' As tho deputation -Iproceeded on their way, and when f an altitude of nine hundred feet had - been reached, a very steep pinch had 1 to be negotiatec}. The trap horso, - who proved himself a very intellii- gent animal, and had been used for. ' a similar purpose two years ago, did i not forget his man, and did not find it necessary to .look round on this • occasion, having heard his voice dur--1 ing the journey , tlio- language at' 1 times being Biblical. The animal 1 pretended to try .to get up the pinch, < but the cunning rascal lay clown to it. Result, Incholme had to ■" get 1 out "■ and walk. Tho rest of the journey upwards was performed on ' | foot. The gee-gee would havo no 1 more of John on the heavy grades, On arriving at the top or the end of the journey, (pretty high up, I can assure you), ono of 'the party solemnly advised the members for Inchholme aud Otepopo .to mako an appeal upwards, as they .wero then nearer the good place than they wero ever likely to bo again, The good advico was unheededf The down-hill trip was done in quick time, and

after partaking of Mrs and Miss Nicolson's hospitality, which is always perfection itself, his Worship the Mayor proposed a drive to Port . Moeraki, which was accepted, At the Port tho visitors procured some very nico fresh fish, On returning Mr Nicolson suggested driving along the beach to Hampden, iwliich was agreed to, The gee-gee, by the .way, having been in harness all day, became very slow, much slower than the fast rising tide. All went fairly well until the driver had to steer his horse and buggy and passengers over a considerable distanco of beach studded jvith large boulders, and covered by a rough surf .to a depth of at times three feet. Incholme, who occupied the front seat with his Worship, fairly broke loose again, and said •" D zwyxugizanks-yugopt, muni (tho type setter here broke down) Nicolson you tried to kill mo on the hills this morning,. Failing in that you. mean to drown me for certain. Ji—zzwyu bagptzmarozyz (here the type setter went oil' again) It' once I get homo to Incholme, I'll come nae mair to your toon," However, all's jvell that ends well.- Tho deputation had a nice outing, and Incholme got safe past Waimotu on the home,ward journey. I forgo,t to mention that Mr Nicolson, in giving his instructions re saddle horses, for tho party, said to his groom,, ■" Yoke Tommy iui the strongest trap- wo have, as a very heavy man is to use it,"- In reply, .tlio groom said, ''-'l'll put-, him in' the heavy spring cart.. It ranied Jimmey Dorccns boar, and it is surely strong enough to carry two men—oven Incholmo with Ote--1 popo thrown in." i •