REMINISCENCES OF EARLY DAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8082, 24 September 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

REMINISCENCES OF EARLY DAYS.

[BY AN OLD hand ] No. 111. NOTHING IP NOT PARTICULAR.

Poor old Dr. was a well-known character in Auckland in the early days. Being poor, be used to effeot his own purchases, and always carried a carpet bag to bring home his two or three pounds of ohops >r loaves of bread. On one occasion, at* fading at my house, he asked for a silver -poon, if we had such a thing. On being supplied he replied : "I need not have asked for a silver one, knowing full well I should get nothing else. My children would sooner eat bread and cheese than have meat, if they could not have silver forks." Alas, I fear, it was little silver or gold they possessed. On another occasion he requested the loan of a pocket handkerchief, and omitting to return it, was gently reminded.' It was then returned, washed and highly perfumed. On this being remarked, he replied : " Oh, our laundress always perfumes all our linen." As a matter of fact their washing was done by his family. THE MAORIS.

There used to be a notice up in Maori in the Government House grounds that no natives would be allowed in the town without trousers, but the natives did not take much hsed, and often on very windy days on the hilly streets, if you met a native in his blanket or Maori mat, there was mare seen of him than was required, and although they were fond of dressing like Europeans, and putting on boots (like a cat in walnut shells), no sooner were they out of the town than off came the boots. CHEAP LUNCHEONS. One Thompson, who kept an hotel in High-street, used to advertise a lnnoh off the joint and a glass of beer for a shilling, hut one man known as "Long C , the bailiff, came along one day, and sat down alone to lunch, but when he was gone so was the best part of a leg of mutton, a bottle of pickles, and a loaf of bread. Thompson gave up lunches for a shilling off the joint after that. PATRIOTIC BAZAAR. How many of us recollect the Patriotic bazaar, held in the Oddfellows' Hall in Queen-street, now shops, just after the Russian War? Over a thousand pounds wej;e taken. My wife had a stall with, another lady, and took some £128. They had drawings for prizes numbered 5s each, and, when doubtful, used to produce an egg, as a veritable Cochin China as the 5a prize. But money was plentiful in those times, and' people were liberal. One gentleman, a Mr. K.— from Taranaki, was so pleased with the bazaar that he got up in the gallery and made a long speeoh, presenting the bazaar ! with a horse. The late Mrs. Whitakerand others were the moving spirits in this enterpirse, which was for the widows I orphans of those who fell in this war in 1853.