VISITORS FROM CLUTHA BY RAIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1241, 11 September 1875, Page 5

VISITORS FROM CLUTHA BY RAIL.

Dunedin on Thursday was very full of country visitors who had taken advantage of the Government's kindness in placing a free train on the line from Baloluth*. Numbers who arrived had not been in town for .some ten or fifteen years, while Ihe younger members had never before seen the "metro, polus," as we heard one spioily-dressed dama term it. It is very much to be regretted that those who had the ordering of this free trip bad not made such arrangements that the visitors would nob have had an empty town to come to, with all the shops closed, So far as the country people were concerned, this was a very great disappointment to them. They had made up their minds y, hen in Dunedin to do some shopping, and probably purchase a few little presents for those left at home. Under the circumstances, this #as impossible, as all the shopkeepers had taken advantage of the holiday. Pro bably half the people who vrere in town yesterday will never visit Dunedin again, unless another free train is laid on. One or two establishments did pretty well out of the visitors; for instance, at Messrs Watson's dining-rooms so great was the cruah that over a hundred persons were turned away It was a perfect study for an artist to stand at one end of the large dining-room and see the business-like manner in which a good fair shilling's worth was put out of sight. A family, for instance, num. Bering six members, would enter the room, and, selecting a pretty central table in order to be speedily waited upon, would commence operations in the most systematic style. The father and mother taking their seats, the other members would stand all round the table, and, after sharpening knives, look round rather anxiously for the waiter. The old man unbuttons his coat and lets out two reefs from the vest. Mrs M'Guffin unties her bonnet strings, places that coal-scuttle-looking article well at the back of her head, wipes her bronzed face with a haudkercnief that has been in the family since the Commonwealth, gives young Jack one over the head for pocketing a lump of bread, and then fairly settles down to give Watson a turn and take her bob'sworth. out. The juveniles worry tho meat and pastry considerably, and then, with a half hungry look like Oliver Twist, when asking for more, suggest a second edition of pudding. While on the subject of the visit, one might suggest to the Government the desira- - bility of running another free train from the Olutha, in order that our country friends may have an opportunity of visiting Dunedin when we are in full business swing, and ready to sell them anything from a china doll to a steam engine. We feel quite sure that the authorities merely require a hint to carry out our suggestion, and run a special, say some day next week. The settlers and others would take advantage of it, and it would be to them an advantage as well as to our fellow citizens. We ar<s pleased to be able to state that, notwithstanding the num. her of persons, old and young, conveyed backwards and forwards yesterday, not a single accident or mishap is reported, and ail went off most successfully. The railway officials, under the personal superintendence oE Mr Conyers, carried out the arrangements m an admirable manner, and gave the greatest satisfaction.