OAMARU.

Otago Witness, Issue 1967, 5 November 1891, Page 21

OAMARU.

Novbmbbb 2.— We have just had a visit from " Lord Wortley." or VMr Oraig" aocording to his family name. We have seen in the Witness accounts of this worthy's operations, so that fuller particulars will be interesting. He shows much adroitness in keeping outside of the law. A breach of trust is the most that can be brought against him, and the victims would rather keep quiet thtn make any fuss and acknowledge being 'had." He "boomed" the district as an apostle of temperance, and as he tailed along under the wing of the Prohibitionists he had a glorious time of it. With letters of introduction to some of thk leading people from the. local temperanoe men, he was treated literally like a lord. The light and airy manner in whioh he would address our local magnates by their Christian names, or even an abbreviation of them, was a caution, and somehow seemed to inspire bis auditors with the beMef of his aristocratic connections. In the town he waited on an agent for advice as to tbe best manner in which he could invest £5000 or £6000, as he was in daily expectation of the receipt of a large legacy The agent was delighted at the prospect of a fine fat comroi«sion, and drove " Lord Wortley " round to view some of the best properties, and strenuously resisted hii "lordship's" proposal to give him > a ohrque for £5 for his trouble, the agent said that the vendor would remunerate him. His lordship then asked him to step in and "take something," and then after an elaborate search found that he had no change! and would Mr Agent oblige him with the temporary loan of a few shillings. As Mr Agent once hoodwinked a judge, the community rather enjoyed this portion of the affair. •• Lord Wortley "^waited upon another of his friends and borrowed a horse to go Weston way to view some other farms he intended buying, and after gettiDg out of sight took another road and came out at tbe north end of the town. Here be left the horse for a "few days" and" borrowed £5, promising to repay it and-the expenses in a few days when his legacy ahould arrive. This was a welcome windfall and carried his lordship clear Into Canterbury into fresh fields. When the owner of the horse heard the particulars tbe expression on his face was a caution, and it appears he could not fet his animal back till he paid the £5. " Lord Portley " always carried a formidable array of letters and legal-looking documents, whioh he would bring out in the most nonchalant manner imaginable, and frequently spoke of his engagements to dine with the looal landed magnates. He had a highly cultivated manner, and somewhat aristocratic appearance, and talked about thousands as airily as most men talked about shillings. Certainly his coat was shiny at the back and elbows, and his countenance showed signs of dissipation ; but then be was a real lord, and a wealthy one to boot, and what are unpardonable sins in the plebeians are only eccentrloltles among i rioh aristocrats, such is the wonderful gloss of money in this mammon-loving age. Railway Eocentbioities.— The ways of the Bailway Commissioners are' astonishing. During the Timaru show the fares were twice the money from here to Timaru in comparison with those from Ohristohurch to Timaru, and yet it is only half the dlitanoe, What is regarded as an unjust imposition

is tbe charge of Id for posting letters in the train, even where there is no post office within several miles.