BITS OF BANANALAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2171, 3 October 1895, Page 42

BITS OF BANANALAND.

BT OIQAKHTTB,

THE AUSTRALIAN STOBH KEXG, I. Have yon ever been sfflloted with 9, sudden fit of shyness juet at the very moment when yon want all your wits about you 1 If so, you will understand how I fell; when I prepared to undergo my first experience of " interviewing." Much as I wished to Bee the wondorf ul weather prophet, my heart was in my boots as I knocked . at the door of the Chief Weather Bureau in Brisbane and asked if I oould see Mr Wragge. I was armed with a letter of introduction from a Government official as well as the magic press card, and yet there I stood, feeling like aa idiot, while a ohoeky-looking office boy asked me my name and then shouted np a speaking tube to ask the great man whether he would Me me. The answer was, " Very busy ; call again same time to-morrow," and with a feeling of relief I retired. But to-morrow oame, and with it the same horrible feeling such as one experiences at tho door of a dentist before tho tooth is drawn. Once moie I knocked and *, as admitted, only to be told that " Mr Wmgge i* not coming into town to-day." Evidently he thinks I am an insurance agent or book fiend, thinks I to myself, and the opposition makes me all tho more determined to see thin human " will o' the wisp." Meanwhile the olerk with a grin asks if be shall telephone any message to Mr Wraggo. " Yes," I answer curtly. " Tell him I have been here twice, and that I have a letter of introduction to him, and would feel much obliged if he would make an appointment." The answer comes back — " Oome to-morrow at half-past 3," and again I retiro with a feel' ing of relief. My nervousness had quite worn off by the third day ; all I wanted was to get the inter* view over and convert it into "copy"; and yet when the office boy said that Mr Wragge would pee me, and led the way upstairs, everything I htd in my mind to fay took flight, and by tho time I got to the top o! tbe stairs 1 wished I had never come. However, it is " U premier pas gui coute," aa the French cay, and the Bignt of the great Btorm King put. mo at my ease immediately. He received me courteously, and most kindly offered to show me the obs-ervarory and anything else of interest in his department. " If you would not mind waiting a week, I hope my hand will be bettor ; then I shall be ablo to turn the screws of my big teleBoope and show you the moon." I thanKed him, and expressed regret at hie accident. 11 Yep, it is unfortunate ; but I was romping with my youngsters and managed to sprain my wrist, so now I am dependent on others to write my letters, ko." A whole pile of correspondence lay at his elbow, so as soon as we bad settled a day to viait the observatory I took my departure and wended my way homewards. 11 Well, what was ho like ? " was the first quebtinn that greted me on my arrival. " Ob, like mont clever people, rather disappointing in looks." " Wtiy, wasn't he like what you had expected." " Not at all, I had pictured someone quite different. My ideas of him are quite changed." " Tell ua what your ideas were t " " Well, if you must know thtm, I thought I should see a eort of ogr«lflb pcrcou with dark hair, deep-set ey«F, very tell and powerful. I fancied him sittiDg in hia den all day concocting storms and taking a wicked delight in sending 'eleotric disturbances ' to spoil any special outdoor amusement of our pleasiire-loviog people, instead of which he is " "What? Well, what is he?" cornea in a chorus ns I ftop and try to think how to dee cribs tbe first victim I ever "interviewed." " Oome, make haste ; sorely you oan tell us what he was like." "Well— he- he— he wears a steol watch chain t" A roar of laughter jrreet.fi this piece of ioforraatioD, and someone asks, " Was that all ? " " Op, no ; of course he was dressed like anyone else — a sort of gray " " Oh, never mind his clothes," interrupt* a male voice ; " fell us about the man. What port of a chap is ha to speak to ? " •• Very nice. He askod mo if I objected to ' hJs and I said • No '; then he apologised for putting me off so many times, and then we talked about New Zealand." " And was he nice-looking ? " asks a girl's voice. " You wouldn't think so. He has red hair and sandy whiskers and moustache, a weethor-btaten skin, a very refined nose — and you know bow rare a thing a good nose is— and rathpr nice blue eyes." "Was he tall?" " No, and very thin ; in fact he gave me the impression of being all brain. lie looks* as sensitive as one of bis own barometers. If I bad my way I would send him to sleep for a year, and when he woke up feed him on stout and oysters for the rest of his life." "It is a good thing for Queensland, then, • that you can't have your way if that is the way you would treat our great ♦ In Clement, 1 " says the facetious man, who i 3 alvrnya on tha lookout for a pua (Mr Wragge's name is Clement). Nobody laugha at this timeworn joke, and hearing the Bound of teacups afar off I retire from the verandah, promising everyone an account of my vißit to the observatory next week.

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