AN INCIDENT OF THE WELLINGTON CAT TRADE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2673, 13 October 1881, Page 3

AN INCIDENT OF THE WELLINGTON CAT TRADE.

This cat-dealing industry is decidedly novel. That it induces theft, and thereby inferentially creates in its turn a new industry—the manufacture of cat Thugs—l firmly believe. A party of youngsters did a fine stroke of business at the cat mart the other day, and the young vagabonds, in addition, did an old Tinakori road fossil of the Upper House, whose generosity is scarcely equal to the length of bis money bags. The old gentleman called at the place where cats most do congregate just now, behind Mr Levin’s store, and ascertaining the price paid for the domestic animal under notice, he stated that he had a fine tabby at home, which he would bring down for sale. The aged party toddled off, his footsteps being dogged by a couple of idle vagabond boys ” having sinister designs on the “conscript father,” who, after a time, emerged from his dwelling, bearing in his hand a Maori kit containing another kit, but of tho feline species. The young scamps informing the old gentleman that “Anderson, Levin’s storeman, had sent them to carry the cat down,” easily persuaded him to give them the animal, which they speedily sold to Anderson. The fossil arrived at the store shortly afterwards, and his pleasurable excitement on bearing how he and his pussy had been sold was something worth witnessing.— “ Asmodeus,” in the “ N.Z. Mail.”