Untitled

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 36, 21 May 1881, Page 385

"The best laid schemes of men and mice gang aft aglee " (for which, as a scholar, OA'erhaul your Bobby Burns). During the week an interesting" illustration of the proverb has come under our notice. There is a claim at Te Aroha called the — well, say the "Discordant." Several of the larger shareholders reside in Hamilton, and are supposed to receive early information from the mine manager — in fact so early as to put them in a favourable position for operating in the stock should they feel "so dispoged." "Well, the other day one of these Hamilton shareholders wrote a confidential letter to a Mend (another large holder) somewhat to the following effect :— " Good news from the mine. Have notified Auckland shareholders that unless they pay up, their interests will be forfeited. Hope they will not pay up, as it will he all the better for us. On no account let hear about this, but keep it to yourself. " Unf ortun ately it was just at this point that cruel Fate, in the shape of a lapsus, came in and spoilt the little game. The Hamilton gentleman, by a fatal oversight, actually addressed the envelope to the very person from whom he wished the "tip" concealdd. The tableaux was too striking to be reproduced in words, and would baffle any ordinary powers of description. Suffice it to say that has been showing the letter around with an almost sacred

solemnity of manner and deep-drawn sighs for the prevalence of human depravity, mingled with divers dark threats to "see the matter to the bottom."