A PLEASURE TRIP.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 685, 16 July 1870, Page 2

A PLEASURE TRIP.

One day this week, on pleasure chiefly bent, Ten miles from town, six of a party went, To view the reefs and otherwise obtain Relief to sufferings from quartz on brain. Both hard and soft-goods were well represented, Indeed the tempting trip was not resented By Bank or Press, who greatly disapprove To be at early day-break on the move. Northwards they marched for upwards of a mile, Where trap and horses, harness too in style Were all prepared, Waimangaroa bound, Equipped in tandem, soon they paced the ground. Eisrht miles along the r&ojjj.guj}— done. A four mile walk then came—protect me hence! Prom pleasure, if these boots in such pretence Should e'er again be led a wild goose chase, To view a reef or a disputed race.

Waist deep a dozen times in river bed, Are notions of enjoyment sad misled;' To draw a dividend, or such allurement, Might cause a repetition of enduroment Of so-called " pleasure trip," but nothing less Could mate one in theso terms the phrase express. One of the party much preferred to stay At the first bank, and would not load the way; He argued thus—"Of gold I've seen enough, The river's deep, the country's somewhat rough, Alternate mud and water's all my eye, Give them the slip, go in for pigeon pie;" And so he jibbed, with gun and ammuni tion ; The other five kept up the pleasure mission; The reef they reached (now named " The Enterprise ") Bespattered thoroughly with mud to eyes. The working shareholders behaved like bricks, The hungry visitors went in big licks, One conscientious party thought it was a shame, But walked into the tucker all the same. As to the specimens, they were not such As would enhance the half-crown duty much. They soon returned—another belter skelter, In time to reach the trap and save a pelter; Down came the rain, and quickly rose the tide, Two contemplated sloping for a ride To town, no doubt, because 'twas getting dark; The others saw the game, but stopped the lark; The tide by this time nearly reached its full, And past the surf, no horse a trap could pull; No option left, said Jones, for he was boss, The creeks are now impossible to cross. Near midnight 'twas before they got a start, When driver made the whip well act its partOn the old nags, whom every one abused, To whom moro flax than oats seemed used. Some time next morn each reached his domicile, And if a moral you would reconcile To this plain doggrel rhyme: Tis simply this:— Take saddle horses, and the tide don't miss, Whene'er a journey north you contemplate, Or you may share a somewhat similar fate. If time and tide be valued not a rap, Then you may follow suit—Take Jones's trap.