1.-Charlie and George, just from Home, have been doing the North on horseback, The day before Christmas Eve they put up at an up-country public-house, intending to make an early start next morning, so as to get to Auckland in time for Christmas Day. 2.-But the ladlord, realising from the frequent demands for drinks that he has got two good guests, and business being somewhat dull with him this Christmas, determind that they should stay with him a few days. So he carefully instructed his boy to drive the horses as far a field as possible-an old trick with up-country hotel-keepers. 3.-The result was, that when Cnarile and George rose before the sun on the following morning, instead of their horses being at hand, they were not be seen. 4.-It was midday before they came upon one of the animals in a secluded gully. 5.- But he did not see why he should not have a Christmas holiday too. 6. At 4 p.m., when both were tired and weary, they caught a glimpse of one of the brutes near a stream. They made for him and Charlie plunged through the thick toi-toi grass. George after him. 7.- The horse was certainly there, but something else was too.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXII, Issue I, 7 January 1899, Page 4

1.-Charlie and George, just from Home, have been doing the North on horseback, The day before Christmas Eve they put up at an up-country public-house, intending to make an early start next morning, so as to get to Auckland in time for Christmas Day. 2.-But the ladlord, realising from the frequent demands for drinks that he has got two good guests, and business being somewhat dull with him this Christmas, determind that they should stay with him a few days. So he carefully instructed his boy to drive the horses as far a field as possible-an old trick with up-country hotel-keepers. 3.-The result was, that when Cnarile and George rose before the sun on the following morning, instead of their horses being at hand, they were not be seen. 4.-It was midday before they came upon one of the animals in a secluded gully. 5.- But he did not see why he should not have a Christmas holiday too. 6. At 4 p.m., when both were tired and weary, they caught a glimpse of one of the brutes near a stream. They made for him and Charlie plunged through the thick toi-toi grass. George after him. 7.- The horse was certainly there, but something else was too.