ON THE SPREE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 692, 19 July 1882, Page 2

ON THE SPREE.

[“tuapbka times.”] A rather good story is told of a party of excursionists who left this district a short time ago on a visit to dhe metropolis of Otago. It is said that on arriving in the city they began r to enjoy themselves in a variety of ways, visiting the many places of interest for which Dunedin is famous, indulging in a bit of quiet gossip with their city acquaintances, and not forgetting to give zest to the proceedings by payingdue devotions at the shrine of Bacchus. After spending the greater part of the day in this manner, and getting half-seas over, they were reminded that they were not at home in the City of Mud, but in the City of the Lyceum, Museum, and Freethought Association, upon which they made a struggle for the railway station, much after the fashion of a gallant fleet of ships ing to weather Cape Horn. Arriving at the station, they tumbled into a carriage bound for the South. Soon after the departure of the train ft stertorous noise was heard in one of the carriages, sufficient to drown the noise of the engine, and at every station those on the platform might be heard enquiring if a cargo of hogs were being conveyed in second-class railway carriages. This state of affairs lasted until the arrival of the train at Balclutha. On being aroused, and, enquiries made as to their destination, it was found that they had been traveling a considerable distance in the wrong direction. There was nothing left but to make the besr of a mistake. The party of excursionists have now all arrived here, although some of them were nearly a week longer on the passage than they expected. The parties have now resolved to join the Good Templars.