A DIFFIOULT CONTRACT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1019, 7 December 1883, Page 3

A DIFFIOULT CONTRACT.

r; Ills not often that there is anything "-Of 1 a particularly humorous character connected with the proceedings of Road Boards, an exceptional instance, however, occurred the other day in the County of Bruce. Within the district referred to was a certain road-line, which had been marked off, and duly authorised by the authorities, and the Road Board in question decided that it should be opened up. Tenders for formation and construction were in-yited,-and a contract entered into for that purpose. But the proprietor of the land adjoining one side of the proposed road had a sod fence down the middle, -of the track, or near about the middle, 4 \ for the fence pursued a somewhat sinuoils course, and when the contractor and his then commenced operations he ap peared upon the scene and ordered them off. Explanations were useless, he, insisted upon their departure. The men retired, but returned the next day with the clerk to the Board in their ' company. The proprietor of the lard 5 duly "appeared upon the scene, and on the contractor commencing the demolition of the fence, he immediately attacked him. The contractor then caught the settler and threw him over the fence; He no sooner regained his feet than he came to scratch again, and this time with good effect, for he stripped the contractor’s back of two shirts, and left him from the waist upwards as bare as when he was born. At the settler, fancying he was getting the worst of the bargain, called: for his wife, who immediately Appeared on the scene, armed with a pistol. It was now evident that nothing less than “ battle, murder and sudden death ” might be anticipated. The cockatoo, now supported by an armed contingent, renewed his attack on the contractor. The Clerk to the Road Board then went to his assistance, 8 and dropped his stick. This was imihediately seized by the settler’s wife, ,t|he proceeded to administer it upon ’'the.contractor’s naked hide, with such effect that his back soon resembled a map of Wales. During the time the woman was frantically rushing about threatening to shoot all and sundry Walt came within range of her weapon. Ultimately, a rush was made for the and the pistol secured, which was found unloaded, and almost useless. - The settler now found that “ discretion was the better part of valor,” and beat a hasty retreat from sc6ne of conflict. The contractor finished Ws job, and made all haste to procure some ointment wherewith to anoint his back ,-r-JBtuce Herald.