ON THE WALLABI.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 379, 9 March 1880, Page 2

ON THE WALLABI.

To tlie Editor of the AJcaroa Mail.

Dear Old Friend, —I'm in the straits again as usual, my late campaign on the grass seed track has been almost a complete failure. Had half lay, free run of the store and pub. as long as the work lasted; but now work is finished I'm clean swamped, prices are almost nil, and my earnings are all gone in tucker, &c. Yet, I don't much mind, for there is some consolation in having companions in misfortune ; and the dairymen are all en voyage with low prices and no sale for their produce. And what next? Well, the next is, they are all in absolute fear and dread that the Government Property Tax, like the last straw, will break the camel's'back. New Zealand is fast becoming the land of Taxes, subscriptions, and artes, and if it is not one ot the former, well, it is a fine, and if it is not a fine, it is a caution. Ah, well! " Necessitas non habet legem." " Laws grind the poor, and rich men make the laws," and with the large deficit in the past half-year's revenue, I'm afraid we are not yet at the worst. By-the-bye, my old friend of,Wellingtonian visage, the hero of many a stormy night with Mr Brazennose, informs me that he intends travelling the war trail until he obtains justice in the matter of a road to his ranche. He informs me also that he has already stored up a large stock in trade of. explosives, which have already established the first precedent in our County laws. The composition of the new combustibles are as follows:—The first ingredients are " Mum," " Plunder, and Howl him Down," " Rebels," " Frogs," " Croakers," with a few private extracts from Carlyle on the justice of Frederic the Great. The ingredients are mixed with a few tears, while weeping o'er " man's man " ; but the exact atomic quantitiejL are a puzzle even to Professor ChadwicFfumself, only it is well known that a 2501b. charge will drive a grade right through the Little Eiver Tunnel, and the Balguerie Koad to boot. The old moke Jack is in full training and ihe Duke intends attending every' meeting of the County Council, during the next twelve months, and if his 20 per cent, of the Land Charge is not forthcoming, and this road made in quick time, an explosion will follow, for " 'tis pity, 'tis true," what he says. The road to the Lighthouse, Flea Bay, and the Heads Country is a disgrace to all local, general, andjnilperial rulers. " Good bye Charlie, when you are away, Write me a letter, love." A great man once said :—"Men are hogs, and feed on gold," so I'm off to see my old friends Olphert and Wascoe, at the Little Kiver Baces. It is reported the scramble will be great, but I'm sure the " Ami sacra farms " will not be slacked, notwithstanding the large amount of good drinking which usually is done at this meet. So, good-bye, for the present, from your old friend,

SHBEPSHEAE.