TODAY'S STORY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 240, 20 November 1940, Page 8

TODAY'S STORY

"A COW OF A JOB"

WHAT THE TRAFFIC INSPECTORS THOUGHT

"Ten men ancl a dog" had a parallel on Monday when two traffic inspectors, and later, the borough inspector, equipped or otherwise provided with. a car, a light truck, a bicycle and a dog spent a very hot and tiring time in a fruitless two-hour attempt to impound a poor wandering cow in the borough pound on Monday afternoon. It was while the two traffic inspectors were at Paroa that they first saw the cow on the road and as wandering stock has been causing much of a nuisance of late, the boys in blue considered they had n 'fair cop,' and, agreeing to share the honour of the capture, decided to escort the animal to the pound. That was at noon.

The cow was docile and ambled along in fine style. It was the sight of fences not in the- best of order that gave the inspectors the idea that perhaps the beast had Avandered from the property of a well known native fanner and they returned the cow to the paddock per 1 medium of the gate.. One inspector drove the half-mile or so to the farmer's house and after a while returned .with the information that he was not the owner. So the animal .once again came under the heading of Wandering Stock. She Did Not Know Her Drill. No trouble was experienced by the officers in the journey in to town and the trio reached the borough confines without any fuss bill it was when an attempt was made to turn the coav to the right, in the direction of the Domain, that the fun commenced. Perhaps the cow wanted to be ultra-careful of traffic laws in the presence of two inspectors; perhaps it wanted to make straight for the doctor. Whatever the reason, 31 made a sudden and decisive beeline in the direction of the hospital. Continued attempts to make the beast turn right were unavailing, but Strawberry evidently considered the attempts as some annoyance and she registered a decidly pinpricked attitude. Of a sociable nature, she made up her mind to join a band of her kin visible in a near-by paddock and joined them, taking the fence in a manner which suggested Great Northern prospects. 1 Meanwhile the inspectors dashed about—quite hot. An Extreme Socialist. The crashing and the twanging of wires continued and the lady owner of the property, with visions of invading troops, rushed madly out of the house, one of the officers, recording some exasperation, advising her to re'main calm, as there was quite enough excitement, thank you.

Strawberry, yeilding to the coaxing 'now-now-there-there' of the traffic inspectors, was prevailed upon to leave the haven but she persisted in her determination to keep to the left. Apparently extreme Socialist in her outlook.

At this stage the terrors of the road-hogs decided on an adjournment for sustenance, They both required it in quantities, and both were aching from the unaccustomed exertion. One was splendidly equipped in new, shiny boots and he found the stones . quite hard. The other had a uniform overcoat on—it had been raining—and he was cursing cow, coat and condition, in that order.

During the luncheon adjournment. taken at about 1 p.m., one of the boys had the idea of enlisting the aid of the borough inspector, the latter willingly joining forces in the attempted suppression of the bovine obstinacy.

Threatening Increased Production A maize patch was the next scene. Strawberry again declining to turn left with so many inspectors about, but with threats and promises she was coaxed with loving care out of the young maize. Maybe the owner does not know about that yet.

Investigating the potentialities of sundry gardens and lawns en route, the pride of someone's farm made for the Stewart Street bridgii. The local inspector, though perhaps lie has no acquaintance with Macauley's hero, endeavoured to emulate Horatio and murmuring something about "They Shall Not Pass," he placed his bicycle across the planking and adopted a determined attitude in the rear. But Strawberry had had a long and hard experience, Bluff would hot work • •• (Continued foot previous column)