CABBAGE TREE NED.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 490, 24 April 1909, Page 13

CABBAGE TREE NED.

"Moa" writes to the "British asiau" as follows:— . . . . ••• ■ .■■ " . ■

As an old : Now Zealand Colonist I always take every advantage of perusing your paper, and in a recent issue'noted tho passing away of Ned Devinc, or "Cabbage Tree Ned," both of which names ho was well known by to the. old colonists. I could tell many a good tale '-.of ■poor old Ned in his Now Zealand days, for he was a practical joker, and always open to some fun to keep tho game df life alive, but I think one of the best was in the early 70's. At that time Ned was taking the mails on "Cobb's Coach" from Dunedin to Mount Ida and back, leaving Dunedin early with six greys in hand, and doming in two days after similarly horsed, and one. of the privileges ho always claimed was tho right to reserve thebox Seats for his choice of passengers, which he always, saved fof ladies, if thero were any travelling (and many a lady in''New Zealand he has made the long journey look short to, with his yarns)./ One morning, the coach drawn up at the office door in Manse Street, Dunedin,. ho Eat on the box, reins in hand,, but leaning forward as ho took'this mails from some ono on tho off side, so that ho might throw them in between his legs to the "boot" of tho coach; A gentleman 'hurried Up on the near side, with opossum rUg, portmanteaux, etc., evidently ready to travel, exclaiming, " Here, Dcvine, tako those," and about to throw them up. ''What for?" said Ned. ."I want to tnke my seat." "Which seat" "The one by you." ."Who says co?" "I do." "Can't have that seat, it's engaged," says Ned. "But I engaged it at the office last .night," "Can't help that, no one has a right to say who sitsthore but me.". ,■■'"■ Tho gentleman now thought he'd take another course, so he said r "But do you' know who I am?" "No, and don't care." "But I'm Mr. Fitzhcrbertj tho ' PostmastorGonoral." "Well," said Nod, " it's a darned good'berth, and if you tako my tulvice vou'll keep itj but you can't have that seat. - ' , 4 . : ■ So the moils in, the lady alongside of him, ami till aboard, for all he cared the Minister loft behind)'off ho starts, and a rotten road it Was in those dfiys, especially in winter, with tho snow on the ground.