A BREAK-DOWN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1424, 26 April 1912, Page 4

A BREAK-DOWN.

HOW AN U.P. WAS LEFT ON THE ROAD.

A rocountai of tho circumstances which 1 prevented tho member for Wellington Suburbs (Mr. W. H. D. Bell, M.P.) from being present at tho opening of tho new post office at Porirua, on Wednesday afternoon, will provo entertaining to thoso acquainted with thoso included in the dramatis personao. In response to tho invitation of the Hon. Mr. Ell (Postmaster-General), Mr. Bell accepted a seat in a motor-car, which besides himself seated the Minister, Mr. Donald Robertson, and a press representative. In another car were Mr. ,T, h. Fitzgerald (the defeated candidate for Wellington Suburbs, and supplier of tho cars), and Mr. Ell's secretary. All went well until Ngahamanga, when tho big . ear broke, down, refusing quite stubbornly to climb the Gorgo Road. Here was a pretty predicament, for there was no time to be lost, as tho parity had made a rather lata start from (own. As it was imperative, that tho Minister should got to Porirua. at all costs, Mr. Fitzgerald at once offered to take him on in tho small but competent car. Away they went up tho Gorgo and out of sight, whilst the rest of the party got back to town as best thev could. So instead of tho member for Iho'district iiresiding, Mr. ,1. fi. I'itrgernld did tho honours, presided at the banquet, and made a speech about tho aflaira of tho district,