SOMETHING NEW AND QUITE TRUE.

Evening Star, Issue 3251, 22 July 1873, Page 3

SOMETHING NEW AND QUITE TRUE.

A bit of wedding cake and its adventures form the theme of the following letter, which appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald of a recent date :—“ Sir, —When the steamer Wong* Wonga last left Melbourne a friend of mine, recently married, forwarded a small parcel by the vessel, addressed to me. I did not know the contents (nlfhough 1 had some idea thereof) j but 1 applied for the parcel at the office of the company, when 1 was informed that I must pass an entry snd declare tho contents, value, Ac,, before it could be given up. Being in doubt as to what really was in it, it became necessary to hold a court-martial over it, by opening it in the presence of the proper authorities appointed for such purposes. Next scene of this interesting drama opens upon a group consisting of agents of vessels, Custom-house authorities, and applicant for the parcel—all in the highest state of excitement and ill-concealed curiosity. Tableau I—parcel found to contain ‘ half-a-pound of wedding-cake,’ which fact is duly recorded and attested on proper foolscap form. Now, surely, I can have my parcel ? Oh, dear, no ! you must conform to the requirements of the law, and pass an entry and pay duty. The duty is one penny; but the Custom-house being just closed, you must wait till to-morrow. Tired of walking to and fro, I sit down to tell you about it. If the mice are considerate, and I eventually get the cake, you shall have a bit of it— Yours, obediently, A Matter of Duty.” In a subsequent issue, tho Herald acknowledges receipt of the promised piece of cake, and adds Considering that the person who passed the entry only obtained he has made us a very liberal donation, which we acknowledge, with our benediction to the newly married pair.”