LEAVES FROM A DIARY.

Evening Star, Issue 3361, 27 November 1873, Page 2

LEAVES FROM A DIARY.

Colonel Gorton, the brander-in-chief of the Colony, recently published a report which was laid on the table of the Assembly. It may possibly be in connection with this that the extract we now make from the Wellington Pod found its way into print The following fragment, apparently from a diary, has been picked up and forwarded to us, in hopes that the lost leaves may find their way back to the rightful owner. As no clue appears in the MSS to guide us, we publish what we have received in the trust that some one may be found whom the cap will fit:— Thursday.—Disappointment to-day. Went to the servant girls’ department. there (name illegible). Great nuisance. Told me he’d allow me to brandy and water him to any extent, but objected to any other branding. Obstructions as usual. Besides this, a man in his position should not resort to sue!ibuffoonery. Wonder at him. Mem.: Be quits with him some day, eh ? Tuesday, nui, (beginning of this word illegible) 2 p.m.—A great stroke Went to K.M.’s room. No one there. Horrified to see shelves of books no marks on them. Hushed to hotel, got brand and did them all. Immense improvement. A chair, too, a nice chair, branded that. Back, to luncheon, feeling perfectly satisfied I’d done my duty. 5 p.m. Don’t quite understand this, _ Two letters—one from R.M., asking whether it was from a fellow-feeling that I branded his calfbound law books, and asking me to pay for damaging his private property. Other letter from irate volunteer officer, telling me I’ve spoilt furniture belonging to him, and asking me if I’ve mistaken his wooden arm chair for my own head. Instead of thanking me for the ornamental touch I have given—-oh, dear! there’s not a bit of artistic feeling in either, no, by jingo there isn’t. Thursday, Waihi Stockade -Did pretty well here; very little escaped me, 1 win tell you. Happy thought struck me just as I had stamped the last rung of a ladder; lot of armed constables walking about, all of them Government property ; they should be entered in my books ; spoke to officer in charge ; lie must be no good; said that he didn’t see it in that light - that the men would object; said, too, if I tried the branding on with them, he’d let me know. Some people are densely obtuse—that’s a fact However, mem : telegraph to the (Commissioner on the subiect. Another bright idea. There’s a Commissioner of Stamps; why the deuce isn’t there a Commissioner of Brands? Suppose if they made me one, there’d be extra screw. Memo.—Speak about it in Wellington. Friday.-Fair day’s work, but more disappointment. Marked 279 posts and 339 sleepers. Found some of the old fiosts nut into the ground brand downwards. Insisted on contractor at once reversing them. Man said he’d see me (word here illegible) first. Argued the {Joint, but finally gave in, and branded them over again. Suggestion came to me—shingles strewn on the line should be branded. Said so. Found no one to agree. A rude workman muttered something about necessity for branding my own loose shingle first. Don t know what he meant. Mein.: Make inquiries. Contractor a horrid man. Told me with a broad grin, as I was going away, that all the {idsts and sleepers I’d just nicely marked had been condemned the day before. Stupid man not to have told me before; he saw me at work, That’s the class of persons which dotfs not thoroughly appreciate my untiring efforts in the service of the public. Home, very tired. I start for inspection to-morrow.