Old Grumble Witnesses a Catastrophe

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 23, 4 August 1885, Page 2

Old Grumble Witnesses a Catastrophe

To persons of a sensitive nature the witnessing of some appalling accident,' involving suffering and death to their fellow creatures produces such depression that it is painfully observable upon their. countenances. Grumble had witnessed a terrible accident, and his dejection caused thereby was noticed by Mrs G. the moment he entered his home. " What's the matter," she asked ; '• your face looks like a towel that nas been wiped on for a month; what has frightened you P" '• Well, my dear, I just called in at Bel <• lamy's " " More shame for you to sa» so," was the response; "its the woraty kept hotel in Wellington, and there i£ more sharping going on there than. in all' .New Zealand put together. However,, let' 8 hear the news." "Well, then, I dropped in (just on business) when I saw a group standing at the bar.' One of them, whom I believe is a commission agent, was singing, and the others joined x in that chorus of — ' Fakements such W these I try, Get a living we all must r > Honesty is all my eye, Anything to ear* a crust ' — when some more came in. One whom they called a native minister— 7 though I would swear he was no .clergyman ; he hadn't got the cut of one— asked ■ of him who was singing, 'if business was any better,' to which the man shook his head, said '.No,' and swore that it was the unluckiest season he had ever seen'; that he had speculated in a whole house full of notions, and though he had laid them out as seductively as he could to the public view, he had not been able to * dispose of one; and because he -had not laid in a stock of property, his customers were continually bothering him for it, and would have nothing else; if things did . not take a change he would soon be Out of house and home, * But,' continued he, 'I've got a good railway if you know where I could dispose of it.' 'What kind is it P' queried the minister, • Oh ! good double action— east and west coast.' ..: The other smiled, and said, ' You don't mean to say you've cheek enough, to try to palm that old thing on to the public? Why it is rotten from beginning to end/ ' I am, though ; aad to prove to the people what a useful concern it is, we are r going to have a little excursion on it this irvry night— just a trial trip; aren't we, old fellows?' Those he addressed,, and of whom he seemed to be the controlling spirit, being pretty well gone, answered* ' Certainly, and we expect you to Join us., But the minister, as they called ' him, stoutly refused to risk his life upon : if, saying it was not safe and that they would meet their deaths if they ventured on it. 'Come on,' said the agent, coariuglj; ' here, have another drop of stout, I'll treat you ;' but the minister firmly declined, declaring that the measures he ' had already swallowed were far too heavy, and that if he took any more he should lose his equilibrium ; besides, he had ail appearance to keep up. I saw that this I man had a well-ballanced mind, for he ' not only told them that they had had enough, but advised them not to go on - the railway. But the /commission agent, pooh-poohed him, and assured hisothor , companions that • it was quite safe as he had got 600 sleepers of'the best South Island timber to strengthen the liney and on the recommendation of the merchants who supplied him, he was determined to go the whole hog or none.' I waited to see what would be the result, my dear* as I had become interested in their eon'^ . . versation, when the whole lot of them, highly intoxicated, went off arm in arm • to try the railway. I bow turned to the minister and {.sked, 'Do you think they, will risk themselves on that line P* He' • replied, ' Oh, that fellow is daring enough for anything— a clever fellow that used ' to be thought a lot of, but allowing himself to be mixed up in so many shuffling transactions, such as this railway for instance, has caused him to lose his reputation, and the people are beginning to have no faith in him.' Just then I heard the whistle blown, the commission agent gave the notice of motion, and aided by the exertions of an amused crowd, the rain rolled along like a log. The crowd became as excited as South (sea; Islanders and some with difficulty were restrained from being crashed beneath the old juggernaut. I looked round to see what had become of my companion by this time, lie was sitting on a rail giving a chant, but so dismally that it sounded like a dirge. The words were 'The engine groaned, the wheels they squeaked, the steam it whistled, and the boiler leaked, they wouldn't be told, though the bolts were all rusted, when all of a sudden tjio old thing 'busted.' Sure' enough thei* £ was an explosion, which sent the * and all his troupe to dwell in those castfein,. in the air they had been building. Vr^tei^ do you say my dear : Wasn't the peoplo !? sorry P Not a bit They said, servo them right, and began to talk about

someone they expected to see shortly, occasionally shouting, ' When Johnny c«mes marching home agaio ; hurrah, that is H'all.'"

Old Gbumblb.

' We learn from the Manawatu. Herald that the Foxton Racing Olub is in a good financial condition. The receipt? last year were £515, which were expended as follows: —Stakes, £300; building, fencing, planting, and repairs to course, £106 2s 9d; printing, £22 8s 9d; sundries, £48 2s 9d ; balance in hand, £38 5s 9d. This is most satisfactory. .