THE BATTLE OF KAITI.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 137, 20 June 1901, Page 2

THE BATTLE OF KAITI.

MISCHIEVOUS LOYALTY OF SMALL BOYS.

A scene of an amusing character took place on the Haiti on Monday night; at least it was amusing to all but one individual, who, however, got his laugh in at the finish. A party of boys invaded tho humble domicile of an individual whose method of living has exercised the authorities a good deal. “ Good evening, Tom,” said the spokesman, and Tom responded "to the salutation. “Do you know that the Duke and Duchess passed Gisborne this morning, and that it is Waterloo Day to-morrow?” Tom was not aware of these interesting events, but was quite willing to take the boy’s word for it. “ Well, we’ve come to give you a wash in honor of the occasion,” said the boy. Tom demurred to the proposal, and suggested that there might be other ways of pleasing the Duke. The boys, however, were not to be diverted from their purpose, and laid hold of the individual. The latter, however, escaped in the darkness, and they scoured the country in search of their intended prey; but were_ unsuccessful.

While they were engaged in their search Tom had run up town and unfolded his trouble to Sergeant Siddells. The boys were still on the look-out when Tom again appeared on the scene. “ Here he is ! ” was the jubilant shout of the first boy who descried him. “ We’re going to wash you this time all right,” said one boy. *• No you’re not,” was the reply from a third party, and the boy was seized by the collar of his coat. He nearly fainted with fright when ho found that it was into Sergeant Siddells’ hands he had fallen. Some of the other boys unsuspectingly rushed up, to find that Detective Henderson and Constable Hazlett were in readiness to receive them. The boys will appear beEore the Court on Monday next. They claim that they did not mean to do any harm —that they were only going to give the individual a wash.