LIFE IN CARTERTON.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2150, 15 January 1881, Page 2

LIFE IN CARTERTON.

Carterton is, we are told by bold explorers who have braved the dangers of the Rimutaka line, a homely village beyond Featherston. Life there is somewhat dull, but its conditions have, up to the present, been considered moderately comfortable. The Carterton settler is looked upon by outsiders as an individual not exactly to bo envied, but as one whosf lot is thrown in not altogether unpleasant places. The opinion of the world, however, is often not worth much, and a late incident in that hamlet has shown that “ things are not what they seem.” In the first place justice is sometimes administered there in a manner far from satisfactory to the persons concerned, and in the second place, the sacred duties of host are perverted most abnormally. The incident wo have alluded to was the following. A well-known Carterton resident, whom we will call Resident No. 1, was a short time back found in the house of another well-known resident, whom we will call Resident No. 2. There was nothing surprising in this, as No. 1 was in the habit of frequently visiting No. 2 ; in fact, they were, if not friends, at least acquaintances. But, unfortunately, on the occasion in question No. 1 so far forgot himself as to drink rather too much than was good for him. Whether the fluid was provided by No. 2, and he was in reality to blame for “ treating ” his weak-headed friend, or whether No. 1 had dived into strange places to procure the sweet poison, we are not told; but, anyhow. No. 1 became considerably intoxicated, and excited the deep disgust of the gentleman in whose house he was found. Never, indeed, have we read of a stranger host than Carterton Resident No. 2, for what did ho do ? Did he put his friend to bed on the sofa in the back parlour p Did he take him out and pump on him? Did he have him conveyed homo to his own house P No. He sent him off to the lock-up, to be haled before the Bench next morning on a charge of burglary. The Carterton Bench have usually a quiet time of it, but here, at last, was something exciting—a well-known resident charged with burglary. But, unfortunately for the community at large, it was at once evident that there were no grounds for the accusation, and the Justices were compelled to dismiss the case. But a little excitement was absolutely necessary, and so they entered up a conviction for drunkenness against Resident No. I—an offence, by the way, for which there was no charge laid—and sentenced him to four weeTcs hard labour. Truly we were right in saying that life in Carterton is not always so unchequered as might at first sight appear probable. What with Justices’ justice and other drawbacks, it is a little village one would not care to settle down in. However, the matter has been brought under the notice of the Minister for Justice, and we hope to hear that Resident No. 1 has promptly escaped from durance vile, a wiser, though a sadder man.