LATE LOCALS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1922, Page 3

LATE LOCALS

Ap; nreiitly there is no limit Lo peu-J.li-'s ]>:iticncM- with students when they set cuit on their luimml revels (says the “Olag.i I tail v Times”). Tlie great majmity keep tneir pranks within I, iiiiikls, lint there are always a few who impose on gon,| nature and ab)ise the "ide latitudes given them. I’roha'hh a yennl many Imsiness houses had the experience of one establishment which was invaded by half a dozen grotesque figures headed by a ti p-liatted gentleman with an angular and scantily-clad “lady” whom he freely introduced as his wife. \ Iter having passed a few jokes with the men assistants about, the pair proceeded diligently' to search out all the girls on the staff and subject them to an introduction and kissing ceremony. While they climbed over the counters and poked here and there into piivate odices the performance was followed by a keenly interest. e<l and mill!', amused crowd of assistants ami customers.

All three lecturers of tlu* Alpine ; Club meeting at Wellington on Tues- I d"V, states the “I’ost.” referred to the ken. as the humorist of the mountain , ranecs of the Smith Island. Mr A. I’. Harper detailed several instances where . the curiosity and misehieviousness of | these hints had proved a nuisance ’ whilst he was on the slopes of the . • Southern Al]>s. He instanced one ease ; where Jwo keas had disenvered a j “hilly” on a bench, ami had gradually ( | puslr-l it along until they finally spilt ! its contents. At the conclusion, he ; e said that on one occasion he had been j asked tn bring hack two live keas. To i l fulfil this request lie left a. bag open, j ; and a keu walked in. Tile bird ap- j i pa.rently desired to impress his friends, ! a.ml he induced another keu to also in- ! vestigato the inside of the hag, finally I ' encouraging two others to similarly I I “try their luck.” Mr Harper tlicreI upon shut them all up in the bag. j “When I opened the hag." continued i the narrator, “I found the ken dead | who had induced the other three to enter into . captivity.” Mr Malcolm i I toss Infer on stud that a ken persisted in gazing tit the camp lire, and finally , its curiosity impelled it to lilt a hot cinder from the edge in its beak, bond were the squawk’s of tile bird as a result. and it flew some distance away, | where its cries collected a large number of its own ilk. who all chattered ; loudly and apparently “passed a vote of censure on the human beings who bad invaded their sanctuary.”