AWKWARD

Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1929, Page 4

AWKWARD

A South Island member of the Legislative Council who was travelling across Cook "Strait by the ferry steamer last Monday night, like many a younger man, felt the cold considerably. A lifetime spent in declaiming against ■ the evils of drink prevented, naturally; enough, any recourse by the traveller to alcohol to stimulate the circulation. He had, however, taken the precaution to carry a hot water bag with him to heat the blankets when he rest, but in the hurry of his departure from home the stopper had been overlooked and the bag was therefore useless. Stewards are expected to meet eventualities of this nature, and the one appealed to by the M.L.C. proved , resourceful. His suggestion of a couple of beer bottles filled with hot water was not received at first with any great enthusiasm, but it was pointed out to the M.L.C. that they were better than nothing. Thereupon, he weakened, arid he was tucked in safely with'a bottle , on each side of him. the sea was fairly rough, and as the steamer plunged and bucked her way across the Strait the member’s bunk—the top one—collapsed and plumped him and his two friendly bottles on to the floor, both bottles breaking. A ; lifelong prohibitionist gazed with dismay on the suspicious and disreputable scene, and then an S.O.S. went out ffir the steward, who hurried to the rescue'; “ Here gather up these bottles,” was his whispered greeting, “or else passengers will say the * old man ’ got drunk and fell out of bed.” Tlie story is now going the rounds of the House, and the member is daily being pestered, by solicitous friends, who take him the buttonhole and ask him in the most \ secretive and guileless, manner whether the bottles really contained something stronger than water.