AN OCCASIONAL LETTER

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 89, 4 July 1918, Page 2

AN OCCASIONAL LETTER

Until Tuesday Trebla had all the Englishman's sympathy with foreigners, especially with the Jugo-slavs in the. district on account of the good work they have been doing. On the day mentioned one of the latter somewhat destroyed this sympathy. He approached the writer thinking the latter was a solicitor, and in course of conversation expressed himself as " not going to work for no Government atss per day." When informed that if he continued to make such utterances he would possibly be interned he stated that " that was what he wanted." Happily these are nottho general sentiments of the Jugo-slavs, but an instance is provided of some of these aliens so-called loyalty to the land of their adoption. The " gumo " joke of the season was perpetrated in Matamata on Tuesday, a well-known boardinghouse resident being called from bis lunch to view a magnificent cock pheasant, which seemed to be unconcernedly feeding under the hedge which skirts the Commercial Hotel. The returned sol—no we wen't print it —but the resident, promptly responded when a gun was called for, being quite game for a " game supper." Very quietly he procured an ancient revolver from his room and, when he returned, the bird was still patiently waiting. Two misfires resulted after careful aim had been taken, and then a fine big cat got in the line of fire. Bird or cat, something seemed bound to go —for the third time is lucky — but the smoke cleared, and behold neither were hit. The cat ran off and attended at its usual meeting place that night; the bird is back on its old perch on top of the writing desk in the Commercial Hotel, where, incidently it has been dead, very dead, for many years. It's all so disappointing but nevertheless true, as the business man at Stationer's Hall will tell you. TREBLA.