Years Ago.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 1 July 1890, Page 2

Years Ago.

No. 11. Twenty three years ago, the country was, fortunately, not po thickly populated as now, or the acfcnrs who played " such fantastic tricks before high heaven " would have had to do more work for the State, with lesa pay, than they th«*n chose. Awahou was populated with Surveyors an I their m^n, and many a long-drawn spree did they indulge in. There is still standing on the hanks of the river, an old wellknown, land mark, a house the worse for wearing, but within its walls were enacted many a curious scene at tliia period. It wa? then tin public house, and a strong well built young man was the landlord, call him what you will, Brown, .Tones, or Kibinson, it was al the same. Whilst you had the cash, he would answer to any name ] One night two of the smartest ] surveyors were sitting? in the "Com 1 mercial " room, when the other visitors had been pot rid of, and as usual than, not without some s rious tusselH, of which however these tw • took but little heed. The landlord had made every endeavour to persuade them to go to bed, but of course the more ho desired it, the I*»> 3 they wanted to. He desisted and retired, but, fancying' himself a tit of a pugilist, fretted that these two should set him at defiance, acd after a short time, arrive.! at the conclusion that he ought, and would be, master in his own hou«e. Now this very foolish individual had acted as most people do, and on retiring, directed himself of his wearing apparel, except a rather short shirt, anl in lug hurry to vindicate big rights, loff; h ; s b^d and hastened to the Coramm-ciil room without making any alteration in his dre«s. This turned out unfoitunate'v for him. The two surveyors noticed his appro eh, and the kindling of his eye, and prepared for a squall The landlord expressed his intention to show them tliat h ; « ord rs were to be obeyed, and marched up to on* of th«rn in a go id fighting >vtitiid<>, thereby placing the other in bin " ar. The opportunity was not missed, t!ie airy attire wa* too notic-abl' 1 , and with a mighty quick movement a slipper was raise'! a'oft. and brought down with such a grand stroke as to causo, what mirht, in military parlance he called a change of fr >nt, only it was jus' tho reverse. *n alteration in position was of little use as he stood between two fires, and on approaching an agejresor, tho o'her surveyor on'y adopted the same tactics with anothur wenpon. Thus our lan I 'ord, whilst chiGvying on? man round tho tab**, in the centre of the mom, was hotly pressed Vy his companion and directly lie secured a satisfactory blow, the attacked reversed motion, and chawed him, and so the game went merri'y on, until the landlord felt 'ik« a boy nt lehml once raor«, kvA finding matters wbt# ' getting too warm, crlta forptnot,

This was agreed to on th« k«ys of the bar being handed orer, free of charge, for two hours, wheu »li hands were called in to celebrate the victory. The much warmed out ones ventured a remonstrance, but on being inrited to make auother visit wisely declined.