The Bishop and the Costers' Water Party.

Manawatu Herald, 27 May 1893, Page 3

The Bishop and the Costers' Water Party.

The. following story is communi" cafced upon tho authority of a local Waterman . — A party of costermongeys 1 ," with their wives and sweethearts, Bailing from Shoredifcch, spent their Easter holiday on Tuesday at Kow and Richmond, having been busily engaged on the previous day at Hftmpstead Heath. In the afternoon spme of the party, to the number of j ' about a dozen, visited the waterside '". -and made arrangements Joe a trip up ," 'up theriyer'in a boat of good dimen<sions. As the boat was about to put off a gentleman in episcopal attire, accompanied by a local resident, . presented themselves on the towing \ path. The rev. prelate at once became an object of special attention on the part of the merry occupants of the boat, and his broad-brimmed ; hat, apron, and; gaiters were alike openly criticised and made the subr ject of jest. The health of the Bishop was drank with " musical honours," and one fair damsel de- . clared that she would like to embrace .. the •• blpomin' old general/ and invited him to v take, & seat in the bdal The •invitation' ineir' with the ready acquiescence of the whole • patty, and was cordially accepted by thb; Venerable bishop and his companion, much to the confusion of the ; companion.. The bishop gave the 4 order to " Push off," and. all aboard being comfortably seated, "he preferred some advice to the rowers, and then, in a quiet and happy commenced an address on, temperance, following this up with a promise that if the party would " un;6w their whisky jar overboard he would provide them with a substan^' , • . , tea higher, up the river, „ K The i} pro i ' ; posai was formally put :and ;carried unanimously, • and- the boat .; immediately became lightened to the ' extent of the jar and its contents, the bishop himself being deputed to' "throw them to the fishes." ■ After a pleasant and agreeable pull the party went ashore, and the bishop carried out his promise to the full, and joined his coster friends in "the cup that cheers." • Subsequently, as t he bade them " Gopd day." he, ex,J tracted from' each and every one a v. further promise that they would return home sober, and an assurance that they would write to him on the aj; the address of his 'friend, 'informing him that they had" kept , thajr word^^o^^. .-, it - : ■i= /,