THREE TATTERED TRAMPS.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 46, 31 May 1879, Page 2

THREE TATTERED TRAM PS.

On lasif Wednesday morning, three' tattered individuals presented, themselves before. Mr. Duncan Poole, contractor for the reclamation works at the Douglas Settlement, with ihe.requesfc fchafc he would 'give JthQin a job. Although physically . they were fine specimens of the British Workman, outwardly th ey- were splendid representatives o£*4he Colonial loafeiv;; and a'a far as raiment went, their united garments would nbt have equalled those, allotted m Biblical illustrations., to the Prodigal Son. The spokesman, -vrsiip burly fellow of six feet fouß inches, rejoicing m the name of Oummerfqrd, who, upon being informed m the : affirmative, by Mr. Poole, further asked on behalf of himself and 1 mates, Messrs. Walsh and Hagan, that that gentleman should give them a rig-out. Mr. Poole. 'at flrati objected, 'but w jshing to secure the labor 'of such stalwart looking fellows,, brought them! 'down to the store, Where they -bought thigh boots to tire amount of* £3, drawers, flannels, sox, shirts, beside a good supply of tobabco, mutton and flour, the bill for aH aTnotinting,to £7 2s.* These etprea they to<Jk. away wifcli them, promising" to, tiirn to work next morniiig, b.ut as they did not perform- their. promise, Mr. Poplft went to their cardp/phly to And tlie birds had flown, r carrying with them the new clothes and stock of provisions. As might naturally, bp expected, Mr. Poole was ex-? ceedmgly wroth at the conduct of the rm- : gi'atef.ul scoundrels, and lenrning tlint the precious trio had. headed for Feiltling; he took the train to Palmerston, to. lay the poiiee upon; the track,. Much to his shtisfaction, the., first man':. he. beheld, upon alighting was Sub-inspocfor Q-00d.a11,. ihtio; whoso enrs the tale of ing;ra<itude auS .rajßcalily was quickly • poured, with a re- ; q ue,st that the machinery; of tlve ! law should b,e p.iit m motion for the;.pu.ra'ahmeht of the'scoundrels. Judge of his surpi-ice, howf*^ upon being wf?^ 1 ?^ *%^

that it was a case m which the police could not interfere, as the goods had been told to the men, and the only remedy was to summon them. Of course such an idea f with regard to such, birds of passage was aimply , preposterous, and the officer still , refusing to take action, Mr. Poole was compelled to return backj with the only .consolation of knowing that he had m re payment of his trouble and expense, very questionable" legal information. Of course we admit that from his official position the opinion of Mr. Gqodall gives jt a. kind. _of ex cathedra \yeight, still -we must confess we do not m this instance value it much. If ever there was a case of swindling or. getting money under^false pretences, that under discussion was certainly one. Perhaps Mr, Goodallmy remember how Mm, Major Gpoker was sent ta "prison for six months for purchasing goods for which she did not mean to pay, although m her case no falsa pretensions whatever were made, while m the present instance it jwas upon the distinct understanding that men were going to- work, from the proceeds of which the debt would be paid. We give the names of the rascals so that (storekeepers m*y be on th.c alert, and we f also give the opinion of- the officer m "charge qf this district as a sparkling instance of the difference between law and equity. Britons are apt. to boast of the laws of their land, but certainly m cases like the present that admihisl ere'd by. •■ Mr. ■ : Justice! liy nch. as fa» more preferable. ■„.