THE MEAN MEN OF MANAWATU.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 85, 22 October 1879, Page 3

THE MEAN MEN OF MANAWATU.

I dont know whether the pressure of the times is calculated tb bring to the surface the latent or dormant meanness m men's composition, but I' imagine the following three instances could not be easily surpassed. During a recent trip _ got into conversation with three, gentlemen, residents of a neighboring township, and the subject under discussion was the various specimens of meanness which had befin met with since thej " crisis had been about." Mb. 1, a man m a well-to-do-position, stated that the previous day he "had gone into a store for a box of matches, for whioh he tendered a shilling. The storekeeper had no change and the buyer had no copper, so the former lnodesltly -took ; the shilling and intimated tlfat he -Hvbiild dwe the change. This was Ve^y naturally objected to,, a proposition made that the njatches should be given m credit^ a suggestion which was not acted upon, and as a barter could not be effected,' the jhafcehes ivere replaced upon the shelf, "and tlie would rbe customer, took his Ideparture- pondering upon the flattering' tribute which r hfid been • just paid him. "'Well,'' said Nd; 2, " that was pretty sharp," I'll 'admit/ bttt I don't think it comes up to my missus's experience. She went to old Greasy'a fen* a stone of potatoes, and would you believe it, after keeping, the scales tilting backward and forwards, hunting for a small spud. iri vain, he took out his knife and whipped off a slice which he carefully put by after being fully satisfied that he had found an equilibrium. No. 3' was a storekeeper, and when the laugh had subsided, he said : f' Now look here, you have a lot to say about us, but I will introduce you. to the meanest . man . m Manawatu. Some two months ago old Flaggini,.who live's at one '■-.pi the mills came to buy -some elbthes pegs, which I told him were fourpetfce per dozen. Hebadgered and brow-beat me until Isold him six dozen for one 'and sixpence. Two months afterwards he appeared m the shop, and after about half an hour's " preliminary" he produced- one of the pegs .which was broken. He asked me if I remembered jelling, him some pegs to him, and upon my answering m the affirmative, "lie • informed pie tbat that one had been brokeni and he supposed I would have no, objection to change it, which of course I did, as I was afraid I should lose his cu3tomi The value of the peg was just one farthing, and I have fieenever since worrying myself to flnd7 ; put he paid twelve miies'. fare m. Order trb.return the cripple." -The matter required ;yery little deliberation, 'arid old FluggJnv ad'mi! ted to ha the meanest man m "Manawatu j a decision with ; wh ich I heartily : jigreed, si-Torelrlhoping. that the "crisis." •Would keep away from, falmerston. y., : •■--.- r7. J^AGGD-EFIN. A.