HIS MAJESTY WILL PROVIDE

NZ Truth, Issue 1185, 16 August 1928, Page 8

HIS MAJESTY WILL PROVIDE

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Pukekohe Representative.) THERE is probably no more despicable trait m human, nature than that of ingratitude. Hubert Gurney, knight of the road, but possessing none of the chivalry of o[d,-tirne gentlemen of the highway, has discovered this to\his cost, for he is now working for hi.s living within the grim, grey walls of Mount. Eden gaol, where he will be detained for the next three months. Gurney has been roaming the Franklin .district for some time, doing no work and pestering settlers for food and shelter. This has now been found for him by His Majesty's Government. Recently he made one of his customary calls, as the old sundowners used to do, just at the close of day, when the evening meal was on the table. The Waltakaruru farmer, T. Cassels, whom he visited, did not have the heart to refuse the man a feed, but he had to deny him admission to his house for the night. He gave Gurney a . good tuck-in, however, and sent him on his way. Next morning Cassels discovered a bridle missing from his shed, while a horse he was grazing for a man named Lowry had gone from its paddock. Later m the day Lowry happened to be walking down the main street of Pokeno, 25 miles away, when he espied a horseman cantering leisurely along. He thought he recognized something familiar about the cut of the equine, so breasted up to Gurney and interrogated him as to where he had obtained his mount. Gurney replied that he had found it on the road and was taking it along to the pound.. Lowry took both the horse and Gurney to the police station, where Gurney repeated his story about finding the animal and taking It to the pound, although he had. left the pound about a mile behind him. When later charge.d, at the Pukekohe court with the theft of the horse and bridle, Gurney, very much dishevelled, had nothing to say. Sergeant Cowan stated that the man was m the habit of. calling at farmhouses, demanding food and shelter. He had four previous convictrons and the police were called upon, some time ago, to remove him from the Waiau pa. For the next twelve weeks Gurney will have no need to beg for food and shelter. A beneficent Government has provided for his needs m this direction. . "