THOSE GOOD OLD DAYS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1299, 22 March 1883, Page 4

THOSE GOOD OLD DAYS.

(from the Wairarapa -Ue.cnry of 1660.) Mm Z. s Is His Honor the Superintendent within 1 Provincial Government Official (astounded at the ignorance displayed by the country visitor) ; His Honor has gone to Melbourne, to persuade (General Chute to let the 18th Regiment remain in New Zealand. Mr Z. : When will he return ? Provincial Government Official; He is expected back in the course of two or three weeks, and then he is going to England to get more troops. Mr Z. <wondering if all Superintendents had such nice pleasant trips): Is the Provincial Secretary in'. Pro' incial Government Official: Oh, no ; lie is the editor of the “Wellington Independent" Mr Z. : Is Mr Knowles, the Superintendent’s secretary, in ' Provincial Government Official; He h in, but engaged in writing his monthly despatch to the London *• Times> 5 Mr Z. i I suppose it's no use asking for Mr Houldewortli, as he is sure to be in the country peforming his duty as inspector of roads. Provincial Government Official (laughing to himself) : Well, ho used to go occasionally in the summer, two or three years ago ; but lately he has been in the Land Office instructing Mr Holmes how to sell land, and Mr Jackson how to survey it. Mr Z. i Is Mr Powles, the accountant, engaged ? Provincial Government Official: Yes, very busily, in hie garden; don’t you know that this u a very busy time among gardeners 1 Mr Z. (thinking he should very much like a billet under the Provincial Government): And might I be excused if I were to ask what your duty is that detains you in this deserted office J Provincial Government Official: Oh, I’m supposed to be deputy scab-inspector.