CLEVEDON.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 341, 28 December 1917, Page 3

CLEVEDON.

OAYERUMOUBB (By Bip Van Winkle) Seated in my philosopher's ana* chaii I was pondering over the present quiescent state of tilings in the cave and feeling of one mind with the Ante W. S. Gilbert, one of whose characters (in his lines) says, "the day has been so very flat, there being nothing whatever to grumble at." I was just dozing off into ,-what Jonathan, would call one of /'Rip's" dreams, when Dora rushed "in, did a war dance on my best rug entirely eliminating part of the pattern, the word "Colonial" and part of the word "sugar" being completely spoiled—and generally cam ed on as though she had won "a packet of pins'' on the Surprise Packet Day. . "They've got 'em," she cried

"Thank Heaven," I exclaimed, thinking she meant the two young hooligans next door had contracted the measles *- thus ensuring me a quiet Christmas time; "Hurrah ! Has the doctor been yet ?" "Doctor! What doctor?"' asked Dora. "Oh! Ab!" I exclaimed, "I mean who's got what, and how ?" "Why! The Germans, of course,'! said Dora. "What have they got," I.asked, "London, Washington, or chc years without the option of—" "Oh!" aa id Dora (she's still full of "Ohs") You are stupid—the Authorities have captured the German orisonors who escaped." "What! Again!" I exclaimed, "Good ori 'em. I presume that what you rea'ly mean to imply is that the portion of the German pic-nic party who went for a motor launch excursion have returned to their pleasure resort on Motuihi, and that—" but Dora had fled to the telephone to give the "latest" to the neighbours "Yes ' We in Sleepy Hollow have heard ail about it—how they got away (by motor, eh!) landed at Thames in Mercury Bay, captured one of Leyland O'Brien's cows at Miranda, and while chasing the powder magazine around Waihiki were themselves captured by the Hirere on the summit of Mount Browne, and were locked up in the cave library, but again escaped through the hole in the fence. Now, if there is one curiosity we have not. got in the Cave, it is a 'Germ-man,' and Itrusted that this would be a chance of capturing a specimen for our collection, and so, in case the district should receive a visit—and my domicile should be singled Out as worthy of attention—l procured a pound of sausages, a bottle of champagne, a box of good cigars, a map of New Zealand and ten pounds worth of silver, this being my idea of what German prisoners would expoct of me as . a colonial who -wished to triat tbem in a Military manner, they* beiDg Alien prisoners My revolver. I hid in the box of cigars, and my rifle I hid securely under a map (nautical) ofy the Haunki Gull plnced out of fight in the mi' dl-. of the kitchen table. : JirVtrup being set, I now await results, hoping to make one capture by the offer of a position as armourer to the local cadets and caretaker of all amunitions in the Cave, the offer being in writing left on that table with a notification that all within the house hive taken chioriform. V