A LOST BET.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 362, 24 April 1889, Page 5

A LOST BET.

A fashionably attired young gentleman dropped into the Gaiety Restaurant one afternoon, and, after calling for a glass of vermouth, turned to the company, and of fered to bet on a vai'iety of different subjects, but iound no takers. Glancing round contemptuously, he remarked : ' You don't seem to have much sport in you, gentlemen ; but I'm bound to make a bet on something. I don't care what it is, or ho\r much it is. Anything you like, from a shilling's worth of cigars to a hundred pounds. ~ Who's on?' Sipping a glass of beer in one corner of the bar-room, sat a plain old gentleman, who looked as though he might be a farmer. He put down his glass and said : ' Well, sir, I am not in the habit of making bets, but as you so particularly wish it, I don't mind having a little one with you. I'll bet you half-a-crown's worth of cigai s that I can pour a quart of treacle into your hat, and turn it out a solid lump of candy in two minutes.' ' Done !' said the masher, taking off his hat, and handing it to the farmer. It was a Lincoln and Bennett, a splendid article, that might have been new the day before. The old gentleman took the hat, and requested the bar-keeper to send for a quart of treacle — ' none of your golden syrup, but the cheap sort ; that's the stuff for this expei'iment,' said he, handing over sixpence to the waiter. I The treacle was brought, and the old gentleman, with a grave and mysterious countenance, poured it into the" dandy's hat, while the owner took out his watch to note the time. Giving the hat two or three shakes, with Bertram-like adroitness, the experimenter placed it on the table, and stared into it, as if watching the process of solidification. 1 Time's up,' said the dandy. The old gentleman moved the hat. ' Well it don't seem to b9 hard yet,' said he in a disappointed tone. ' I've missed it, somehow or other, this time, so I suppose I've lost the bet. Bar-keepeer, let the gentleman have the cigars — half-a-crown's worth, and here's your money.' ' Confound your cigars !' roared the masher, ' you've spoiled a new hat, and you must pay for it. ' 'That wasn't in the bargain,' dryly answered the old gentleman, ' but I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll let you keep the treacle.

A writer in a London journal says : — This year New Zealand alone amongst the Australasian colonies has a good harvest, and under such circumstances we regard fche prospects of the current year as sufficiently assured to, in a short time, speak for themselves. When it was dead low water in New Zealand there were certain advisers of Throgmorton-street in the press who, like the courtiers of King Canute of old, impressed upon their clients that if they only ordered the financial tide back it would never rise again. Even now, those who believed in them and operated accordingly are wetting their feet, and if they do not shift their ground they stand a very good chance of being carried away on the flood tide. It will not do o" bear " New Zealand stocks now.