The Observer.

Observer, Volume 5, Issue 116, 2 December 1882, Page 178

The Observer.

Saturday, December 2nd, 1882,

THE BANK Or NEW ZEALAND STOPS THE ?i A curious little episode connected with I recent North Shore Begatta has been related us by an eye-witness. We had almost -written amusing episode, but in truth it is more sickeni than amusing. It is, however, curious, becffl it shows how invincible cheek stimulated by bi smiles can be found capable on a public hoK of removing hundreds of sight-seers from & coign of vantage, in order to allow an illusfcp! bank swell to have a clear and uninterrupted J| The oscurrence took place on the DevonportTnl just prior to the start of the Maori Canoe Is The wharf was crowded to excess, when one the stewards, in the shape of W. J. Hurst, i cosfced our informant, who was standing at i end of the wharf, thusly — spoken in thati imitable, persuasive, child-like, and bland mm of which W. J. is a master, and in which he 80! give heathen John points — " I say, xny dear fell) you are aware, I suppose, that this wharf t been condemned ? Now, lam one of the st{ ards of this regatta meeting, and I am cfeej apprehensive that if this enormous crowd reins on the wharf there will be some terrible cati trophe. Do, like a good fellah, personally obli me, and at the same time do your best to preve most awful accident by setting a good exam? and walk off the wharf." Our informant, fl has travelled a little, and who has some knoyrW of the W. J. class, was inclined to be dubto and said — "Come, now, is that straight, old OS or is there some d — shenanigan behind ?." "(j no," replied W. J., " on my honour the facts i exactly as I tell you." "Then," said ojjr? formant, "I have no alternative but to^.! off," which he forthwith put in execution, s companied by his friends. ,-,,

In a short time the "wharf was cleared, a 3 then a " boy in blue " was placed in light skirciijl ing order at the shore end, in order to any of the public from going on it. It Was tlf noticed that the Bank of New Zealand, re|S sented by Mr Murdoch, wa3 seated i^a carfis at the end of the wharf. A painfttV^uspii* that he had been " did " seized ou^mfprißS 1 when his eyes took in this fact, and-he detei^^ to await the denouement. Sure eiiojigh, a#|| as the canoe race was over, the B&hk of ft Zealand moved off, so did the " boy in blue," a the great public moved on to .the wharf agft It became, therefore, evident to our JuforpaP mind that the whole thing was a r"iise,j twtbb® dreds of the public ifad been humbugged and' 5 eonvenienced in order that King Bank mighfch^ a good view. He was the more convinced of $ when he discovered that the most popular attrf

o f the greasy pole was on a vessel moored off find of the wharf —a place where it certainly aid not have been put had the Regatta Comjttee felt any doubt as to the safety of the