BOB SHAVINGS' VISIT TO TROGLODYTE CREEK. (To the Editor.)

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 367, 24 June 1874, Page 3

808 SHAVINGS' VISIT TO TROGLODYTE CREEK. (To the Editor.)

Sib, — Being invited by the inhabitants of the place to pay them a visit, I very willingly acceded to their wishes, in as much as I expected to receive some valuable information from the mayor of that place, who is a man of high literary aud scientific attainments. , An escort was sent to await my arrival at Biver Coals and conduct me to the city. Having carefully transferred my luggage and self to the conveyance, my guide mounted the steps, took the reins, and we staited for Troglodyte Creek. The road being good, we proceeded on our journey until we reached Bleak House, where we dismounted for refreshment. The landlord welcomed our arrival, and served us with some of his best P. 8., and kindly invited us to sup with him, but want of time prevented our accepting his kind ofier. His groom, being a man of literary taste, was quoting extracts by the yard from Bunyan, Mooi'e, Byron Burns, and eminent writes, and verifying their statements by his own world wide experience of human nature and its governing laws, which 1 took in his case to be whisky hot. Having bidden farewell to mine host and his oratorical groom, we proceeded on our way past Piper's cottage, un:il we reached the heights above Troglodyte Creek. Here we had "to dismount and proceed on foot down the precipitous path, unlil we reached the Mayor's residence, in passing which I saw hi& Honour intently .studying some work, ■ which I afterwards learned was Syphon on the brain. The Herons and Quails introduced here by the Acclimatisation Society have not increased their number, the Mayor informed me that he thought the high tide of late years in that place had. prevented the herons from catching sufficient crabs of the golden tribe to keep them in condition, and on which they chiefly live in this locality. He had, as a last experiment, invented a machine of wonderful mechanism, which he thought wonld induce the crabs to come up to the to the surface, and then of cource the heron 3 could easily catch them. I hope his experiment will prove successful ; if it does uot increase their numbers, it may at le st be expected to improve their condition. Having been presented with the freedom of the city through one of the pipes of the new invention. I thanked him most sincerely, wished him every success in his undertaking, rubbed noses with him, and returned home to make more shavings.— l am &c, Bob Shavings