WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9539, 10 July 1909, Page 5

WELLINGTON.

"A KEEN HEAD AND A BIG MOUTH." JBy Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, July 9. The speech delivered by Mr H. R. Spence, Acting-Collector of Customs, yesterday, in acknowledging the receipt of a testimonial from the local commercial community on the occasion of his departure to take up the positon of Collector of Customs a Invercargill, was characterised by a certain amount of humour at the expense of the Capital City. When the seat of Government, said Mr Spence, was shifted from Auckland to Wellington, a large number of Civil Servants were transferred there in consequence. Many of tb^ m were loth to go, and put o g> aa tong as possible. On^' particular man, who had to "dodge" it longer than t)^ e others, at last received notice that he had to go also, and bis family were so much aff«cted that his little daugher, in saying her prayers on the night befPFS |heir departure, exclaimed, "Dear Giid, gSOdbyfii We are goltig to Wellington!" Occasion was taken by Mr Spence to refer to the future prospects of Auckland. There, said he, should be two opinions upon this point. He could see a great future in front of Auckland, especially when the native lands were opened up, but in this connection he reminded them | that Auckland would be subjected to keen competition from Wellington. According to Maori mythology, the North Island waa a fish drawn up from the sea, with Wellington as the head and Port Nicholson as the mouth. "It is that head and that mouth I want you to keep your eye on," said Mr Spence; "for I can assure vou that Wellington is a very keen head, and has a very big mouth."