A TINUI INCIDENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10250, 29 May 1911, Page 5

A TINUI INCIDENT.

THE SCRUB-CUTTER AND THE BEETLE.

"RUN, DOCTOR! RUN!"

(From Our Tinui Correspondent.) a t lf a stranger from the Old Land were to drop down suddenly in Ti-, \ uni during the winter evenings, and walk through the township, lie would be reminded of the "dark a@es," wSien the Curfew Bell warned people to get inside .their houses. The particular evening in question was like all other evenings to the residents, aaid as one walked down the unlimited street, he was under the impression. that he was walking through a zoological garden, judging ..by the weird sounds that were heard. The wind was whistling land flapping a loose piece of corrugated iron oil the. Ijlliarol&imith's gliop. An odd owtl was screeching "More pork," a piano, j fearfully out pf tune, was toeing thumped; the air was between ia thunderstorm and the sjpuealing of a pi,g. A siliOrt walk took us within hearing of .a metallic yelling . phonograph. This, with. ithe 'barking of dogs and the munching of grazing ■horses on the roadside, constituted the usual evening billof-fare. Art the hotel, fthere certainly was a little variety. A few young men in riding breedhes and spurs were discussing the W&nganui races in front of a rwaran fire. Standing at the bar were a few iscrub-outrters. One man was of huge proportions, with a voice that corresipoflided with Ms physique. The man. ®aid the reason lie left the job was that there were too many green beetles in the scrub, bjiid as one had nearly succeeded in getting into his ear, he thought it wise ■to leave. The glasses were again filled. The froth was running over, when a broad-shouldered ploughman ventured -the remark that a mas with any pluck in him would not be afraid of a green beetle. The last remark was .too much for the scrubciftter, who, tlirowiLng Ms coat in one corner, and his (hat in another, and roaring 'like a wild bull, said lie would fight the crowd. Now, as the publican is a man wlio conducts his hotel well within tlhe law, Mid is also endowed with tact, he took in the situation at a glance, and instead of interfering with the wild man, turned to the others and pushed them bodily out. The excitement then started. The huge scrub-cutter collapsed as if dead. A messenger ran • for the doctor, yelling ' 'The man is . dead.'' This awoke Tinui. Residents with lanterns, hatiless, and ax white as ghosts, were to be seen hurrying along the -street. Tlhe messenger by this time had reached the surgery, and what with hammering and yelling, the doctor soon attended the door. "Run! Run! Doctor, Ram! The man is dead H' yelled the inefvsenger. "What's the matter P Who hit the mam?" asked the doctor. "I didn't hit him, doctor; really I didn't!" said this seven-storte messenger. Two other messengers were despatched for the constable, and one of them lost his hat, pipe, and tobacco on the journey. As the sound of the word "dead man" rang through the air, men with their swags, could be heard coming from among the trees, and .running along the road, and perhaps will not venture in Tinui again. With medical attendance, the scrub-cutber soon rallied from the epileptic fit, much to the relief of all tfhose concerned.