WAIMATE MARKETS.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Issue 12, 13 August 1898, Page 2

WAIMATE MARKETS.

-•' Skirting Evans Bay, Island Bay etc., there'is :a capital road made by the unemployed some two or three years ago. The drive round I should think is not less than eight or nine ■miles and is a favourite outing. All along the way there are numerous places suitable for -and used by picnic parties. Passing a locky bluff whioh comes close to the road the fiiend who -was acting guide remaiked " You should see the Island Bay Hermit, he lives in there." " There " wars a circular hole in the t cliff by the loadside about six feet in diameter, and proved to be the entrance to a cave some ten or twelve across and about six in height.. Of course it was quite light and we saw about across the space, and parallel with ,-t'ae opening, a low scieen of sacks hung on a lough frame of sticks. Immediately behind ,i&is was a smouldeiing wood fhe, the^smoke fioin which could only escape byihe.entrance. Beyond the fire, on a kind of rough legless couch covered with sacks, reclined the Hermit. He might be any age from 45 to 60, a dirty, illclad cieature. What a place to live in. The earthen floor was damp, the black, <smcfke -stained sides and roof -were .wet and •the • smell -was .not sweet. We had been •■warned that he resented personal questions. I remarked the place seemed rather damp for -comfort. In a voice and accent which suggested education and culture he said "It is more than d*mp." And one --could believe it, for the entrance is ojpen to <rain, to say nothing -of the ,spmy from the sea, which is distant little more than the width of the road. A very few minutes in that atmosphere was onoughfor any white man, and w e ;soon ieft. We were told he resented-anything Jike patronage And refused chaiity. .Money fox food left in the c&ve, however, always disappeared. If any one gave him books or papers he would accept them, and he would •converse on any subject but hiiaself. A lady .-once offered to leave books for him at a shop in the city, but though he -was frequently ihere he said ie^ssrould not call for them. He rflid no work, he just sat on that couch all day %ang, and- as the sacks rotted beneath him he

eoveiecl them with others. There weie of course all sorts of romantic stories afloat as to his leasons for living such a life. I should say laziness was hii reason." Such a stoiy for romance and telegrams. It's enough to make one sick.

Butter, . . Eggs . . wholesale Is, rdtail Is 2d. lOd, „ Is Od.