OAHANGA FERRY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2566, 6 April 1887, Page 2

OAHANGA FERRY.

(TotueEditob,) Sir,—Would you kindly inform mo whether _it is compulsory or purely optional on the part of ferrymen to convey travellers across, the ferry when thoy (the travellers) aro " hard up," My. reason for. asking, is this: I came to the Akitio side of the Oahanga river about a fortnight ago, (Mr Baker was then absent I believe), expecting somebody; to bring the beat across and convey me back with them. Tain hope!.' instead of fcho. boat coming, after I had waited' two-hours,' an ancient looking mariner stepped down the river, side and- motioned for mo to make straight for him, I did so, but I didn't got there without getting wet up to the waist. Old whalebone, to show-that he was neither tongue tied nor blind, irhe was tired or lazy inclined, remarked'that I had got wet, but not'so wet as some; as they (some) often took off their trousers and then got wet, (You will oVsorve that I only got wet to the waist). The result of this fording business will be that some unwary traveller will venturo it when it is impossible, and consequently lose the number of his mess. Then there will be a commotion, We will have a trooper despatched at once, with grappling iorns to drag the river; a coroner with all the component parts it takes to form a jury—lucrative only to them in Government employ—then we will have a verdict from said body,' " Died from an overdose of Oahanga water";or, "Found drowned," with a rider blaming the Government for not erecting boards cautioning travellers not to ford the river, only at " low water," What do the Government call, low water? Surely if a man stt Sin gets up to bis waist at low water a man of shorter statue will suffer worse, for not only water have you to contend with; but you have sea-weed ad H,.io get entangled in which is a siiigulardauger. I am, dkc, SwAGJIAN,

. A SUGGESTION, [To the Editor.] • ' Sir,—As rabbits sire known to. exist in the Masterton cemotry, would it not be advisable' to have one or-more Inspectors permanently stationed there? Also, would .their opinion in such cnses carry a conviction Vith it as it does always in the B.M.Courfc. ■ : Yours, (Sic, . '• MpPniSTQPHELES. .