PORTERAGE.
REniN'/M.P WonMAi.i), of the Seventeenth Lance:.*, a dashing British officer during the Scrvian-]siilgnriiiu troubles, was Bent to Sophia a-- Queen's Messenger. He is somewhat, of a wag, and above all, dislikes red lapi', His father is tho owner of the well known bank of Child & Co., situated where tho old Temple liar used to stuud in London, and the son might have acquired something of business precision, but he hates business of all kind and dislikes above all bills whether they arc sent to him or whether ho has to write tbein. During his stay at Sophia he was obliged to make out a rather long bill of expenses;, and among the items very frequently tho expression oecured '• for porter 4 shillings. " The bill on account of its size was clofely scrutinized, and the result was that the young officer received an official communication, iu which was stated in not exactly polite items, that Her Majesty's Governme'it does not pay tor beverages of the Queen's Messengers, and that Reginald would have to pay out of his own pocket the sum of £-1 10s for tho porter which lie had cousumcd. Reginald indignantly remonstrated thattiio charge made was not beverage, but for curriers who had transported the baggage that he was obliged to take from place to place. The reply from the Government was : "In that case you should have mentioned your expenses under "porterage" and not "porter." " Alright, thought Reginand, " I will show you how I profit by the hint. " There were a groat number of cabs used every day by Her Majesty's Messenger, and when he sent in his next account, he wrote: " For cabbage £89 10s." The Government wrote a very severe letter in reply, and explained to our officer that the consumption of such amounts for vegetables iu itself was very improbable, but they had already explained that they were not resoonsible for expenses for eat» ing and drinking, beyond the regular allowance made over 4aily expenses. Reginald telegraphed back, "if porterage
is good English for porter, cabbage is good English for cub. " Reginald Wormmaid was recalled and given a position where the sword was more necessary than the pen.
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Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3058, 20 February 1892, Page 1 (Supplement)
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364PORTERAGE. Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3058, 20 February 1892, Page 1 (Supplement)
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