AN INQUISITIVE VISITOR.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 713, 8 January 1903, Page 3

AN INQUISITIVE VISITOR.

A QUIET CHAT A FEW DAYS AGO,

(Coming in from the bay) : Visitor: “ Mister, where is the .own ?” Reply : “ You will have to land beore you can see it.” (Rounding the breakwater) .■ “ What js that massive lot ol ron ?” “ Oh, that was a large crane.” “ What is it now ?” “ A kind of remembrance of things .bat are past, but a good mark for he tender and lighters to guide, them ip stream, for when they come opposite it they have to sheer to the other side —to clear the rocks,” “ So this is your harbor. Why, it’s only a ditch ! 1 thought it .was different.” “ So it might have been, had Sir John Goode’s advice been taken after it was paid for ; he wanted it farther that way.:’ “ Why was it over-ruled ?” „ 11 Sir, you don’t know Gisborne. Why, it is said that one of the. Harbor Board wanted to run the wall out from along there, at a place called Grey street.” “ Good gracious 1 ! What is that ?” “ It is a creek called the Waikanae. The construction you are looking at, when finished at some future time unknown, will be a slip for drawing vessels up.” “ What will a thing like that cost ?” “ The cost ?—that is a mere bagatelle.” “ Hello ! what is this ?” “ Our new dredge, named after our worthy Mayor is she not a beau-

ty ?” “ What does it do ?” “ VVbat a question ! Why, dig mud, oi course.” “ How Jong have you had it ?”■ “ A good while.” “ What depth is there at lowwater ?” _ “ Sir, I am afraid you" are getting inquisitive.” (Alongside the wharf) : “ Where can I get a drink of good water ?” “It has not rained lately you see, we get our water-supply, from heaven.” „ “ I thought there were people living here ?” “ So there are ; but there is neither a water-supply nor drainage.,” “■ What a" shame 1” 11 Don’t say that ; we have had an engineer to report on water, and drainage—one of note, with a name for that kind of work (like Sir Goode for marine .work). But we have amateurs that know as much now as they did when they agteed for the site of the breakwater in opposition to both knowledge and experience.”

“ Dry, are you ? Well, let's have a beer ; the germs of the present water supply might be injurious to a stranger.” “ Good luck !”