144 ON AND OFF THE TUEF*. 



woeful plight. Our arrival was expected, but from 

 the demeanour of the inhabitants I should say we 

 were regarded as lunatics to have undertaken the 

 journey. We devoured the entire contents of the 

 larder at one hotel and then searched round for 

 more. Lewises Ponds had been a prosperous miniog 

 place, but it was gradually going off. A meeting 

 was held to consider the advisability of opening up 

 communi-cation direct with Bathurst. Of course the 

 utmost enthusiasm prevailed, and also as a matteV 

 of course nothing was done. Opening up commu- 

 nication on such a road was out of the question. 

 We drove on to Orange, the road being a shade 

 better but not much. The united thanks of the 

 party were tendered to the driver, but he hinted 

 he preferred whiskey. We returned to Bathurst by 

 train. How luxurious the cushions of the carriage 

 felt. I met the mayor next day. He looked de- 

 jected. He said there was a Council Meeting that 

 night, and he felt he should be unable to take the 

 chair. I made no inquiry as to the cause: the 

 reason was obvious. 



Electioneering in the country districts of Kew 

 South Wales is amusing. I have been in it and 

 know. Freetraders during the period of strife hate 

 the very name of Protectionist, and vice versa. A 

 local man is generally put up if one good enough 

 can be found. If he has represented the town be- 



