ch. xxxm HORSE RACING, HUNTING AND POLO 325 



the hunter and prospector from the back of beyond, 

 shake out their exceedingly creased blue suits and 

 still more unused dress clothes and meet once more 

 their old friends. These weeks form the chance 

 of a lifetime for the unmarried girl. The settler from 

 the back blocks has very likely not met a white lady 

 since his last race meeting and is ready to see beauty 

 in the most meagre charms. She must be an un- 

 attractive damsel indeed who cannot, if so desirous, 

 bring at least one eligible bachelor to her feet during 

 the time at her disposal. 



As I have said, the week is devoted as much to 

 business as pleasure. Thus Brownsmith treks in, a 

 three days' journey, perhaps, from his farm ; he 

 proposes for himself the following programme : Two 

 days' racing, at least one dance, a meeting called to 

 discuss the labour problem, quarantine, or whatever 

 may be the burning question of the hour, a meeting 

 possibly at which the Governor will take the oppor- 

 tunity of giving some statement of policy, a new oil 

 engine to be bought, a wagon and three ploughs to be 

 repaired, a game of polo, a cricket or golf match, 

 some produce to be sold, advice, which probably he 

 won't follow, to be obtained from the Agricultural 

 Department, stores and whiskey for the farm to be 

 bought, and last, but by no means least, the inevitable 

 interview with the Land Office. 



The town assumes an air of revelry during the week, 

 and to the accompaniment of song and dance, with 

 perchance a certain amount of horse-play, a very 

 fair quantity of spirituous liquors is consumed. 

 Boisterous spirits are certainly in evidence ; but those 

 worthy citizens who write regularly to the papers to 

 complain of the disturbance to their ordered lives 



