lid T'ni'hrt. 



as we are having dull times at present so it was in previous years. Such 

 being the ease on one occasion. Mr. Irving having to go to Venezuela to 

 collect accounts, [it has been said with a revolver in his pocket) his 

 partner, Mr. McArthur. closed the store, telling the clerks to go home for 

 a week. Mr. Irving, returning before he was expected, had to scour the 

 country to get back his hands and so their holiday was spoilt. 



One great and very useful institution, when a fellow was going on 

 his well earned holiday, was the raffle. Then the clans right royally 

 gathered together from all quarters, and when the serious part of the 

 affair was over, singing, etc.. took place until the wee hours of the 

 morning. I never remember seeing any serious unpleasantness at any of 

 these functions. Jokes against each other always were taken in good part. 

 Those rattles were really of great benefit to many a young fellow about 

 to return to his native land and the call was always responded to 

 cheerfully and willingly, there being no difficulty in getting paid for the 

 chances, which generally were $5 or 810. the motto being ••To-day for 

 you. to-morrow for me." 



In the seventies the arrival of steamers was quite an event. Indeed 

 it was a tine sight to see the Harbour full of sailing vessels, some of them, 

 especially those consigned to Thos. Daniel iv Co., remaining very often 

 for months waiting on a cargo of sugar. We miss too that tine fleet of 

 ships that used to come to Sandbach Parker vS: Co.. and also those 

 to A. W. Perot <v; Co., and, above all. that old veteran Captain White. 

 At that time the Y.M.C.A. used to hold services each Sunday afternoon 

 on board one of the vessels, going off in their own boat, which they had 

 acquired from the Police Department, manning it with their own 

 members, one of whom addressed the sailors, when unable to procure a 

 clergyman : sending oil' on Saturday their BetheJ Flag. Now it is nearly 

 all steamers, that rush in and out with feverish haste as if trying to 

 race good old Father Time. One wonders what next. 



The Mayors of the City that I have known all, without exception, 

 have been worthy holders of their otfice. I may be pardoned for 

 referring to a few : — 



Messrs. Drysdale, whose memory is kept green by the naming of a 

 miserable little alley after him : Forshaw, by a clock opposite the Koyal 

 Agricultural and Reading Kooms : and Murdoch. These have passed away 

 but neither they nor their work have been forgotten. The others too have 

 done yeomen service, each one in his own turn initiating some scheme 

 for improvement, and they have been backed up ably by their late Town 

 Superintendent. Mr. Luke M. Hill, and by the present holder of the office, 

 Mr. W. F. Laurie Thomas. Those of us who go about the City and in 

 and out of every street cannot but be struck by the steady progress that 

 has been and is still going on. One serious blunder has been made, in 

 filling up these trenches which gave (Georgetown the name of the Venice 

 of these regions. They were unsightly sometimes because they were 

 neglected, but they might have been made beauty spots and still have 



