''I can't,'' came the reply.
''I have just been caught for riding without a light.''
''Bad luck,'' said the reporter cheerily, glancing forward with satisfaction at his own brightly burning lamp.
He then dismounted to condole with the ''caught'' wayfarer, and find out all about it.
''Where did it happen,'' he asked.
''Just at the corner of the engine sheds. There were two of them - in plain clothes,'' came the reply.
''What kind of a catch were they getting?'' further asked the reporter.
''Pretty good, I think. I saw four captured. What do they do with you?''
He broke off in serious vein.
''Will I have to go to court?''
''Of course you will,'' jovially answered the reporter, thinking of nights in the past when he had risked a ride home without a light, and got through safely.
''What do you think it will cost me?'' went on the crestfallen cyclist.
''About 12 shillings,'' reassuringly replied the reporter.
''Five shillings fine and seven shillings costs.''
''As much as that,'' came the answer.
''I think it would have been cheaper for me to have bought a lamp.''
''Bad luck!'' reiterated the newspaper man as he remounted his bicycle, and resumed his interrupted home ride.
Cycle agents should have a keen demand for cycle lamps within the next few days.
• The city ''inefficient'' was mentioned by Mr John Christie, Warepa, at the meeting of the local branch of the Farmers' Union on Saturday afternoon (says the Balclutha Free Press).
Of late, he said, he had noticed that several men charged in the Dunedin courts with minor criminal offences had been dismissed on condition that they found a job in the country.
This was unfair to the farmer.
The men were generally the scum of the cities, and were practically no use to the farmer.
They could not work efficiently.
He thought that a letter should be sent to the Minister of Justice protesting against the practice.
Several other members endorsed. Mr E. Skinner stated that there was a danger of these prison rejects being afflicted with some disease, and in the event of their being employed by farmers, the farmer and his family generally had to suffer the consequences.
It was decided to protest to the Minister of Justice.
• So far three sealing expeditions have got away from Bluff for the present season, which ends on September 30 (says the Southland News).
The Antelope and Gisborne are operating in the immediate vicinity of the Sounds and Stewart Island, and the Rachel Cohen has a party for Auckland Islands.
The Rachel Cohen's party are under orders from Henderson and Co., and will be landed by that vessel on the Aucklands, where they will be picked up again at the end of the season.
• The resident Commissioner at Niue has asked the New Zealand Government to take steps to stop the destruction of the native birds of the island.
Every villager in Niue who wishes to be up-to-date provides himself with a sporting gun, and makes expeditions after the birds, with the result that the pigeons, doves, parrakeets, etc, are rapidly decreasing in numbers.
It is said that an example of what may happen in Niue is provided by Rarotonga, where the native birds are found in the fastnesses of the island mountains, and where the authorities are now introducing English birds to keep the insect pest in check.
The Commissioner of Niue suggests that a limit be placed upon the importation of firearms and ammunition. - ODT, 2, 7, 1914.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
