Everywhere in New Zealand, as in all the South Sea Islands, there are wild pigs. All of these, or at least their ancestors, were brought out by Captain Cook.
‘I don’t believe it,’ said MacTavish; ‘he would have required Noah’s Ark.’ After this, whenever Mac saw a pig, he used to call out, ‘Hello! there goes Captain Cook.’
Invercargill is a nice town, with one large wide street lined with good buildings and furnished with tramcars. We saw it at its worst, for it was drizzling, and the roads were wet and muddy. One puzzle to a stranger in Invercargill was how so small a place could support such enormous stores and shops. That all of them did not pay was clear from an advertisement we saw. It was in big letters, and ran as follows:
‘Great Bankrupt.
‘Certified copy of telegram.
‘Creditors have accepted your offer of 8s. 8d. in the pound. Amount, £2,627 12s. 6d.
‘(Signed) J. R. and S. M.’
After this followed sheets of advertisements about the low price at which you could purchase various articles. If ever I start a store at Invercargill I shall sell rubber boots, mackintoshes and umbrellas. Over the door I shall write ‘Great Bankrupt Compulsory Sale.’
As the climate was against an investigation of the suburbs, MacTavish and MacCallum More found a place where they could play billiards with tipless cues, while I went off in search of a museum I had been told about.
‘It’s at the Athenæum,’ said my informant. ‘It isn’t much of a place just yet—only commencing. You’ll find it very interesting. The second door in the third block.’