the Major was to be " managed," he advised in a way that always brought success. I have heard him over and over repeat the following almost incredible story :—" O n an occasion there were two applicants for n e w hotels, each erected on an opposite street corner, either of which was sure to be licensed, but certainly not both. O n e of the suitors retained the smartest Attorney in practice, and the other the newspaper man. T h e latter advised his client to keep quiet, andfinishhis house, so as to m a k e it look as smart as possible, and come to him on the Saturday prior to the Tuesday in April, when the Yearly Sessions were always held. In the interim the adviser, w h o had special means for acquiring information about the Major's clandestine operations, found out that the applicant who had the Attorney in his pay had in addition to the professional fee, presented the Major with his compliments in the substantial form of a ton of hay, resting securely in the conviction that now everything would go right. O n the second applicant turning up on the Saturday as promised, he was advised on the following M o n d a y to deliver a ton and a-half of hay in Brunswick Street, and on the same morning a letter was transmitted through post anonymously advising of the bounty, who sent it, and the quid pro quo expected. T h e Licensing day arrived, the rival applications were heard, and he w h o relied solely on the superior dead-weight of hay, minus a lawyer, completely checkmated the other, notwithstanding all the fervid eloquence of his advocate." T h e green wattle-tree grove, which at the time bloomed between Spring Street and Collingwood, was a favourite trysting place for the Major and some of his customers. A bush track ran from Collins Street through the Parliament Reserve, and the Major, mounted on a grey horse, might be daily seen riding h o m e from the Police Court, about 3 p.m. Anyone wishing audience of His Worship might have it here without interruption, and curious interviews not unfrequently took place. T h e "gentleman of the Press " already mentioned often saw the Major here. They were well-known to each other, and sometimes St. John would unbend so far as to invite the other to accompany him to Brunswick Street, and have some brandy and water. Once the amateur licensing practitioner was not consulted until literally the eleventh hour, the day before a licensing meeting. It was a case of emergency, and should be settled at once. Accordingly, about 2 o'clock, the journalist sauntered over the Eastern Hill, and posting himself against a huge tree trunk, pulled out a cigar, and whiffed away. H e had in his pocket an honorarium for the Major, wrapped in a m e m o , as to what it was there for, the whole tied as a small paper parcel and superscribed, " Major St. John, Brunswick Street." In about half-an-hour the Major, on his Rosinante, hove in sight, and when he reached the point where the smoker was cloud-blowing with a second cigar, something like the following scene ensued, in detailing which, for convenience sake, I shall refer to the pedestrian journalist simply as " A ":— T h e Major.—"I say, why did you leave the Police Court so early to-day? F r o m the way I saw you bundle up your papers and flit, I thought there must be something in the wind with you." A . — " Oh, I was bored to death with those monotonous wages cases, through which you and ' Old Whistle' (Mr, J. Smith) were poking. I was up at the office until cock-crow this morning, and I wanted to get a breath of fresh air." T h e Major.— " H e m — h a ! W a s that it, eh ? This is a fine airy place, is it not ? h o m e with m e ; I'll give you a drink."
C o m e , walk along
A . — " M u c h obliged, Major ; but I'd prefer not. Thanks all the same to you for your well-meaning hospitality; but I've had enough for to-day at the Market Square Hotel." T h e Major.—"Oh, you had, had you. All right, then ; if you don't like to come, you can do the other thing." A . — " Y o u need not go to the trouble of telling m e that, Major; but look you here, the queerest thing in the world happened since I came out. At the foot of that tree beyond I found this suspiciouslooking little packet (drawing it out from his pocket) addressed to you in a free running hand. I could hardly resist the temptation of opening it to see what was in it, for by its feel it contains something substantial." The Major (growing excited and slewing his horse half round) said :—" Look you here, you fellow; hand m e over that directly, if, as you say, 'tis for me. If you dare open anything addressed to m e — d o you see that gaol up there on the hill ? I'll soon have you safe enough there; d m e if I won't !"
