This tells the story of Harry Dwight, resident of a fictional town named Rollingdale, set somewhere in the Australian countryside, but close to a large city.Harry makes his living by selling water in a time of extended drought, helped by hisclose friend, Leo the Lump. One of his customers is Mayor Zwoke, prominent local politicianand owner of a pie factory. He requires a regular supply of water, but when it is revealed thathe is cheating Harry, Harry takes steps to disrupt the mayor's garden party by hiring a bunchof porcupines to undercut the lawn where the party is held. The resulting disaster is a hugeembarrassment for the mayor who is in quest for higher office.When he finds out that Dwight caused the mess, he instigates a virtual feud betweenthe two. As the feud develops Harry decides to run for council in order to combat the mayorpolitically. Eventually this leads to some saucy political campaigns and the ridiculous anticstaken by the main characters in order to achieve victory. Much of the book then details themanoeuvrings of the various sides, the campaigns they run and how the mayor humiliatesHarry, only finally to be defeated when Harry wins a seat on council.