OUT AND ABOUT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 61, 11 September 1939, Page 5

OUT AND ABOUT

(By The Outsider)'J r—2 * *- * « Wliakatanc's effort to cope witit son'? Pf the place names in the news has its hrjgflt Side. One good effort was the "Ziegfield Line." The infer, ence is, of course, that it will prove! one of Hitler's follies. "Herr von Rabbitdrop" sounded vaguely insulting too. tjs # # :» There may be repercussions to this petrol business one hadn't thought of. For instance: "John Hambone, described as a coronation programme seller, appeared before justices at Whakatane on Monday charged with intoxication wliile in charge of a horse and cart, and with ill-treating a horse. The police in evidence said that Hambone was seen to dismount from a spring cart, unharntss his and lift it on to the seat. He there took its place between the shafts. He told the police that as the horse's tail was cut short he constantly mistook it for Hitler, so that he decided . to change places with it to avoid the consequent irritation. The prisoner refused to give evidence, and it was discovered that the police in error had arrested-thehorse-and put it in the dock. It was pureed to treat the animal as a hostile witness and the police left the court without a stain on their characters. Hambone was later charged with violation of the Oil Fuel EmergencyRegulations in that he had in, h& possession an instrument, device cr contrivance called a cigarette lighter, that he did use or operate the same when its use except to duly • licensed persons was forbidden, that he did forge a license in order to _ obtain fuel for same, and that lie did utter such a forged license, causing a petrol vendor to act on it a<r though it were genuine. Hambone pleaded not guilty to all charges. The instrument was not a? cigarette lighter, he said, but a. bomb. He was a member of the Irish? Republican Army and intended lo blow up the Opotiki aerodrome. The bench thereupon apologised and Hambone was acquitted. • * * * My irrepressible banking friend had the staff in a rare pother last* week when, he received a letter in an O.H.M.S. envelope. He scanned thestaggered thcrr in the best traditional manner squared his shoulders and mustered a smile. "It's come,"' he said. "I'm called' up. Got to report immediately." His fellow toilers were, of course, - profoundly shaken and there was much firm clasping of hands ami wishing of luck. Half an hour later some one glanced at the letter when the lad went down to the mail to post the ledgers or whatever bankers do when they rush wildly out in their office coats. As vou may have guessed the official' document merely notified his petrol allocation for the month. • $ * *

Recently Nazi big shot Von Ribfcentrop received the Order of the Annunziata from Italy. This is a very high decoration indeed, and is only conferred by Italy on esteemed and trusted allies for whom Italy has tlit? greatest affection. Th\s is proved by the fact that the last two gentlemen who received it were the Emperor of Abyssinia and King Zog of Albania. m ss * * A beaming smile lit up the Whakatanc Magistrate's Court last Wednesday. A large Maori gentleman walked up from the body of the*. court and entered the dock when his name was called in civil claim. The name*of the person who was proceeding against him was readout 1 again, but no answer came, n.or diet any solicitor rise and ask for judg- • ment. ' . "Go on. They don't want their money after all. You can said: the bench, and Hori grinned and trotted out smartly. * * * * Few relaxations could be more complete than a state of idleness whilst contemplating others toilin?*. On first sunny day in recent spring one lay atop sunny bank watching a couple of sons of Dalmatia ditchdigging, at which exercise Dalmatians come first, third and highly commended.. i Into our peaceful idyll burst that I symptom of panic that has scared? the world right through civilisation: —a galloping horse. One recognised the ha"-owed rider as a cow *■>. you. "Hey,'' yelled h<\ von fellows seen any toiinA here?'' . ? (Continued !' . :