ROUND ABOUT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 222, 7 October 1940, Page 5

ROUND ABOUT

(By Aitehcl) )

Last Monday iiiul-ning, too late, unfortunately, for inclusion in that issue's Round About, I heard a very interesting story about a rivalry between two of this town's citizens. And with no apology for the apparent familiarity in using only abbreviated Christian names,, because they were the onlj' identifying marks used . by the narrator when telling the tale to me, I will endeavour to record the story of Lou and Les.. " • - *■ " For a long time, it seems, these two lads have been much ol an equal j at. tossing the caber, draughts and | piteh-and-toss and both for some time have skipped bowling fours with just about the same amount, of skill, luck and result. They each shoAved the other occasionally that practise was making for perfection but the score was always levelled by the other and draws, as far as they were concerned, were the order of the day. * -• * tt m And then came golf. Consistent with the calibre equality in other * sports, Lou and Les played about the same games, balancing wins and losses; still rivals, still striving to show each other that, after all, they had previously not been really concentrating and one of these days Til get down to it in earnest; and both playing to the same handicap, which, incidentally, was a 22. <' 9 By reaso y n of consistent rounds,, solid rather than spectacular golf* Lou earned a reduction in his han- . dicap ancV played to an 18. Les's thoughts have never been recorded but last week-end he returned an 84, which, with a par at 72, was rather a decent sort of effort, and an effort which immediately . brought his handicap down to 18 —- again on a level with Lou and to even up on the interval he remarked it could be offset when it was remembered that whereas Lou .liart taken four months to reduce by four, he had accomplished the feat in one day. "Evens," again cried the .unofficial umpires. - . t mm« . « And then on the following day— Lou got-dovvn-to-it-in-iearnest. Playing in the' Junior Championship he successfully negotiated 'a stymie with his niblick: "One up,'* murmured the unofficial umpires. ■ He holed out in one at the 14th; "Two up," breathed the very astonished unofficial umpires. He took the Championship: "Three up," gasped the astounded unofficial umpires

And the question: "What: is Les going >to do?" is the subject of great interest." The Borough Council's decision to have a 'Rat Week' could hot be considered hasty. Such major actions must have the fullest and most careful review and consideration. In this case—there may notbe.any rats in Whakatane. It is admitted that the idea of making poison available free- of cost is rather a sound one. Sound, of course, if the municipal authorities, take the necessary steps to inform pathologists. Such advice might save a lot of trouble and expense. * « * * ■ The latest idea creeping into the farming business is that of allowing cows to go out of the milking-sheds Avithout that careful and thorough stripping hitherto considered so„ necessary and profitable, if the scheme is proved to be more effective than the present practise there is going to be quite a fot of sighing over the time wasted in the past. It" would be interesting to know what farmers think of the suggestion. » • m m Even a Transport Licensing Authority is not without a sense of humour. When Mr E. J. Plielan had .before him in Hamilton an application concerning an alleged, semi-dormant service, the carrier in question was emphatic in denial. "I have carried everything in my truck except a goat," he declared, i "Why haven't you carried a goat?" asked counsel. , "I suppose because it hasn't coma my way, 1 " was the reply. Here the Authority had a word to. say. , "You say your truck has carried everything except a goat?"* "Yes," said the carrier. "You're the driver, I suppose,™ remarked the Authority. (Continued foot previous column^