FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 121, 12 August 1927, Page 8

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By “THE LOOK-OUT MAN” FO R R A Din F. V7’ H I'sf As7' >' With the growth of the relay programmes from Europe we may yet find our wireless programmes supplemented in this fashion: Nijni Novgorod (4PBAP) The Niche vo Blues, by the Station Band: Fun in a Droshky, the Red Five; “Good-bye For Ever,” Comrade Trotski; recitation, “A Pantoum on Poods,” Sologub Sudski, holder of the Soviet’s “poetic licence.” Oskosh, U.S.A. (7AWFL) ‘‘Trial by Jury,” selection by visiting Italians; “Putting the Wood In, and On, Alcohol,” by Prohibition Inspector Henry Q. Hooch; relay of rival street gangs, in pleasantries from Chicago. Hankow (3HLP) The Russian National Anthem, at S: “New Uses for Birds’ Nests,” by the chef at the Hotel Joss-Stick; “No Savee,” an amusing playlet by the Kuomintang Repertory Co.; General Ko-Hop will explain which army he wil fight with next week—and why. * * * SAILING WITH GREAT NATIONS Yachtsmen throughout New Zealand and Australia will appreciate the fine spirit of sportsmanship that inspired the president and secretary of the International Star Class Yacht Racing Association of America to offer a trophy for international contest. It proffers an opportunity to New Zealand to enter a wide field of pleasant competition. One of the outstanding features of the proposal, and probably the most attractive one, is the prospect it provides of seeing for the first time along the reaches of the Waitemata yachts from far-off waters. The Star class has won a notable success almost all over the world. There are nearly 250 of these one-design craft in the world’s yachting haunts. New Zealand’s representation so far comprise three Star boats on the Waitemata. The gift of a graceful vase should encourage the building of many others. It is not too much to hope that New Zealand, which has done so well abroad in recent years with other sporting activities, will have a crew sailing an allNew Zealand boat against the world at the international contest for craft of this popular type. * * * POLL CLERKX A correspondent writes to “The Look-Out Man”: There is one way in which the City Fathers can assist the army of unemployed at the present time, and probably they have not thought of it. At one time a head of a department, at a good salary, in a big city emporium, an Aucklander, was sacrificed in favour of another at a much reduced rate of payment. This man paid a call at the City Council office the other day and asked for a position as poll clerk when the forthcoming vote on the tramways loan is being taken, and he was advised that “We have our own men to do that work.” “Our men,” it is presumed, have been doing this work for years, and supplementing their wages. This might be quite all right in boom times, where one has but himself to blame in being out of a job. But times are very much changed, and it is up to the city heads to consider the position. The man referred to is probably as capable of fulfilling the duties appertaining to a poll clerk as any of those already engaged.

A REA L SKY PILOT When Bishop Cleary, of Auckland, recognised the possibilities of the airplane in 1919, and flew to visit his flock in the Far North, he set an example which has been followed by more than one prelate. Only the other day one of the Australian Anglican bishops who has a diocese approaching a large slice of Europe in area, ordered a Moth so that he might more conveniently meet his out-back adherents. Dr. Cleary will return by the Aorangi on Sunday, after a long European tour. Early in April he was in Rome. He stayed at the Lateran College, of which he was once a student. The professors and pupils, with customary Italian hospitality, thrust their tomes aside and proclaimed a “festa” in the bishop’s honour. The Sovereign Pontiff also received Dr. Cleary. As a young man the bishop, studied in Rome at the Papal University, subsequently proceeding to St. Sulpice’s College in Paris. On being ordained priest he returned to his native Ireland for three years, and then was appointed to Ballarat, Hamilton and other Victorian towns. Ireland was again visited on the present trip. Aware of his penchant for the air, Aucklanders will not be surprised to learn that the bishop flew by the regular air service from Rome to Genoa, and again to London, via Marseilles. Church journalism has always attracted Dr. Cleary and after his appointment to the See of Auckland he founded “The Month,” a journal 'which provided ample scope for his literary ability. A chaplain with the N.Z.E.F., Bishop Cleary did duty in the trenches in Flanders. Undoubtedly the most vital force in New Zealand Roman Catholicism to-day, and, apart from the venerable Archbishop and Metropolitan of Wellington (Dr. Redwood), its most picturesqe figure.