FIELD OF THE DEAD

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 237, 27 December 1927, Page 18

FIELD OF THE DEAD

AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL HOAX DISCOVERIES IN FRANCE By Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright . PARIS, Saturday. Disillusion has now followed upon the intense excitement at the discovery of certain mysterious tablets which were found buried at Glozel. Skilled archaeologists were at the time dubious, and now an international commission has reported that the tablets were buried since the war and that they do not belong to the terrain in which they were found. The report states that some of the discoveries were counterfeits and others, while they were authentic, were not prehistoric. The discovery consisted of about 5,000 alleged antique objects in bone, stone and pottery. Some contained inscriptions. Three scientists who championed the discovery describe the report of the commission as ridiculous.—A. and N.Z.

A message from London on October 25 said the newspaper “Daily Sketch” stated that Hunter Charles Rogers, who had often been exposed in that paper as a dealer in spurious documents and pictures, asserted that he placed the relics found at GlozeL He said, according to the newspaper, that with an Englishman, then in America, he went to France with some stones, implements and vases. The two men Induced a farmer to help them dig these articles in. The idea was to lead a discovery party to the spot in 1928. Rogers ran out of money, however, and in order to benefit himself the farmer began “discovering” the things prematurely. Most of the articles were genuine, others were copies Rogers had made. He bought some genuine prehistoric relics and had a few genuine stones which bore prehistoric drawings of reindeer and horses. He had made more by scratching the stones with glass and old razor blades. It was easq, he said, to deceive experts. “I am only a Buckinghamshire farm labourer, but I have hoaxed the world in my time,” added Rogers.

SCHOOL FLOWER SHOW DISPLAY AT AVONDALE EXCELLENT ENTRIES Show day at the Avondale School attracted a large attendance, and the excellent display of flowers and vegetables showed the intensity of the children’s interest in horticulture. The fancy work sections also showed that lessons had been fully learned. The task of the judges in making awards was difficult because of the uniform excellence. The following are the awards. Coreopsis.—Joan Harrison, 1. Stock. —Joan Harrison, 1. Pansies. —Joan Harrison, 1; Bruce Richardson, 2. Four Blooms.—Joan Harrison, 1; Jack Woollen, 2; Stanley Heald, 3. Antirrhinums. —Joyce Morris, 1. Candytuft.—Sylvia Ingle, 1; Emma Thompson, 2. Canterbury Bells.—Jean Mcßride, 1; Joyce Morris, 2; lan Mcßride, 3. Carnations. —Evelyn Cairns, 1; Ronnie Hemus and Joyce Morris, 2. Coreopsis.—Ken Whitlow, l; Mary Whitlow, 2; Dorothy Tester, 3. Cornflower. —Beryl Burrow, 1. Dahlias. —Joan Harrison, 1; Betty Overend, 2. Daisies. —Percy Browne, 1; Kitty Parr, 2; Joy Curd, 3. Fuchsia.—Keith Burgess, 1; Trevor Vendt, 2; Ronnie Hemus, 3. Gallardias. —Lucy Bright, 1; Ken Whitlow, 2; Mary Whitlow, 3. Gladioli. —Ivy Priauix, 1; Clorina Williamson, 2; Vivienne Scott, 3. Geranium.—Annie Bright, 1; Roma Procter, 2; Elsie Taylor, 3. Hydrangea.—Millie Dobbinson, 1; Olive Cooper, 3. Larkspur.—Trevor Rogers, 1. Christmas Lily.—Eunice Nicholas, 1; Thelma Easton, 2. Pansies.—Kitty Parr, 1; Doris Burrow, 2; Ronnie Hemus, 3. Iceland Poppies.—Ronnie Hemus, 1; Annie Wood, 2; Kitty Parr, 3. Shirley Poppies.—Flossie Sly, 1; Gordon, 2. Roses.—Kitty Parr, 1; Jean Richardson, 2; Joyce Wilson, 3. Stock.—A. Porritt, 1; Irene Clarke, 2; Joyce Thompson, 3. Sweet Pea.—Burton Turley, 1; Betty Earney, 3. Sweet William. —Joan Harrison, 1; Lucy Bright, 2; Jack Woollen, 3. Verbena.—-Clorine Williamson, 1. Flowering Shrubs.—Violet Blackman, 1; Oliver Cooper, 2. Any Six Flowers. —Kitty Parr, 1; Jean Richardson, 2; Keith Burgess, 3. Best Bouquet.—Under 12 years: Elsie Hawke, 1; Joan Vibert, 2: Mary Whitlow, 3. Best Bouquet.—Over 12 years: F. Dracevich and Mary Perrett, 1: Cornice Button, 2; Emily McCormick, 3. Decorated Basket.—Girls: Emma Thompson, 1; Clorine Williamson, 2; Elsie Haslam, 3. Decorated Basket.—Boys: Dick Leeper, 1; Robert Noall, 2. Decorated Tables. —Joan Harrison and Dorothy Clement, 1; Elsie Hawke and Ivy Priauix, Melba Goodman and Hazel Yearslev, 2; Mary Mitchell and Mary Harrison, Gwen Wilson and Violet Blackman, 3. Best Vase of Flowers. —Betsy Guiness, 1; Betty Overend and Joyce Andrew, 2. Best Bowl of Sweet Peas.—Esma Rogers, 1. Collection Small Fruit. —Trevor Vendt, 1; Robert Lennox, 2.