From The Watch Tower

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 371, 4 June 1928, Page 8

From The Watch Tower

By “THE LOOK-OUT MAN." LA MISERE “The news yesterday of the defeat of the All Blacks cast a gloom over Rugby circles in Auckland, and, no doubt, elsewhere in New Zealand” — Morning paper. Let us sing a suitable song: Women weep in misery* Children do the name, Strong men sob convulsively — We have lost a game! O the agony of mind; O the shame , the grief! The All Blacks are defeated — 'Tis beyond belief! Ships may vanish utterly In the ocean's maw* Earthquakes, floods and famine, too, Add their toll to war. Epidemics, fire and drought — What arc these to met The All Blacks lost at football — O misery ! O misery ! * * * WITH GOODWILL Over a hundred demonstrators were arrested during riots attendant upon the hoisting of the new South African flag on Union Day, says a cable message from Capetown, the ringleaders being sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, with hard labour. However, “the hoisting of the emblem passed off throughout the country with goodwill.” Judging by the “goodwill” results, it seems, a good thing that no ill-will was displayed. \ i:\vs FROM APIA Reports have been received at Suva of an alleged attack on the military police at Apia, following on their arrest of a Mau adherent. One native is said to have received a bayonet wound, and another’s teeth were knocked out by a rifle butt. Is there still a censorship over news from Samoa? If the news is true, it is strange that it has only been received in New Zealand by leakage through Suva. New Zealanders will require to know more about it. BOYS OR ANGELS? The advice given to English boys arriving in New Zealand under the Church of England settlement scheme is sound and pithy. When the boys have been given their instructions, they are advised as fellows: Write to your people. Put your money in the bank. Go to church. Stick to your job. The 19 boys who arrived yesterday by the Tainui all solemnly declared that they would observe these instructions. One recalls the exclamation of the great Roman on first seeing a batch of little Britons: “Not Angles—angels,” he said. EXTRA ORDINARY CREDULITY The extraordinary credulity with which the pretences of rogues are accepted in New Zealand was instanced in the Wanganui forgery case. A stranger, with various aliases and a criminal history, adventured into the city, represented liimsell’ as a man of means, ordered furniture valued at £437, “bought” a house, and set painters and decorators at work on it, hired taxis, gathered in a quantity of cash, and departed. He had a luxurious time on the strength of a signature that could have been proved worthless by the briefest inquiry. The ease with which some business people are fooled scarcely entitles them to sympathy; still, it is a relief to the community to see a rogue laid by the heels, and there will be no sympathy expressed for the one who fooled Wanganui. He was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment on each of three charges of forgery, and declared an habitual criminal. Roguery doesn’t pay.

■T.O. OR 0.L.? A morning paper informs us that “J. O.” Patterson proposes to see a London specialist about liis injured elbow. No doubt “G. L.” Anderson has sent the Davis Cup player a message of sympathy. MORE MARVELS OF SCIENCE Human bodies need nourishment in six forms, according to Sir George Newman, chief medical officer to the Board of Education. These are food, fresh air and sunlight, exercise of the body, warmth, cleanliness, and rest. “The eternal truths are rapidly being circumnavigated, surrounded, and captured by the brilliant brains of our time,” began the Philosopher. “A moment’s thought will convince the most sceptical that the important pronouncement of Sir George is not without a certain foundation. If any should doubt it, let him try living without one of the six, for say three weeks, but no longer. Nevertheless, there is a certain important omission.” “Beer!” said Bill the dustman. “You have taken the words from my lips*” said the Philosopher; “I accept the invitation.”