FOM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 379, 13 June 1928, Page 8

FOM THE WATCH TOWER

By “THE LOOK-OUT MAN.” SUBTLE INGENUITY All over the country political organisei’s are whispering the honeyed word to determined candidates who insist upon splitting the party votes. The Maori mind, however, has proeduced a lesson of subtle ingenuity for the edification of Iris pakeha friend. Two prospective candidates offered themselves at a hui of the Maori National Party at Kaikohe this week. The meeting selected one by ballot, and so there would be no mistake, appointed the defeated prospect secretary and organiser! NOT “ALL BLACK ” Probably 75 per cent, of the crowds that witness football matches in South Africa are coloured men—mainly Kaffirs. Your educated Kaffir feels very hurt at any reference to colour, and it is more than likely that the “All Blacks” will he unpopular with them. The superiority of the white has for so long been established in things that matter that the Kaffir dreams he will wake up white. It reminds the L.O.M. of an offended innocent to whom he once said: “Get to H , you black !” Pained beyond belief, the Kaffir turned and said: “Sah! You think because ma skin is black ma heart is coloured, too!” No print could express the way he said it. Sufficient that it echoes yet in the mind of the L.O.M. * * * GLOWING TRIBUTES The Press of the world is paying glowing tributes to the aerial preeminence of Australians, mentioning particularly the recent feats of Hinkler, Wilkins, Kingsford Smith, and Ulm. Contemporaneously is reported the arrival at Darwin of one of the most intrepid explorers Australia has known —Francis Birtles, of whom nothing is now heard excepting when he unexpectedly arrives somewhere in his usual unostentatious manner. The L.O.M. remembers meeting Birtles when he first crossed the then unknown territory between Kalgoorlie and Port Augusta. Or did he pass direct from Perth to Port Augusta? Anyhow, he was the first man to cross the continent on a bicycle, pedalling all the way from the west to the east coasts, excepting in those stretches where he had to carry his bicycle. That was over 2ft years ago, and Birtles has been travelling ever since. He rode around Australia on a bicycle; later he took to the motor bicycle, and the motorcar, and he explored much formerly unknown country. Having seen practically the whole of his native Australia, he went wandering abroad. Such men as Birtles should not be forgotten when we are honouring these newer heroes of the air. “BABU” An Auckland firm received the following appealing note in its last Indian mail: “Dear Sirs, —We take the liberty of introducing ourselves as Manufacturers and Exporters of ART WORK, SLIPPERS & LADIES SHOES in which we have obtained an universal reputation in various markets of the Globe. On the first instance you might be confused to pick the right customer to purchase our goods but from the iuformation we have gathered from our reliable patronizers we strongly can say that if they are once in the Display Window, there would be an unique demand for them. The ART SLIPPERS are specially a boon to the FANCY DRESS BALLS, CHARITY BALL & DANCES and are highly appreciated and declared an quite a new idea for such suspicious occasions. As the leather and the material used in these slippers is very soft hence they can also be used in Bed Rooms and we assure you that they would prove to be more beautiful, serviceable and soft than those are in use now-a-days. The ladies shoes we have mentioned above are for EVENING WALKS, DINNERS and such other festivities, and we manufacture them in various shapes and designs with Latest Art Work on them. Though we have attempted to some extent to give the specification in the enclosed price List but taking the repeated orders we are receiving into consideration we would suggest you to order us for a sample lot as enable us to prove you to what we have said above.” After reading this it seems'to the L.O.M. that Auckland merchants lack real enterprise. * * * “ KEEP IT A SECRET ” Much amusement was caused in the Adelaide Divorce Court by a woman witness, who, pressed as to her immediate finances, produced five banknotes from her stocking. “She is a wise woman,” observed the judge. “Apparently women have other places than purses in which to keep their money.” Turning to the woman, he advised her to keep the hiding place a secret. "My word X will,” said the witness, amid great laughter. The incident is somewhat reminiscent of a fashionably-attired confidence woman in Sydney, who was suspected of relieving an innocent stranger of a considerable roll of notes while conversing with him in the lounge of a leading hotel. A detective detained her, while awaiting the arrival of a woman searcher from police headquarters, blie was searched in an upstairs room but nothing was found on her, and presently she was allowed to depart. Some time later the detective met her again. “Look here, Kitt?,i‘ be said, I m certain you got away with those ?°,^ es ~* et ’ s know how you managed ■ Kitty laughed gaily. "You know, vhen I was sitting down with you in the lounge?” she asked. “Yes” replied the detective. “Well, I had the notes, and I slipped them into your coat pocket—and after I had been “w r ?i h ?n; l slipped them out again.” Well 111 be d d!” said the detective.