FROM THE WATCH TOWER.

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 451, 5 September 1928, Page 8

F ROM THE WATCH TOWER.

By 'THE LOOK-OUT MAN/'

WAITED TO SELI Mr. H. Nakamichi arrived in Auckland yesterday with the intention of looking over New Zealand poultry to see whether it would be advisable for Japan to buy breeding birds in the Dominion next year. We have no idea where Mr. Nakamichi is staying, or we would call upon him and warn him to keep it dark, otherwise he will never be able to put his nose outside the front door for the crates of unwanted poultry that will be piled up outside. NEW EXPORT TRADE Nine cases of eels have been shipped to London by the Mahana from Timaru. Eels are considered a delicacy in London and sell at prices ranging from 4s to 6s a yard, single width, or something like that. On hearing this news Hori Wakanini has written to us to say that he has’ several pieces of dried shark left over from last Christmas. If they would appeal to Londoners he will ship immediately, 2s 6d a pound f.o.b.s.i. ROUGH FOOTBALL New Zealanders were amazed at the exhibition of fisticuffs in the recent League test at Dunedin, and Australians—the conservative portion—were astounded when 8,000 Sydney people stormed a League ground after a rough match and pummelled a player so much that he is still in hospital. This is bad enough, but pride of place goes again to America, where a baseball player was so annoyed with an opponent that he hit him on the head—with his club. The affair took place in Chicago, of course. ADVANCE NEW ZEALAND In butter, mutton and footballers, we are satisfied that New Zealand leads the world and we have done our best to convince other nations, including South Africa, that this is so. Now the bugles blow to a new charge; the banners of a new movement are unfurled and the legend of the campaign is “New Zealand Cakes Lead the World.” An enterprising lady in Condon has organised a kitchen from which cakes, made from New Zealand recipes, may be ordered for the enlightenment and benefit of English friends. Commenting on this “The New Zealand News,” a London publication, says: “An excellent idea which should appeal to all New Zealanders who believe their country produces better cakes than any other.” INCONSIDERA TE Really, these reported-dead men who persist in staging returns to life should be more considerate for other people’s feelings. Another pseudocorpse turned up at Nuneaton, England, the other day, and a friend of former years was seriously disconcerted. “We buried you long ago in the war. I sent you a wreath,” the friend explained fearfully to the “dead” man. The man who came back was genuine, however. These abrupt reappearances call for the exercise of the greatest tact on the part of the revenant. It is startling, to say the least, to meet suddenly a person who was buried several years before. OIL BATHS! In all seriousness, an English travel magazine recently reproduced a New Zealand Government photograph of a hot spring at Rotorua. But originality is the essence of the magazine production, so the spring was described as “oil baths.” “The Maoris may be seen in their correct, primitive life, bathing in these baths,” the writer said. Really we are beginning to doubt if anyone outside New Zealand knows anything about New Zealand. Think how the small army of scientists who have been frantically boring Taranaki’s perfectly good soil for years past, looking for oil, would welcome the presence of a bath of it!

WHAT THE INVENTORS ARE DOING Set the “alarm” of a new clockwork window-closer for a half-hour before your rising time and a powerful little arm shuts the sash, cutting off the breezes that have brought you fresh air all night. No study is needed to play a new accordion, which is made to produce any desired selection by means of a roll similar to those of the ordinary player piano. The speed is regulated by hand pressure on the lever that engages the roll and makes it turn. Utilising the tyre repair method, you can now “darn” your socks by cutting pieces of special adhesive fabric to cover the holes and sticking them on with a hot iron. The fabric is obtainable in all colours and textures to match your hose.