FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 522, 27 November 1928, Page 8

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By

“THE LOOK-OUT MAN.”

THE WIZARD It is reported that Cr. W. H. Murray has been approached by local lifesaving organisations, and invited to give lessons on how to revive the apparently dead. THE TONIC “Feel lit? Then see a doctor,” is the advice of one Meredith Atkinson. People are much more likely to follow the old custom, “See a doctor’s bill, then have a lit.” ALE IN THE FLOCK “Profit made from goats,” says a newspaper heading referring to a Taranaki settler’s enterprise. However, it does not seem much to make a fuss about, as nearly all profit comes from that source. INTERCESSION Amid the post-election clamour, the cry of the Mau followers at Samoa stands out as a voice from the heart. When the results were announced at Apia, they said: “Glory be to God. We have been heard.” Sir Joseph Ward is evidently regarded as the personification of a Divine intercession; which gives him more than ever to live up to. THE RAIL-SITTERS Mr. W. D. Lysnar, who is protesting that he, personally, never had any thought of joining the Uniteds in Parliament, might easily have been misunderstood. The hon. gentleman often says things he does not quite mean. He was the author of the finest “bull” of last session. “They are sitting on the rail, Mr. Speaker,” ihe declaimed. “They are standing in the middle of the road.” ABOUT CAMOUFLAGE Re the paragraph about paint on warships (writes R.N.): Camouflage was tried out in the Navy, and evidently found wanting, as with the exception of a few cruisers on convoy duty, and the airplane carriers Eagle, Argus and Furious, the main fleet soon reverted to grey. For a time we, the Grand Fleet, went to sea like so many zebras, as many hued as Joseph’s coat, an additional feature being the painted bow-wave, giving the ship the appearance of steaming with a bone in her teeth. Ex-R.A.N. touches the same subject: Camouflage was found unsuit able in home waters because of the misty atmosphere. Even so, many of the ships retained camouflage on their and upper-works. The Renown and Repulse were thus decorated to the end of the war, though their hulls were grey. Camouflage in vivid colours was capital, where there was plenty of sunlight and good visibility, as in the tropics, but grey was best in the North Sea. And a third: Dear L.O.M., —I discussed your paragraph about camouflage with the wife last night. Said she: “What was camouflage—those zig-zaggy things?” I replied in the affirmative. “Well,” she said, “wouldn’t that look dreadful on warships?” “But warships don’t have to look nice.” “Oh, yes, they do, dear,” said the wife. “They ought to look nice.” So I left it at that.

CLOTHES MAKYTH MAN Sartorial deficiencies among stay-at-home Aucklanders are thrown into relief whenever a number of overseas ships are in port. There was a time when the saiTorman was of simple tastes in dress. A blue serge jacket over a sweater or a scarf served him amply for his excursions ashore, and considerably less when he was at sea. Nowadays we have the mercantile marine setting new points in style, as a few glances around Lower Queen Street, when the wharves are welllined, will reveal. Saturday, for instance, yielded a modish note —pale blue patent leather shoes, picked out in white, this completing a pearl-grey ensemble, whereof the coat was slit up to the shoulder blades in deference to the latest trend. One of these days we will have periodical men’s fashion notes from lower Queen Street. For instance: - Among those ashore to-day -was Fireman Klinker-Chute, of s.s. Port Huapai. He favoured the d.b. mode in ash-grey, a shovel hat completing an effective toilette. Another visitor was A.B. Ambergris, of the oil-tanker Coco. His higliwaisted confection was cut on flowing lines. * „ This fashion list will undoubtedly make interesting reading. (N. 8.: Since the above was written, Fireman Chute lias been “shot in.” He will be staying over for a few days.;