FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 599, 27 February 1929, Page 8

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By “THE LOOK-OUT MAN,” THE SWANS The “Morning Post,” in an editorial, regrets that lack of space will forbid the London Zoo’s acceptance of a generous gift of 500 black swans forwarded by Mr. White, an Australian. Five hundred birds of rather gloomy hue, Five hundred swans in sable plumage clad, Are crated and dispatched to London Zoo, At which the ••Morning Post” exclaims. "Begad 1 This is a wondrous gift to ornithology. Alas, we are compelled to make apology .” Or words to that effect. For ’tis the case. Old London , on its many-towered site, Is cramped, and simply hasn’t got the space To house the fowls consigned by Mr. White. Even a valued beast like the rhinoceros Could not be taken. No, the thing’s preposterous. But could some friendly power these birds transmute Into utilitarian ducks or geese , Fit for the pot, then even more we’d flute Of noble Mr. White. Nor would we Until with gusto not unmixed with reverence We’d eaten his expressions of benevolence. T. TOHEROA'. THE BAND CONTEST Commenting on the tenor horn selections at the Wanganui Band Contest, the judge said the solo, “In My Cottage,” was worn out. In other words, “blown out.” THE BIG SCRAP When shot at by an unidentifiable man in Miami, Florida, the pugilist, Jack. Dempsey, side-stepped and escaped injury- Having side-stepped, he probably countered automatically with a straight left, and scored a win on a technical knock-out. FUR GOATS SCARE “Cynicus” writes: Husbands in general will probably greet with satisfaction the report that a young Parisian matron has contracted leprosy after wearing a brand-new fur coat. If some obliging damsel could be smitten with anthrax after wearing a new hat, the position would be entirely satisfactory. FISHING A LA MODE The Auckland Harbour and Kangitoto Channel Fishing Club at Its recent meeting decided not to let the deepsea fishermen have things all their own way. The following is a list of catches since the week-end: Mr. A. Sharp-Finn, of Ponsonby, secured a 41b schnapper after a thrilling fight off North Head. Another large fish, judged by its bite to b.e a gurnet, got away. Mr. U. Lyarr, fishing from the hulk Zero, landed two large “spotty,” each measuring 4in from tip to tip. One of these fish towed the hulk from the Central Wharf to Stanley Bay before it could be brought alongside and gaffed. Colonel Rory O’Damm, late Irish Fusiliers, caught a 12iu piper from the St. H,eliers Wharf. The colonel played his catch from one end of the pier to the other, and the fish, in its struggles, carried away two bollards. Master Rambler Brown, fishing by hand according to the method recommended by Mr. Sebastopol Butcher, caught a 4oz tommy-cod in a pool at Milford. The fish beached 64 times. 4t rK 4- -j- at 4- Hn 4~ 4~ 4- -If 4 f ~ 4* 4?