THE WIGWAM

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 789, 9 October 1929, Page 15

THE WIGWAM

Here we gather, here tee meet in pow-wow friendly and discreet. To talk of earth, and sea, and sky, and watch the world of men go by.

THE LITTLE OLD FIDDLER

OXCE there was a little old fiddler, as crooked as a bent brass pin. who could plav such rare tunes that everyone loved him. He could make bird-song in the depths of winter when the branches were bare and the birds wore silent, and he could bring the sound of running water into the places where no streams flowed. The little old fiddler could make light of a grey day and make people believe that a blue day would dawn on the morrow. Small wonder that everyone loved him. . He played for dances, be played for weddings and he played for the children who came crowding to his door. l*ut one ua> a s:uest came who was different from all others. \ oui lines are rare and sweet, fiddler,” he said. “Often have T paused outaide vour window when you thought no listener was near, hut T have a greater mission for you than that of making music flow from an instrument of hollow wood. , , . The fiddler listened, and his eyes were sad. for he loved Ins flddlo and the children who came to his door, but he set his toj aside and arose to obev the will of the stranger. Tn the morning his house was a place of silence, and the children called to him in vain. “Hush.” said his parents, me little old fiddler has gone away, but his back is crooked with years no longer.” , , . And they hung the fiddle over Ins door that all who came might pause and remember. REDFEATIIEE.

WITH THE BOY SCOUTS

Troops are looking forward with the keenest interest to the boxing contest "hick is being run for Scouts by the Legion of Frontiersmen, and which v 'ill take place at the Society of Arts Lall. Kitchener Street, on Thursday, October 10. Two contestants will represent each troop, and the first bout * s timed to commence at 7 p.m. All * "mpetitons should be present at halfPast six. An interesting evening is promised. r * there are over 40 entries for the various bouts. Music will be supplied by the Artil«nr Band. The Ounson Signalling Cup will be competed for about the end of XovemDep ; the exact date and place to be Rifled later. Entries will be received | V Scoutmaster Conquer, of the Edendal© troop, or they may be posted to n e *d<iuarters before November 14. The following are the genera! con«>«ons to be observed: Teams of one team a troop, .and to consist of eight Scouts. Teams must supplv all gear neces- | ■ary.

T,i* competition will comprise (at j * messages of not more than -0 , hi”*’ (b) semaphore message of not i nore than 24 words, <e) distance j ) irthT yards, <d) semaphore, 400 Notices of conditions and rules will I Posted to scoutmasters of compet-

his teams seven days before the dat of the competition.

Straight Feather reports for the Ellerslie Troop: • \S'a were very lucky during September in the matter of pound nights. It was arranged that we should pay the Panmnre troop a visit, but owing to the size of their hall, we entertained them at. our own headquarters. An enjoyable evening was spent with some very strenuous games, followed by an excellent supper. “Again our scoutmaster invited the Sr. Mary’s troop, which has lately lost the "services of district scoutmaster Iverson, to spend the night of October 4 with us. ‘ In order to enable patrol leaders to find out just how much their patrols knew, and to teach them as a whole, tho class system was discontinued for some nights. “The following dates are to be noted: October 10, Scout boxing tournament, for which two Ellerslie Scoifts have entered', and October 12, half-day parade at Lake St. John. * * ■* A Boy Scout troop lias been formed at Thames, with Mr. J. A. Bailey as scoutmaster. Preparations are also in hand for the formation of a company of Girl Guides, with Mrs. P. Brant in charge. A Wolf Cub pack of IS members has been established at Tauranga. with Miss K. Kennedy as cubmistress. At the last annual meeting of the Tauranga troop the balance sheet showed a credit of £3l 10s. Mr. Russel \\allac# now ‘lias charge of this troop.

GIRL GUIDES’ CORNER

Golden Birch reports for the Caveil Company: “Owing to the absence of our captain, we did not have ceremonial the first week in September, but the unexpected visit of a Guider from Tasmania and one from Gisborne pleased us immensely. “When ceremonial duly arrived, several service stars and badges, including pioneers. were presented. Round the campfire the Kohn Cup was the prevailing topic of conversation, because we knew that very soon we were to be tested for the province.

‘•We all felt very expectant last week, and after roll-call our expectations were realised, when .captain produced the Kohn Cup paper. Very soon five leaders were w.riting faster than they had ever written before, and five patrols were racking their brains in an endeavour to produce a really artistic cover for the papers. •■The basketball tournament was held at Kowhai School, and after many strenuous games the Wikitoria Guides were congratulated as the winners of the cup. “We had a church parade at the Presbyterian Church recently. and last week-end several of us went to Otimai.” # White Smoke reports for the Taliutimai Company: “A fortnight ago we held our swimming Sports at the tepid baths. There were many events to choose from, b-ut owing to colds the entries were not as heavy as they should have been. Only three, patrols were able to enter, and the results were the Heather and Snowdrop tying with 2S points each, and Red Rose with eight. The Bruce Swimming Cup is to be held for six months, so the patrols will hold it for three months each. “One night the leaders took the whole programme for the evening. One took inspection and prayers, another dancing and drill, while the other two conducted games. Some of the members of the Heather and Daffodil patrols lately went for an all-day outing to Mangere Mountain. Unfortunately it rained in the afternoon, but nevertheless a merry day was spent in tracking, stalking, and various games. "The other night each of the patrols had to compose a sons during patrol

corners. Considering the short time we had, the efforts were all quite good. “Our birthday party took place on October 5, and both the St. David's companies were invited.” Bluebird reports for the Second St. David’s Company: “Joan Woodford has been presented with her second class badge, and two new recruits have joined our company. “We are now training a band in preparation for a concert we are having. Recently each patrol was given a first aid item to perform, and this created a great deal of amusement.” Waving Plume reports for the Manurewa Company: •‘On September 14 our company competed in the annual district basketball tournament for tho district cup, presented by Mrs. llain. The Papatoetoe company won the cup, and the Second Otahuhus were the runnersup. The day was very cold for those looking on. “We held a successful poster and fancy dress ball on September 27.” Still Woodland, of the Second Otahuhu Company, writes: “At our last meeting nights we have been practising country dancing to a gramophone, which makes it ever so much more interesting. “All the Guides who entered for their sick nurse and toymaker’s badges were successful. We have been having games and competitions, the marks going toward the cup, which is competed for every two months. “One game we all like is called ‘the country store.’ Captain signals a letter in Morse, and then one out of each patrol has to run up and say a. word beginning with the signalled letter.”

Falling 1 Snow,- of the First Cambridge Company, writes: “On Saturday, September 14, which was our ceremonial night, we arrived at Guides to find that Mrs. Toombs, our commissioner, had come to visit us. After an inspection, we went to our patrol corners, and sonic patrols were called upon to give impromptu displays of first aid signalling, etc. “Tho following Saturday we divided our patrols, and some took signalling, others first aid, and others gadgetmaking under the Guiders. “Cast Saturday, when we arrived at Guides, we were informed that we had been selected as the Waikato company to sit for the Kohn Cup. This test the leaders and seconds sat for the same afternoon, but of course we do not know the results yet. “On Saturday, October 5. a number ' of Guides sat for the child nurse j examination, the lectures for which | they have been attending for some j time.'’ FAST TRAVELLING The record for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic by a passenger vessel, held for many years by the Mauretania, has been captured by the new German liner Bremen. On her maiden voyage to New York the Bremen made the Atlantic crossing in foilr days, IT hours, and 42 minutes, handsomely ?>eating the Mauretania's fastest trip. On the home\va**d voyage the journey from New York to Plymouth was accomplished in four days and 17 hours, nearly six hours less than the Mauretania's best time for the same journey.

STORY COMPETITION

A cash prize of seven shillings and sixpence (7s 6d) will be awarded for the best original story not exceeding 500 words. Second prize, five shillings (ss)'. Entries close with Redfeather on Wednesday, October 23. Open to Scouts and Guides and young people of membership age.

DRYADS AND PEACOCKS

A rare and lovely thing, bright with gold, and all the colours of the rainbow, made a fleeting appearance in Piccadilly in the last days of July. It was a copy on vellum of Boccaccio’s Decameron, and was sold at the auction rooms for £I,BOO. Nearly four centuries old was this illuminated manuscript, its lettering enclosed in borders of flowering scrollwork on which peacocks and archers nereids, naiads, dryads, and many a grotesque animal played. All- the world loves a picture book, and this was one almost beyond compare. The Italian Boccaccio, who wrote the tales within it: the Frenchman who translated it; the sei'ibe. who transcribed it and spent laborious years in adorning it with pictures, all contributed something to it. Perhaps £I,BOO was not a great deal for so much toil and genius spent on it, though the writer and the artist between them received not a tenth of this sum. Jt was one of the many rare and delightful treasures seen last month in London salerooms and shops which are often as wonderful as many a museum to which the treasures go.

TELEVISION A very simple means of seeing by wireless which has been invented by a Hungarian inventor, Von Mihaly, is now being used for broadcasting from the German station at "VVitzzleben daily to certain German post offices. It is claimed that when the necessary arrangements have been made with the British Post Office a complete outfit for television by this method will be sold for fifty shillings.

BEAUTY

There are daisy buds on the emerald grass, And white clouds in the sky; And a wind is laughing about my hair, A frolicsome wind, now here, now there, Crooning, to fall and die! There are weary feet on the road outside, And motors that grind and blare: And the dust is stirred in a blinding cloud. And people are tired, and the noise is loud. And there is no beauty there. But what care I for the dust and noise, And the motors, roaring and fleet? For I hear but the fresh wind croon and die, And I see but the clouds in the azure sky, And the daisy buds at my feet! —Red Star (Jean Mclndoe). AN ELASTIC WORD The class had recently learned some rather long words, and the teacher asked the children to repeat some of them. “Constantinople,” called one pupil. “Yes, and another, please,” said the teacher. “Inextricable,” was the next attempt. “Good. Xow another.” “Rubber,” called one young worthy. “But that is not a long word,” said the teacher. “Xo, but you can stretch it,” was the reply.

A DOG PASSENGER | ; A motorist had an experience the | other day which has been a warning ] to him. and may profit others. He left his saloon car in a friend's drive, with a spaniel in the back. When j he returned the car had gone. ' An anxious man hurried down the j drive, and found his car resting in a thick yew hedge, with the doggy pasI senger looking very startled. Evidently the spaniel had jumped into the. front seat and knocked the ! brake safety catch.

A GIBRALTAR TRAGEDY

One of Gibraltar’s roqk apes has met its death in the strangest way. It was killed by eagles. The apes of the Rock are one of its traditions. They liu’?e long there, and are actually protected by the authorities: Yet hafrdly anyone ever se.es them alive or dead. Visitors to Gibraltar practically never do catch sight of them, and wfien surveying the bareness of the of all except scrub might be ejxeused for thinking that their existeince was a fable. Those who live in Gibraltar know better, because the apes time to time plunder the carefully-kept little gardens. Last year uno of them made itself such a post that. though with gr«*at reluctance, order*- to watch for it and shoot it were gi\Q n.

A dead ape is an even Hirer sight than a live one on the Hoick. They creep away to die. But, this one died in the open after a flight which the Gibraltar people believe tmust have been with the eagles or vultures which sometimes sail over the Kocjk. HEARD AT SEA A day and a-half (500 miles) from New York the operator in the wireless room of the liner Berengaria. heard a voice calling him. It was speaking in Paris. He gave an answering signal. Then he heard and repeated, so that others in the wireless loom might ;i2so hear, what the man in Paris was? saying. It was: “We are “forty delegates of the French and foreign Press gathered in the Avenue Breteuil. We are listening to the Berengaria. It is veryhot in Paris.” The words are not very momentous, but the sound of them in th;|t cabin in the midst of the ocean was tjhrilling. It was the first time that words spoken into a telephone on l*nd had been heard 2,000 miles away o© a ship to which they were directed. It was also the first time words spoken into a ship’s telephone laid been received in the same way on land. It marks the beginning of a new era when telephone talks on ships will be as easy as between subscribers on land exchanges. CARRION HAWKS The Carrion Hawks of South A&nerica are often called curacaras, a name derived from the cry of the Brazilian i caracara. The various species? differ i somewhat in size, but the Brazilian [ caracara is about 2ft long. beak : is pale blue, and its cheeks, which are ' bare of plumage, are red. It can fly to great altitudes, but it also wal2ks and runs well. Its nest is built on si tree, tfhsh, cliff, or on the ground. Carrion hawks, as their name tells, eat dead animals, but they will also attack living prey. STREET DOGS The Berlin police have decided to make the owner of a dog responsible for the dog's behaviour in the street, j It is to be made a punishable offence i if an animal is run over in the main | thoroughfare, ami fines will be imposed i on the owner of a dog found running t loose to his own danger or to the i danger of the public.