FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 835, 2 December 1929, Page 8

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By “THE LOOK-O'JT MAN.” CEASE YOUR FRETWORK

A bookmaker at Marton said be practised only “as a hobby. Do you crave a useful hobby? Drop your albums, lathes and rods. Propitiate the nearest bobby. And begin to lay the odds. A WISE BYRD

“Quo Vadis” writes the L.O.M. to say how relieved he was to read on Saturday, in two separate messages from Commander Byrd, that on reaching the South Pole he had “turned North” again. That shows how the intrepid explorer has not only courage, but vision. Had he kept heading South when he was at the South Pole he might have found something he wasn’t looking for, and seeing that North was the only alternative direction. he once again demonstrated his instinct for doing the right thing. ** * * ONLY ONE DIRECTION

There is something very intriguing about the idea that Commander Byrd, instead of “turning north again,” might simply have sailed serenely into the empty realms of space, thus saying farewell to all earthly troubles. At that particular point on the globe one’s notions of direction would naturally get a little fuddled. Yet there does not seem much excuse for failure to bear in mind the fact that from the South Foie all points of the tesrestrial compass must be north. Little things like this are a subject for jest among men who brave the Antarctic. It is one Of the humours of life among the Ross Sea whalers that while a bee-line course to the south is followed on the way to the cold regions, a complicated course to offset the earth’s rotation has to be steered on the way back. FAREWELL VISITS

The ceremonies observed during the recent visit of Sir Charles and Lady Fergusson were slightly tinged with sadness because they convey the inevitable reminder that there is to be but one more formal appearance of the popular pair. To emphasise the impression they have made upon the people would perhaps sound like a platitude. Lady Alice has contrived to make history because she has seen a good deal more of New Zealand than any Governor’s lady has done before her. She knows the Dominion from the Three Kings to the Bluff, from outlying islands like Kapiti and the Hen and Chickens to the mountain trails of the Urewera. If Lady Alice has made history in this respect, Sir Charles has made it because of his unfailing tact and amiability in all circumstances. RENT ASUNDER A moment’s reflection is sufficient to generate the conviction that circumstances may arise here, as in other dependencies, that are sufficient to try even a Governor-General’s tact and patience. A sense of humour is also a useful asset to the well-endowed governor-general. For instance, Lord Jellicoe had to sit through a dinner at which a dress coat borrowed by a stout local celebrity split down the back with a rending sound very early in the proceedings. Sir Charles has the priceless gift of grace with the spoken word. He has delivered some of the most inspiring addresses heard from vice-royalty in this country, and not the least of them was the fine speech at the opening of the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Where less gifted exponents compose the skeleton of their, speeches beforehand, and seek inspiration from time to time from a prompter hidden in the depths of top hat or billycock, Sir Charles does not compose a word of his speeches until he rises to speak. Enterprising newspapers are on this account not able to have his speeches set up in type some hours before they are delivered. SOLD OUT ' - The practice of securing advance reports of speeches by sending a copy boy to Government House led to disaster on one occasion long ago. The governor of the day was speaking in a hall in the afternoon, hut some serious hitch developed. Meanwhile the newspaper blithely got its edition out, speech and all, and enterprising newsboys sold their copies in the hail some little time before his somewhat embarrassed excellency cleared his throat and began to talk. The general term for vice-regal appointments to New Zealand is four years, but some have served longer, and some less. Lord Liverpool, who was here throughout the war, was with us eight years, the longest term any governor has served. Lord Ranfurly (1897-1904) has the second longest record. What is more, his memory lingers yet on many a hard-fought Rugby field. Lord Islington, with two years and five months, had -the shortest term of any recent governor, but in the seventies both Sir Hercules Robinson and Sir James Fergusson, the father of the present GovernorGeneral, served terms of only just over a year.