FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 851, 20 December 1929, Page 8

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By

“THE LOOK-OUT MAN.”

THE PRISONER'S PUZrZLE (One of tlie original verses contributed in The Sun Christmas competition.) “Stone walls do not a prison make” — I’m puzzled and surprised, For if they don’t a prison make, They’ve got me hypnotised! Now, if they don’t a prison make, There’ll he a hole somewhere. And though I’ve searched most carefully, I’m sure it isn’t there. . . At last I’ve got the meaning clear (For months and months I tried). Stone walls do not a prison make, For those who are outside ! SUSAN E. DASSLER (Te Awamutu). ♦ * * AT THE TOP Miss Ellen Melville remarks that “every member of the City Council is probably at the top of the ; tree in his own particular business. ft seems a sweeping sort of hut it is probably right. Mr. W. H. Murray, for instance, is at the top of the boot tree. THREE RIVERS From the Rio Grande to the Waikato, and then to the Zambesi—by the time Mr. W. A. Handman, late engineer for Armstrong-Whitworth s at Arapuni, has completed his 2J-mile bridge over the Zambesi, he should have a fair acquaintance with the whimsies of the world’s rivers. Before he came to Arapuni Mr. Handman was on a power development scheme on the Rio Grande in Brazil. At Arapuni Mr. Handman was not always popular, but he was always very much in earnest. Surrounded by a screen of typists and other satellites, Mr. Handman wets not always easy to interview. But once the outer defences had been carried he was affability itself. May the Zambesi prove less troublesome than the Waikato! THE STYLIST Mr. J. R. Lundon has concluded a letter to the City Council as follows: “May 1 commend to his Worship and to fellow members of this august, introspective and quondam esoteric corporation the sentient sentiment that further procrastination in delivery may incurably abnormalise an already much overdue parturition. 1 ’ When someone characterised this; as unadulterated rubbish—wliich it undoubtedly is—Mr. Lundon showed signs of resentment, so evidently he has the true pride of the creative artist. The eminent Dr. Thacker, former Mayor of ■Christchurch, once had the field to himself in this type of pompous wordiness. The above specimen indicates, however, that Dr. Thackdr must now step down from his pedestal.

NOBLE nImES

At a farewell to Lord Bledisloe, the principal speaker was the Earl of Wemyss, a languid-looking peer whose warlike deeds belie his appearance. His name is, of course, pronounced “Weems.” It is one of those trick names that allow Englishmen to detect ignorance in others. For instance, the really well-informed would pronounce the second barrel of Sir Alexander Hore-Ruthven, who was hers the other day, as “Riven.” Knollys, which looks fairly simple, rhymes with strolls. Tyrwhitt, which is a naval name is pronounced like “spirit.” Belvoir rhymes with “beaver,” and Claverhouse, which has a Caledonian flavour, is pronounced “clavers.” If any set rule were followed in these names it might be possible to formulate a code for their pronunciation. That, however, would defeat the whole object of having an unpronounceable name. At present we are rather worried lest there should prove to be something tricky about the name of Lord Bledisloe.

BRIGHTER QUEEN STREET

The cause of civic brightness in the purely objective sense is considerably advanced by the advent of the Civic Theatre, which is so gorgeously outlined in a blaze of cheering colour that North Shore residents might be pardoned, on casting a last glance over the harbour when putting out the cat and dumping the milk bottle on the hack doorstep as a prelude to an early retirement, for assuming that a good part of the City was Irretrievably on fire. However, the Civic illuminations are just a pleasant deception which people w'ill get used to in the fullness' of time. -At present the display is a thing of interesting novelty. The intense glow of Neon lights, which create light without illuminating, if the difference can be perceived, is attracting a constant pilgrimage, and the external show is certainly worth while. We . get more like Piccadilly and Times Square every day, and if any backward spirits object to these manifestations of progress, the Civic certainly gives them an excellent opportunity to see red.