FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1004, 21 June 1930, Page 10

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

"THE LOOK-OUT MAN."

By

FROM A CRICKET FAN Tlic papers say that Ghandi's been, and done it, That Lloyd George is at it once again, That Egypt’s going through its umpteenth prisis, That the farmer thinks he'd like a little But what I want to know is how will Bradman Stand against those cunning balls of Tate, And just how long can Richardson face Woolley Before he hits a ball and takes the bait. For the averages of Oldfield and cf Fairfax: Put Ghandi's little efforts in the shade, And what with speculations as to Griname tt I haven't time for Egypt I'm afraid. I trust we’ll get sufficient rain in season, And the only thing that puts me at a loss, Is the fact that when its cricket time in England It’s footer time beneath the Southern A.II. bits a nj) /'//•;(' /■:s It will bo interesting to learn whether anyone will justify the present optimism of the authorities by buying the remains of the Manuka. Although, a diver who explored recently beneath the waters at Long Point has reported that portions of the ship are spread over nearly an acre of the sea floor and are half buried in sand, the remains are still on the market for sale. The situation reminds one of that ingenuous standing offer by the Harbour Board that anyone who cares to dismantle and remove the sheerlegs from the Naval Base may have them free of charge. It is probable that, given the alternative, the average man would rather tackle the sheerlegs as they stand than pay for the privilege of raking about at Long Point for pieces of the Manuka. “A RCJf/FS'’ IN . 1 ( 7'ION No one envied the Hobsonville aviators the job they faced on Wednesday when they towed a target through the air near Kawau and watched while “Archies” on H.M.S. Dunedin shot steadily into the blue. Nevertheless many war-time fliers have asserted that “Archies” did not worry them greatly. In the pathetic “Diary of an Unknown Aviator” the writer holds that anti-aircraft firing was more a nuisance than a menace. It forced pilots to be wary, but hits were few, and the ammunition wasted was out of all proportion to the damage done to the enemy. In fact, he adds, commanders of “Archie” batteries on either side were quite content if the gunners succeeded in compelling the attacking planes to remain at a good height. GUNS ANO FISH History lias repeated itself in war and peace. Questions have been asked in the House of Commons about the firing of live shells by a Danish gunboat at a trawler. In the early stages of the Great War a similar act of barbarism was committed when German warships fired on and sank part of a Scottish fishing fleet. But there are light sides to even the grimmest of incidents, and one is reminded of an epic poem (sic ) dealing with the subject and perpetrated by a patriotic South Islander who had it published in a provincial newspaper. The poem was long and struck a note of vaulting Inspiration and dignity. Unfortunately at the end of each stanza the author rounded off his dignified condemnation and recital of the losses caused by the shells, with the line: “And also a quantity of fish.” It was a perfect example of crashing bathos. COSTS AND MANNA From that clearing house of misfortune, the Police Court, comes the information that a man may live in Auckland free of cost. According to Chief-Detective Hammond it is done by sleeping at the doss-house, eating at Manna House, and stealing for one’s beer. To those who have equipped the doss house, and to the many who are contributing generously to Manna House, Mr. Hammond’s cynical utterance will appear as one of those opinions which Might Have Been Expressed More Fully. It is true that the rogues in question may have lived at no cost to themselves, but it is equally certain that the victuals at Manna House did not materialise in the fashion of the life-bringing substance that has given the place its name. POJA sIIj,V ( r MKT 110 D S News that a small motor-car was driven into a hall at Te Awamutu and used to drag about a polishing bag will remind all ballroom enthusiasts of the difficulties that face dance com mittees. In the navy they have a way of doing these things in liighlv satisfactory fashion. If a dance i? to be held on a ship’s quarter-deck, i party of boys is told off for the job o putting a surface on the hard anc roughened teak-wood. The boy: secure a number of hammocks am some of their number sit on the im 1 provided polishers while the rest draj } them about.