FISHING FOR PENNIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 December 1939, Page 8

FISHING FOR PENNIES

A ROTORUA INCIDENT. The opportunity creates the man—or woman. So it was proved recently in the case of the woman fra’ Aberdeen (remarks the “Auckland Star.”). She had heard of the marvellous springs near Rotorua where the uprush of water was so great that pennies thrown into their depths floated like feathers. She had paid her shilling for the privilege of walking a mile to the site of the sight of such phenomenal floating assets, and she came at long last to the little rustic bridge that crossed the spring under a shading mantle of trees. From her purse she took the penny that was to be cast like her bread—upon the waters, and that was to return not even after many days. She cast it. and she marvelled as the copper coin was caught in the waters and held dancing for a time before it was borne swiftly away. Then another sight held her. Resting on a rock by the side of the pool was a bright shining coin. With the thought of millionaire American tourists lightly tossing coins of great value she debated: Could it be a silver dollar, or possibly, even a five-dollar piece? That was where opportunity had its big chance to do a bit of creating, and it did not fail. She cast about her in the trees for a sizable branch, but it was not long or strong enough. She cast about her again, and there, resting behind the trees, she found a onetime clothes prop, to the end of which was nailed a piece of tin in the form of a scoop. There was no doubt of its purpose. Armed with it, she returned, delved and won. It was only a penny polished bright by the water—but she was content.