THE PASSING SHOW.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 208, 3 September 1927, Page 8

THE PASSING SHOW.

(By THE MAN ABOUT TOWN.) -A3." writes: A friend of mine was on his way to Mercer from the Hauraki Plains. He travelled by service car to Pokeno, where he awaited the train. THE SLOUCH HAT. Clad in a slouch hat and an old coat with turned up collar (it was during the recent downpour) he must have looked rather disreputable. In addition, he was carrying an ancient haversack, being on the eve of a walking tour. Much to his surprise, he was stopped and questioned as to his identity, character and business in the district. It later transpired that there had been a robbery at the Pokeno Post Office, whence the burglar escaped with the swag slung over his shoulder in a haversack.

PERSONALITIES OF THE WEEK

Mr. Walter Ernest Bush, M.1.C.E., F.X.Z.1.A., F.R.5.1., M.X.Z.Soc., member of the Institute of Municipal and City Engineers, M.T.P.1., Auckland's disMR. tinguished city engineer, WALTER ERNEST took up the duties of his BUSH. present position in 190 C. He has therefore controlled a highly important department during a period of unparalleled expansion. He was born in Surbiton in Surrey and educated at Kingston Grammar School. Before leaving Home he was borough and water engineer at Sudley, and later district surveyor of Birmingham. Mr. Bush has been president of the local YJd.C.A. and takes the keenest interest in sociology. He is an ardent bowler and was president of the Auckland Bowling Club for ono or two sessions. He is the author of many technical papers read before the New Zealand Institute of Civil Engineers. "Three Halfpence" writes: Reference in your column to " fourteen-ounoe pounds" prompts me to ask, "Are the weighing mtAiniMt used by the postal authoSCALES OF rities subject to inspection JUSTICE, by the myrmidons of the Weights and Measures Department?" The matter interests me in a detached sort of way, because one evening recently when about to post certain mail matter, I asked the lady clerk presiding at one of the stamp counters at the G.P.O. the amount of postage necessary. She weighed the package on a spring scale and named a figure which caused me to express surprise, whereupon she courteously turned the face of the scale towards me in support of her statement that the package weighed eight ounces. A request that tbe weight should be checked on an ordinary balance scale was quickly complied with and the true weight shown, namely, a fraction under six ounces. I think you will agree that an error of two ounces in six is one to occasion comment. The point, of course, is that a scale in daily and seemingly almost continuous use by the Postal Department, is recording a substantial error against the public and may have been doing so for months, whilst the unfortunate tradesman whose weighing apparatus may occasion the slightest error against the purchaser of his commodities is heavily penalised. It gives one "furiouslv to think." Complaints are made that constables on duty at football matches have evinced interest in the game when as a matter of duty they should be pushing the IRRELIGIOUS public in the waistcoat POLICEMEN, with batons. Complaints such as this prove conclusively that football in New Zealand is a solemn religion and not a game. Constables exhibiting symptoms of human nature could first be warned by the Ecclesiastical Committee of the Rugby Union, and for a second offence (such as moving down tfcj line to see a goal kicked) a severe reprimand by the united vestries of all the various football clubs. This anger with constables for being as human as a mere greengrocer or bank manager may lead to their removal. Young clergymen of suitable solemnity might undertake the duties. 'Tis but a few years ago that a constable on the line at a football match became so excited that he broke a leg. M.AT. begs to report that at a match in 1923 the ball went over the line among the spectators and that a constable kicked it into the playing field again. If he had not become a publican since then the Rugby Union Ecclesiastical Committee would at once be asked to secure his dismissal from the force.

♦? US J Ulnia ? s would exceedingly grieved of w T °i y ?" the mad Christians Aew Zealand spraying fruit trees and AIXAK tq rsv>K cutting the throats of IS GSEAT. sheep, poleaxing bullocks, A *»■•» iv • . and sort of thing. A traveUing agricultural scientist of our own er je a S ed Persia rooting out oweaaed trees and spraying healthy ones. Says !L e - 7J eir «*» was that these pests Z£i!; e T W , U iA AUah ' a curse be borne S in t, !w t v em tbat ifc was a,so th e will should cleanse these trees—a thing that they had never thought of. It is against the Mussulman creed to take life in any form, and this belief iB twisted in many directions to suit its adherents. A devout Mohammedan will murder his fellow man and cau it religion, but, on the other hand, will remove lice from his body with the greatest them carefully on the ground ere they can crawl on and annoy his ncigh- * ha v ® seen Persians work donkeva without pity until they collapsed; then, rather the poor beast out of its misery, turn it loose outside the village walls to die oi starvation or to be pulled down when helpless by flock, of pariah dogs." P