RANDOM NOTES

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 147, 18 March 1937, Page 10

RANDOM NOTES

Sidelights on Current Events (By Kickshaws. - ) We read that Mr. Savage declares that he is uot going to play second fiddle to anyone at the Imperial Conference, and hope that, anyway, be manages to strike the right note. * * » If any more visitors make public their praise for our farm prisons we shall be confronted with a baek-to-prison movement among an envious farming community. , Professors have drummed into us for so long the remarkable changes that may be brought about by diet, it comes as no surprise to hear that efforts are being made by Hiller to change the Constitution at Danzig :u this manner. The Rt. Rev. 11. St. Barbe Holland, Bishop of ’Wellington, considers that in order to be the complete New Zealander one must say, “Too right,” "Good-o” must not toot when passing sheep, must put something on the “tote.” and attend wrestling matches weekly. There may be some who will care to argue on the subject, but the list, long as it is, probably sums us up fairly completely. On the other hand, the complete New Zealander may sum up the complete Englishman in one word —“really.” It is said that this word so stamps the complete Englishman that it has caused one hum!red per cent. Americans to fling themselves over Niagara. Whether shown the Capitol at Washington, the White House, Niagara Falls, the tomb of General Grant or the Statue of Liberty, the complete Englishman says “really.” The interrogative intonation put into the word acts as a challenge and at the same time as a stump of the complete Englishman. Rather than hear this word the complete American would prefer the phrase of the British Ambassador. When shown Niagara, he exclaimed, "Good God. does that thing never stop?” The question, therefore, arises, what does the complete American say when he sees: (1) Buckingham Palace: (2) Shakespeare’s cottage; (3) Bond Street, London?

Now that the Bishop of Wellington has given us the recipe for the complete New Zealander, we may proudly take our place among the other standard products of the world. This standardisation of types is sufficiently complicated to make it necessary to state the number of individuals involved in each case. It has been stated, perhaps unkindly, that, in an effort to describe the English races, one Englishman represented an imbecile, two represented a club, and three a great Empire. Exactly how New Zealanders come out of a similar ordeal must be left to individual ingenuity. As a guide, it might be added that on these standards we have one Scotsman —a savings bank; two Scotsmen —a game of golf; and three Scotsmen —the British Government. Even Uncle Sam does not escape definition in this manner. There may be disagreement, but all good Americans will appreciate their status when it is said that under this system their country may be standardised as—one American —a millionaire; two Americans, a cocktail party; and three Americans, pruliib’tiou.

The Queen’s crown for the Coronation. it was stated yesterday, is to include the Kohinoor diamond. It seems a simple enough statement, but a storm of superstitious protest would have arisen if the King’s Crown had been stated to include th’s diamond. Kings and queens, and even their statesmen and their Prime Ministers may not be superstitious. Nevertheless. the.v are all human enough to avoid giving superstition a chance if it is avoidable. Many legends cluster round the Kohinoor. The most important is the one that states that should the Kohinoor over be worn by n British king. India will lie lost to the Emp're. This diamond was presented to Queen Victoria in 1850. Stern and rigid as were her principles, even she bowed to . uperstition and took n> chances. The diamond was not incorporated in her regalia. it was accepted as a personal ornament which was to descend from queen to queen. As a further precaution the original was ent into three pieces. Two of the parts were subsequently used by Queen Mary as a pendant, and, presumably, she still has them.

Those who resolutely refuse to accept superstitions may lie able to find other reasons for the baleful liisory of the Kohinoor. The facts nr-’ well known. The Kohinoor possibly was first discovered about 5000 years ago in Southern India. Ever since it has been associated with bloodshe ’ Towards the beginning of the 16th century it is mentioned in the chronicles of the Empire of the Grand Mogul. Baber, who founded the empire, obtained the diamond by bloodshed when he conquered the Punjab. His son stole it from him. Baber recovered it, but immediately died. When Nadir Shah invaded India from Persia, he set his heart tn acquiring the diamond. The conquered Mohammed Shah kept it hidden in the folds of his turban At a feast. Nadir Shah offered as a pretended mark of respect to exchange turbans with his guest. So the diamond changed hands. The Persians lost the diamond to the Afghans, who captured Nadir’s son and killed him. It came into British possession over the spilled blood o' ! British soldiers.

As a matter of fact, rite Queen mis three crowns. The Kohinoor diamond is the central figure in her State Crown. These crowns and two worn by the King must not be confused with the Crown of England. This crown is one of three worn by the King of England and by far the most valuable. It is studded with 3000 precious stones. Experts declare that the value of the stones alone totals up to over a quarter of a million pounds. The heaviest of the King’s three crowns is Edward the Confessor's crown. It weighs over 101 b. and is onl.v worn for a minute or two being replaced almost immediately by the light Imperial State crown. As the Crown of England is never allowed to leave England, ’t became neeissari to make a new crown when K'ng George A' visited India for tile Durbar. This crown cost £60.000.

“Would ‘Kickshaws' he k'nd enough to give tlie date of ‘The Dominion' in which an article appeared stating that the present trouble in Spain was tlie result of tlie apathy of the clergy,” says “M.M.", "also the date of the reply by the Rev. Father Higgins, and. if possible, the date of the extract of the London ‘Times’ saying the priests were seemingly put to death for bearin''' in honoured name?"

I One reference is imide o: February 17. If “M.M.” waits to trace full references right back to tl'e beginning of the Spanish trouble, “Kickshaws” suggests paying a visit to tlie files kept in “The Dominion" oflieearmed with 10 hours of spare time.]