RANDOM NOTES

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 252, 21 July 1938, Page 10

RANDOM NOTES

Sidelights On Current Events

(By

Kickshaws.)

The Atlantic, it is stated, has been flown by mistake. The machine, we understand, is being re-named Lyre Bird on purpose.

An American, who intends to pay New Zealand a visit, writes to ask what climate have you? During an old-man-southerly there are moments when we wonder if we have one at all.

We note that Imredy and Kanya have arrived in Rome to discuss with Mussolini improved trade relations between Italy and Hungary. Well, if there’s anything in a name maybe Mussolini will take the hint.

“Would you, per medium of your most interesting column, please settle an argument which has arisen here in relation to the amount paid out as first prize in the Irish sweepstake?” says “Gambler.” “I maintain that a first prize of £lOO,OOO was once paid out to an Italian restaurant-keeper in London. He shared the ticket with two or three other people.” [Kickshaws has not got full details of every Irish sweep that has taken place. It is understood, however, that the eligible prizes totalled at each draw about £2,000,000 allocated in units of £lOO,OOO, in each of which the first prize is £30,000, second £15,000, third £lO,OOO, also 53 prizes of £660 and 100 cash of £lOO.l

Many things have been done by mistake, but flying the Atlantic by mistake is a reminder of an amusing little yarn about two men who went to a banquet together in London and dined well. “When you get home,” said one, “if you don’t want to disturb your family, Undress at the foot of the stairs, fold your clothes neatly, and creep up to your room.” They met next day at lunch. "How did you get on?” asked the adviser. “Rotten,” replied the other. “I took off all my clothes at the foot of the stairs, as you told me, and folded them neatly. I didn’t make a sound. But when I reached the top of the stairs —it was Baker Street Underground Station.” If we are to have, aviators arriving here, there and everywhere by mistake they will be as irresponsible as a shipping company’s ticket. Nevertheless, we would point out that off the coast of Newfoundland some very queer things do happen to the compass. We hope that the mistake made by this modern airman in his out-of-date aeroplane will therefore never be repeated.

Somehow we are inclined to believe the claim that the Atlantic was flown by mistake in much the same way that a Scots shepherd believed a geologist he found hammering at roots with his little hammer. Dr. Archibald Geikie, professor of geology, was chipping at a cliff face in the Ayrshire Highlands. “What are you doing with that hammer?” asked a shepherd he met. "Finding out how the world was made,” said Professor Geikie. The professor waxed enthusiastic over his subject. He told the shepherd about the Ice Age, the Carboniferous Epoch, the Silurian Epoch and other subtleties of geology. The professor subsequently stayed the night with a local laird. He complimented his host on the intelligence of the local peasantry, mentioning the meeting with the shepherd. “That will have been our Jock,” said the laird. “He has been talking about you.” “Really,” said the professor, “and what did he say ?” “He said. I met a wee man in the hills the day with a hammer; man he was the grandest liar I hae ever met.”

Hailstones as large as lemons, it is stated, have ruined crops in Alberta, Canada. At first the size of the hailstones may appear somewhat of an exaggeration. But this is not necessarily the case. Although mercifully most hailstorms produce hailstones about the size of a holly berry, instances of outsizes are by no means as rare as might be imagined. It was reported some eight years ago that hailstones weighing 101 b. fell on the countryside near Lumsden, a small fishing village in Newfoundland. Falling from a height of some 20,000 feet these* bombs sank 30 boats-anchored in the harbour. Practically every window was broken in the neighbourhood, and 11 people ■were killed. Even comparatively small hailstones can do a lot of damage. At (Montevideo, for example, a sharp fall of golfballs, or what appeared to be golfballs, broke so many windows that only 10 per cent, of the damage could be repaired with the glass available.

The world-record for a hailstone appears to be seventeen inches across. In 1847 hailstones that measured 14 inches across, fell in a locality in New South Wales. It is, however, the average size of hailstones that matters. For example, a bombardment from the skies took place at Cette, France, in October, 1844. Although the hailstones individually weighed perhaps half a pound or so, they fell so rapidly- that roofs of houses were unable to bear the -accumulated weight and collapsed. Even in New Zealand we can boast some outsize hailstones. Mr. Lancelot Watson, of Oxford, Canterbury, for example, reported some years ago a fall of hail with stones the size of tennis balls. The hailstones, indeed,- bounced over his cottage, some 16 feet high, when they landed in the yard. New Zealand’s largest, however, appear to have fallep on the West Coast. Specimens were three inches across. It is claimed that hailstones of this size will penetrate the lighter gauges of galvanised iron.

News that former wealthy men in Russia now refuse to work, preferring to beg owing to the money in it. is understandable as a result of recent investigations that have been made regarding the incomes to be derived from, begging. A significant sidelight on this aspect of begging was obtained four years ago when a London detective assumed the role of beggar in order to watch a certain spot. Equipped with a supply of matchboxes and disguised as an old sailor he sitent six days on his stand. In that time he bad collected £7 12s. and his stock of matches was little reduced. It is stated that in New York City alone beggars make a total of £lO.OOO a day. Certainly people who patronised a genial beggar of Lisbon failed to understand her when she used to say, “The greatest joke will be when I die.” She died a year or two ago. Now they know what she meant. She left in her will £5OOO to a charity where she used to sell eggs and beg for free soup.

“13/-” writes:—“There is a picture depicting the word ‘Anzac’ roughly outlined by trees. It is called 'For ever and for ever.’ It looks reasonably genuine. Could any reader kindly say if there is any story behind this picture. The wood has the typical look of a French shell-torn forest.”