POSTSCRIPTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 121, 18 November 1940, Page 6

POSTSCRIPTS

Chronicle and Comment

BY PERCY FLAGE

Those who put their shirts on the "good things" at Christchurch. must be feeling a trifle chilly. * * • "Moa" (on the phone) wonders if the Nationalist Party have celebrated the Waipawa by-election with a haka. * * * H.J.: Is it true that the British are withdrawing their Fleet from the Mediterranean, and are going to patrol it with two sailors in a rowing boat with water pistols mounted fore and aft? * * • TO A PORTRAIT OF WINSTON CHURCHILL. Tenacity and grim determination, Inflexibility and strength of purpose sure; His features show the spirit of th* nation, The will to suffer; hold fast; to endure Till evil's vanquished, and the right secure. C. E. N. * * * PERFECTION ALL ROUND. It seems as if Mr. Fraser thinks the farmers are just as perfect as Mr. Nash. His eulogy of each was the same; both, wonderful, both efficient, both Teally too good for ordinary life, but we are left pondering as to whether it is possible for the men who "treated Mr. Nash with discourtesy" to possess the same virtues as that gentleman. IMPOSSIBLE SURELY. * * ♦ BRAIN-TEASERS. No blitz on Saturday evening: merely a quiet trickle of solutions in the early hours. As usual, Harriot of Hataitai came first. She had No. 2 set, but it was only after a verbal demonstration that No. 1 happened along. R.J.W., J.G., and Marlene were next, with full marks; Wise Guy and Ken (each No. 1) followed, Northlander stopped at No. 1, as did Jo and P.H. Jo wants to know if we are ever going to publish a collection, of the brain-teasers from their beginning. It is not possible, because at least 50 per cent, of them are not our own. Newspapers, weeklies, and •magazines which use the teaser feature' mostly "rely on those problems which have gone the rounds of the years. One exception, in particular, we remember is the "Strand," which has had its own specialist for Wo decades or longer. *.* * " LOWER HUTT. Dear Percy Flage,—What is all this fuss of changing the name of Lower Hutt? Why can't they leave well alone? What is wrong with it anyway? It's a lovely name. Lower sounds like Aloha, which means all that is lovely, "good morning," "love," "happiness, sunshine, flowers, bees, and honey." Do you remember in the last war how our boys used to make fun of the Tommies, "Call this a hut? Why we have two Hutts in New Zealand, which hold thousands and thousands of people." Why spoil our Hutt? Let us remember, lest one forget. ALOHA HUTT. 0..M. Shakespeare writes: I wonder could you tell me how the name Roparto Street, Lower Hutt, originated? It is certainly not Maori, and if it is intended for "Roparta" (the Maori name for "Roberts") v it is a pity that it should be. spelt incorrectly, isn't it? "Roparto" looks out of place to us. Maybe some old-timers will be able to explain its origin. . * * • . ANOTHER "UNSOLICITED." Dear Flage,—Surprising the scope of the "saving grace" you so capably dispense in Column 8. Mainly because of this, we have taken the "Evening Post' daily for some four years. IfTou are up this way during your pending "flutter," drop in! We'll tell you some more and stop-the-works, to draw the timefuse from a gas-shell; and, though the contents may be bitter, we shall wish you godspeed and a safe return to your "perch" on top of the good old With appreciation and greetings for all the year roundPakowhai. , n/ -* We are 400 yards N.W. of the P.O. Store. „ . _. Thanks, brother, for everything. If we can make the grade we'll drop you a line before we set out in the family chariot northward. Good huntin'. ■ * * * "THE DAY WE BOCHT THE COO." The ither day we bocht a coo An' gid tae ca' her name; She rolled her cc' an* gid aye moo An' she was far frae tame. We tied a rope argon' her neck Bit she had ither plans, She pud us here an' pud us ther« Took skin aff baith oor hans. She flung her heels an' gid a hop, Set aff at sic a pace, Twa bobbys an' a traffic cop . Noo jined us in the race. She tore in thru an open gate An' pawed up new made lans, Gid bickerin' thru a scullery, An' scattered pots an' pans. An awfu' crowd had gaithered, The road wis black wi' folk, An' every ane wis pointin' At the coo an' me an' Jock; There wis sodjers tae an' sailors, The fire brigade as well, An' scores o' cars wi' trailers: The kirk c'en rung its bell. There wis barkin' dogs an' school boys An Amb'lince cam' along, There wis motor bikes an' push bike* All joined tae swell the throng. An' sine we got her hame at last, The sweat drapped aff my broo, An mony a day will pass awa' Gin fowk forget oor coo. A.W.M. Newtown. . » •■-—- ♦ BLACKBIRDS. Is the blackbird losing his song? This challenging query was raised in. the very excellent notes of your Birdman and of itself is an absolute libel on a grand songster. Very likely the blackbirds have heard of this scandalous aspersion—maybe a little bird told them of it—anyway, from that day to this, sun-up to sundown, the blackbirds have been singing in my garden. That they may have a silent season is not denied, but certainly it is not the spring. Our friend the "blackie" is a beautiful bird; he may not have the number of songs, nor the wonderful range, of the thrush-—nor that bird's flair for improvisation. For his best efforts the blackbird likes a high tree, but he will make shift'with a" wireless mast. His note is full throated^ he gets hold of a bar, and with slight variations goes on repeating it. Tiring of that, off he goes— up and down the scale, ringing the changes—with amazing trills like a master flautist amusing himself with a piccolo. Losing his song! -Perish the thought! He is one of the best singers in our gardens; and altogether a grand bird. In my opinion the blackbird in New Zealand definitely is big* ger, brighter, and better than ever. —'QSENEATH."