The Sidelights

Northern Advocate, 30 January 1940, Page 2

The Sidelights

It was a busy week, but as we passed to and fro between the parties eve chanced upon many a joke and remark. and here are some of the things seen and heard: Crowds of boys at the ice cream storo below Berhampore School on the day they arrived, and a fruiterer, Mr Elliott, handing a case of peaches to the escort as a gift to the lads. A volunteer gang unloading luggage at the station, and among the perspiring helpers were Mr J. C. Barclay, M.P., Mr Dennehy (Agricultural Instructor of Northland schools, and Mr Brian Crawford, managing director of the “Advocate.”

“Who wants dinner?” So called Mr Byer, chairman of the Wellington Education Board, as he stood, tea-towel in hand, passing plates of meat and vegetables across the servery, when Mr Deavoll (secretary of the board) had dished them out! At the zoo on Sunday, Kupe gingerly demonstrating how to ride the camel . . - And oy the talking pai - rot. one Maori lad trying to teach the bird to change its “Hullo” to "Tena koe.”

The expressions on the faces in one of the buses when the soldiers changed guard at a gate barring the road at Fort Dorset.

The applause as each home district was flashed on the screen during the Northland film. And the spontaneous cheers —and hoots—which punctuated the main picture.

The smile on Robbie's freckled lace as Mr Hislop handed him his £5 attendance prize .. . and the wonder that grew when lie saw the panelled Banquet Hall and the huge bowl of multi-coloured hydrangeas on the polished table.

Kiwi tripping into the footlights at the reception and being saved by Mr Hislop and Mr Fraser! Gooh—the Exhibition. (That was what we heard in Monday's trams.

Some girls who went walking in a ‘'park'’ before breakfast and were stopped by a kindly policeman who regretted that "the Governor-General would not yet be up.”

The surprised shouts from 700 as the fire engine turned into the schoolgrounds in the mock alarm. If you were one of those who watched from the street —and there were many—you saw the big hoses-—and the sprayshowers sending Party C scuttling for shelter.

Eoys and girls early astir on Wednesday morning and tramloads arriving in town with the city’s early morning workers. The gasps of wonderment and delight at the luxury of the liner we visited.

Queues of boys and girls at the iced-water taps on board, sampling it for the first time.

And crowds of boys about the bridge and chart room, surreptitiously trying on the caps of the officers behind their backs!