ABOUT TOWN

Northland Age, Volume XVIII, Issue 31, 21 January 1949, Page 1

ABOUT TOWN

See what 1 mean about this working - bee business ? It ’ S I t catching alright. And 111 guar- j antee that there are quite a few j members of the Kaitaia Tennis ( Club who hope to high heaven j f that it rains on Saturday, for I they are to have a working-bee f on their new courts. Again the g bowlers are chuckling with glee at the fact that these people will sweat like horses, while they merrily send up an odd wood or two. The bowlers were a bit disappointed last time. There were so few present at the bee. Let them enjoy themselves thoroughly this time, tenniseers, and turn in a really good crowd. Much more fun in watching a crowd work than just a few. ® I have a few tales to tell today, some of them just a tiny bit old, but the fact is that they have been smothered from us, but I managed to get on to them for your benefit. But | first, I want to tell you how sad I p am. Those sections along the north a end of Commerce Street are getting t worser and worser. Now, what about c it, you owners. Couldn’t you man- s age to raise a working-bee to do t something about it ? PERLEASE ! t ® Now for a story or two. It ap- ' pears that there was a certain family staying in tents out at 1 Ahipara over the holidays, and they had plenty of vegetables and fruit. They were enjoying them- ‘ selves immensely. The weather was good, the water was fine, and the fishing they didn't worry 1 about. Then came the denoue- 1 ment. It came in the form of a storm. Heavy fell the rain, hard blew the wind, and rip went the tents. There was a general flurry for shelter, and out of the whole thing came the fact that the man of the party had to sleep in the same room with three j women. There was certainly an amount of ribaldry from the fair j . members of this group, and the ' man’s blushes knew no bounds, , even though his wife was one of the ladies. Finally there came the blessed oblivion of sleep, and thj male tossed restlessly. He " was not at ease. It was not the fact that there were three females in the room. That worried him not at all. He made a search and discovered in his makeshift bed, that he had as bed partner—a large and handsome set of nutcrackers ! He is still trying to work out whether they had been placed there with malice aforethought, or just innocently strayed there. Who was this gallant gent ? ® Then over the holiday period there was gathered together in a large twostoreyed place at Mangonui, a band of gentry. They talked of this and of that to the degree when rick relations were being discussed, and it cam e to light that there were present four who bore the time honoured name of the clan of Kelly. There was Roy, Joe, Jim and Jack, and there was no connection between them other than the name. It only needed the presence of Ned ar.d Dan to make the party complete. Bui these two latter were gentlemen. They used guns in their depredations. ® From Taipa comes a fishing story which was told me with the expectation that I would take it hook, line and sinker. Ted Chamberlain. Jack and Mrs. Hughes, Barry Hughes, Dave Taylor, and young Schofield went out for a day’s fishing in young Rayner’s “Merutu.” They promised all and sundry fish for breakfast, not even forgetting Peter Fraser and Wally Nash, whom they thought they might square for a little lower taxation next year. The prize for the first . fish went to Barry Hughes of Auckland, whose father groaned that he should be defeated by his own flesh and blood. This man landed a 171 b “kingy” but was not satisfied. A measly 70 fish was all they caught. And then they smoked it. • It just went to show that I was not there, doesn’t it ? Ted Chamberlain told > me it was a pity I hadn’t been. The party must have needed I moral uplift and encouragement. ® Went out to Tokerau Beach on Tuesday evening. Get around a trifle, don’t I ? Saw there a few Kaitaians doing what they termed fishing. There was Moloney, Knight, Russell, Subritzky and Bert Kerse. They certainly pulled in 19 fish schnapper they were but such

things. I was too ashamed to pull in such things, so made no real effort to catch the poor midgets. Had sausages for breakfast an Wednesday. What was really funny was to see young Subritzky pulling in a fish, then when he had it up on the beach, he tore down to the water line where he pounced on it as would a seagull on a piece of fat pork. It was the fish that nearly got away. I suggest that next tie he goes fishing, he carries with him a shotgun. Could shoot ’em down then. ® In case none of you know-, our old friend Maxie Long—doesn’t he remind you of Slapsie Maxie. the film actor?—went to Wellington recently. While he was there, he did the unpardonable to himself. He got himself engaged, and I’m led to believe he’s going to complete the job very soon. All jokes apart, Max, congratulations and all that, and don’t send just a crumb of that wedding cake. Send a chunk. When’s the stag farewell party ? ® This is not bad if you know the parties concerned. Have a guess anyway. It seems that there were two gents talking at the south end of Commerce Street. They were standing at the kerbside, and one was the owner of much property down there, and the other dispenses cheer. A lady tripped along to where these gentlemen had been talking for some time, and they engaged her in light persiflage. Suddenly she stooped and remarked at the same time how lucky she was. She had picked up a pound note from the gutter at their very feet. And we all know that money saved or found s money earned. The gentlemen concerned are still commiserating with each other.