ABOUT TOWN

Northland Age, Volume XVIII, Issue 39, 18 February 1949, Page 1

ABOUT TOWN

Firstly and fcremostly, we have just received a nice piece of wedding cake through the post, and this is from Mr. and Mrs. Arundell who were recently married. Now that was a nice gesture, and we appreciate it and tender thanks. If we got cake from all the couples we report on, we’d be getting fat, and that would never do, would it ? ® Dick Veitch rang me the other day. He asked what I could do to let the public know that there was a sports meeting and race meeting being held by the Manukau Sports Club on Saturday the 26th. He told me that there were particularly good events, and the prizes were something out of the box. He also informed me that they had a new race track on, I think, it was Mr. Hunt’s property almost opposite the saleyards. Well, when a man makes a request like that for help, I’m a sucker. But as I told him, I didn’t think there was very much I could do about it, so I’m sorry. I must refuse his request for the publicity he asked. Except for the fact thaj the meeting is on on Saturday 26th of this month. I can say nothing. Should be a good show, though. ® And a propos of fish. You remember the dead tree story. Well, I was told by that eminent fisherman, Gerry Wilson, that a party fished off and on that piece of sea he has marked with a piece of chalk, and they caught 58 in a half hour and three quarters. All I can say is that when I was there the fish must have been at Sunday school. What a nice story though, don’t you think ? Want’s a bit of swallowing, though ! Just like the fish ! ! DEAD TREE. HUH ! ! ®

And another crowd that want u bit of a write-up, to use their own term, are the Bowling Club. They are having a “hooley” on the 26th day of February, which they are terming a “Gala Day.” What a misnomer, knowing them as I do). This, they state, is to raise funds to build the greenkeeper a house. Also knowing him as I do, and taking particular note of his haunts I consider this unnecessary. Personally, I think he might be a bird of passage —or prey and I would let him sleep under on in a tree. Probably he has a family who need shelter ,so he’d better have a house. \nd you, my dear suckers, are being called upon to part with your hard-earned and filthy lucre to pay for it. The necessary will be cajoled from you by fair (?) means and Mine Host. You know the bloke. The one who wasn’t game to go fishing last Sunday owing to the exigencies of his duties keeping him from his just rest for most of the previous night. In addition to the painless extraction toat will be toward there will be a booth, and I spelt it booth even if it does sound like a lisp. After all this warning, I suppose all you you what d’yer call ’ems will be there. I WON’T! ® I thought I had heard ’em all. And they are excuses for having a “shiner” (black-eye to the ignorant). But it had to be my

lot to hear the most original yet. The perperator of this fine effort was Ivan Berghan. A friend was showing him that dainty little insect, the green bug, and invited friend Ivan to smsmell it. Ivan did, and the little thing up and squirted some fluid in his right optic. Ergo, a delightful shiner of the first grade and quality. Now I ask you, wouldn’t it ? ® Also saw Bill Steed with a hant wrapped up in all sorts of nice bandages. This was on Tuesday. Thr foregoing- paragraph referred to th< V'eekend. Bill offered no explanation Now I wonder 1 ! ® They seemed quite friendly at the Council meeting, though. ® Oh, by the way, I got hornswog gled into the ticket box for the danci on Saturday night in the R.S.A. Hall The Modernaire Dance Band hav, availed themselves of niy services the twirps, without telling me. I any of you want the loan of a shill ing or two on Monday, I should havi a few of the nimble bawbees to span then. Don’t ask on Saturday nigh though. They mightn’t like it. ® By the way, a little bird whispered in my ear that a chap named H. Lloyd struck two hundred pounds in an overseas consultation a week ago. Here is a case of Herekino again. Must tell our reporter about this. ® Wallie Hales made a few crack at Council meeting the other day, bu more of this elsewhere. D’you know I’m getting almost afraid to mentioi his name. He starts to get lyrien when I do, both in -abusive and ef fusive manner. How I hate poetsand punsters. ®

Don’t forget the 17th of March is approaching fast, and the Irish arc ail set to get to work on that dance of theirs. Anybody got a shamrock leaf they can let me have. Better forget it though. I might be mistaken for Adam with a fig-leaf. Be there at that dance, though. Sure to be a load of fun. Our printer ' points out that what I termed a “dance” is in reality a ball. ® And as a finale to today’s column, don’t forget to be at the aerodrome tomorrow to see them smash up a plane r two—or three. HOSPITAL STATISTICS Mr. A. Wilson, secretary o fthe Mal ngonui Hospital Board, announced the j following Hospital Statistics at the ! Hospital Board meeting yesterday : I Patients in hospital at Dec. 31 25 [ Admitted during January S 3 | Treated during January 108 j Discharged during January .... 75 Died nil Remaining in hospital at Jan. 31 33 Daily average for January .... 32.6 Daily average for December .. 33.3 Daily average for January 1948 43.7