ABOUT TOWN

Northland Age, Volume XIX, Issue 7, 25 October 1949, Page 1

ABOUT TOWN

These are the things I had intended to mention in Friday’s issue of the AGE. Now, about this ’ere Ladies’ Bowling Club. It seemed to me that all the ladies were keen on the game, but the club made a mistake. They should have instituted immediately the half crown fine for a wrong bias. I Their funds would have benefited tre- ' mer.dously. For the nonce, it seemed j as though the bowls had taken on the ■ contrary complex of the feminine bowlers, and decided to do things as would our fair sex. I can say these things quite safely, as I intend to go away for a holiday for a long time. It might be safer. ® Then there was Ralph Lewis, Ned Wilkinson, Dud Hanlon, Dave Archi- ! bald and so help me, Bill Farrimond, thoroughly enjoying themselves on the day as coaches. I wonder if their wives knew where they were ? There . is one thing I hope, and that it that I there is never a ladies’ football club started. I believe these same gentlemen would enjoy demonstrating scrumming. But the ladies did certainly progress under the instruction given. * Then there was Lionel Thompson running round with pencil and paper organising the teams for play on the day. He had his work cut out, as he couldn’t sort the oats from the chaff, ■ .or_ whit would fee better perhaps and safer the weSt Jr, sweetest. (I am forgiven). But his reward came when he had his photo taken surrounded by some 32 lady players and prospective players. ® Mrs. Geard was the first one t > make a “toucher” and the way that Ned Wilkinson rushed in to cover it with chalk, was a delight to see. His wife at the time was attending to the tea urn.

Lionel Thompson remarked to me and the surrounding crowd that the AGE would be worth reading on Friday, and I promptly came back at him with the fact that the AGE is ALWAYS worth reading. It doesn’t take a Ladies’ Bowling Club to stir me to dizzy heights I am dizzy already. ® I heard the ladies talking about a badge for their club, and I also heard certain gentlemen making suggestions which, to me, sounded too soft and gentle. What they want is something dashing and striking. Something that will tell the world that they are on the job in actual fact. I have a suggestion to make. Here’s a good one that would be striking on any Bowling Greeh—or anywhere else for that matter. A hen rampant with egg in right claw, surmounting crossed knitting needles, all on a field of blue (representing the envy of some of the Bowls Wear) surrounded by an edging of yellow and mauve crossed, representing sorrow for wrong bias used. That is copyrighted, and on payment of a small fee to myself, may be acquired with my blessing. ® At Friday’s meeting of the Council, things at times were apt to become somewhat tense, so our reporter bloke tells me. The Engineer and County Clerk were on their toes most of the time, and were in an awful hurry to get things such as files and papers that the Council needed. But there was one occasion when Maylin Theed was not on his toes. His hands were so full that he was impelled to open the door into the Chamber with his nose. Apparently he slipped just before reaching the door, but it must be said that he made a most impressive entry, and gained silence and attention in his efforts. His remarks

to the effect that that floor was something slippery, were superfluous. Zeal, all zeal. ® Also at the same meeting, no one could have said that the meeting smacked of Star Chamber methods, for there were no closed doors, and the windows were thrown wide to the whole world. One could have stayed outside (lucky person) and heard all that was going on. There were times when things of great moment were toward. There were times when Councillors were deep in the throes

of working out momentous resolutions, even the new boy from Herekino. In fact, it was remarked at the Press table, that one could “hear the paddles chunking on the road to Whangape.”

And again at the same meeting, a letter was read which asked for a sum of money for dressing sheds at Taipa, it being remarked in the letter, that many people used this beach “people coming from as far as Kaitaia.” That makes one think, don’t you think. Never before have you

realised what a journey you were about to undertake as you boiled the lowly egg for the sandwiches for Sunday’s adventurous trip to the wilds of Taipa. Never before have you thought that you should go there armed to withstand the depredations of savages and highwaymen. Remember in future, as you wend your way through the tea-tree track, that you are on one of the greatest adventures of your life. There might even come the day, when in your boldness, you might even get as far as Mangonui, ‘here to be greeted by regiments cf crayfish waving their their tentacles, shall we say, as they stand fast to bar your further progress. Let not this daunt you, for you have gone this far, and the road to Kaeo f d its pleasures and wild life lies ahead. Remember Livingstone, Captain Cook, and Walter Nash. They were never daunted by dangers and setbacks.