INSIDE STORY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 24011, 8 July 1941, Page 4

INSIDE STORY

Sir, —I thank "Septuagenarian," also those correspondents who wrote me (care of the office) to "interpret," to criticise, and to suspect both my story and my motive. To one who saw in it "a midrashim on modern Europe being swallowed up by Hitler" I say that's his idea —to the other genius who read local politics into it I repeat the remark. To this latter correspondent my utterly simple story represents "the averago citizen all at sea, floundering about as a result of too many State restrictions, living in terror and ultimately being engulfed by the greedy monster of Labour Government, and filially being saved by his friends resolutely putting an end to the monster." There's imagination for you!

Needless to say, age-old "Jonah and the whale" controversy was well flogged out in ink. One correspondent mentions a published denial of this story by Dr. Lukyn Williams (in Expository Times of August, 1906, and February, 1907). After all that I think I must quit such a controversial subject as "fish stories." Even Mark Twain's great reputation suffered when he publicly corroborated "the I'elorus Jack story"—Mark having actually seen Jack for himself when visiting New Zealand. How much colour Frank T. Bullen added to his stories of the mighty monsters of the deep I know not. Many of them are "terrific," but I personally award the palm to the sinful old mariner from ISinoty Mile Beach who staggered in yesterday, and, as he shook the sand and toheroa shells out of his shoes "distinctly remembered" a Homeric battle of the early days in "them there parts" when a sperm whale was attacked by what

must be considered as the great granddaddy of all octopuses. JNothing less. The whale was having the best of it having swallowed most of the truly monstrous octopus when, with uncanny science, the latter shot out an immense tentacle which it wound and knotted around Cape Maria lighthouse. Then came the last round, the weary, overgorged whale gazed sadly at the lighthouse, shifted its eyes to that knot, and went below to plan things out. Meanwhile the octopus was putting the screw on—slowly the huge cetacean was dragged nearer and nearer the lighthouse, where thousands of Maoris waited to put an end to it. When but a hundred yards off shore some Maoris, seizing a bushman's saw, sawed through the giant tentacle. Thenwhang! Back it catapulted, registering a direct hit, stunning the monster, which was immediately finished off by the eager Maoris ashore. Yes, sir. MACCmjbk.