Page 18 Advertisements Column 6

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21022, 10 May 1930, Page 18

Outside official circles few people in tire Irish Free State were aware, before it was recently disclosed, of the custom of the Governor-General to present to tiic King every Christmas woodcocks “baked in a pie.” The custom dates much further back that the birth of the Free State, and was observed by , the viceroys. When he relinquished office on the dawn of the new regime Lord Fitzalan, the last of the viceroys, expressed the wish that the custom should be continued by his successors, and Mr “ Tim ” Henly, the first Governor-General, complied. Mr James M'Neill, thie present htlder of the, office, continues the practice of his predecessor. ■ The humorous comment has been made that, supposing, true to the nursery rhyme, the birds began to sing when the pie was opened, what country’s national anthem would be considered appropriate?