SPINDRIFT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16739, 22 May 1922, Page 6

SPINDRIFT.

Readers are invited to send in original topical paragraphs or verses for this column. which is a daily featura of the “ Sun." Accepted contributions should be out, out by the writers and forwarded to the Editor, who will remit. the amounts payable.

At an exhibition of blowpipe shooting by Dyaks before the Prince, ever“! competitar had to consent to have an arm scratched with his own darts be~ fore he. was admitted to the grounds‘. Cable

A D'yak came to the Palace gate, (Yo and :1 pufl", yo ho!) A Malay chief in his robes of state, (Y 0 and a puff. yo ho!) He were some grass around his waist, And the grass was quite in the best of taste; .And he brought with him, as he rushed with haste, His private blowpipe—oh.

The gateman looked with an angry frown, (Y 0 and a puff, yo 110!) For he liked not the look of his visitor brown. (Y 0 and a puff, yo ho!) Then he mutterpd, while thoughtfully stroking his chin “ Be off. sir, you scoundrelly servant of sin, For try as you may, still you’ll never get in, . “'ith your private hlowpipe—oh."

Then the Dyak replied with a humble bow, (\o and a puff, yo ho!) “ 1 kwear that my mission is peaceful now. (Yo arid a puff, yo ho !) I’ve wandered far from my native dales, And lately I’ve listened to the Prince of Wales On my private blowpipe—oh.” The gateman scowled, for without a doubt, (Yo and a puff yo ho! > Ho knew that the Dyak could not stay out, (Yo and a puff, yo ho!) “If I let you enter, you rascal,” he cried. “ A'on must promise that you will behave well inside ; And you mustn't go piercing some pcor johnnie’s hide. With you private blowpipe—oh.” “Oh, that’s all right, sir.*’ the Dyak said, (Yo and a puff, yo ho!) For my darts aren’t painted with poison read. (Yo and a puff, yo ho!) And the better your fear and mistrust to disarm. And show that I’m peaceful and mean you no harm, I’m perfectly willing to scratch on m\ With the darts from my blowpipe—oh.” The Baby Bonus scheme in Australia, it is announced. Iras cost £0,000.000 to date.—Cable. Mr Muchwed, the proud father of triplets, has been heard to state that they can have their six millions if they’ll take the kids as well. English Park was in excellent order for the St Albans—Rangers match, and there was little wind in evidence. — News item. A leading barrister says that this would be a welcome innovation at the Supreme Court, where the evidence i> nearly all wind. “ Kirwin was penalised for pXicking the ball out cf a scrum.” —From a football report. I should jolly well think so. Lord Northcliffe, at a recent luncheon, said, 4 ‘ We have heard, for th 3 last twenty years, more about New Zealand than Australia. It is understood that Billy Hughes is bringing an action for slander. Down in Waiwera a young woman has just won in a hedmaking contest. We believe this should be followed by contests in pie architecture, biscuit construction. sock washing competitions, and pants darning. There would be fewer flappers and more real women in the world. The girl who says her face is her fortune never knows, in some cases howclose she is to bankruptcj-. “ Are there any baldheaded angels '.n heaven?” queries a writer. Heaven alone knows, but if there are they must be the poor weak mortals of male humanity. who were snatched that way on earth by an infuriated wife. He writes anti-jazz letters to the papers, and in a loud voice he aired his views on community singing. “ Nothing but a criminal w aste of time,” he said. People with nothing better to do should be sent to gaol!” “Sing Sing? ’ inquired the faeetions one. “ New Zealand seems very tame beside the scenery of the East,” observed the superior person loftily. “ Auckland and it? harbour leave one cold after Tokio, Fujiyama. Nagasaki ” “Did you see ‘Chu Chin Chow.’ dear?” inquired the one Aucklander p resent. “ Well, no.” admitted the travelled one, reluctantly. “We should have done, but we passed it in the dark !” An old rhyme brought up to date for j Christchurch readers : ‘‘You are old. Father William, and! wrinkled with care; Why. you must be at least eighty - i three ; Yet you leap like a deer and you run j like a hare. Pray how does this happen to be?’ 7 “ I 11 explain,” said the sage; “I have lived, you must know. In this town fifty years, I should say. And it’s dodging the motors that run to and fro That has made me so active to-day.” “ You are old. Father William, and yet you can read The smallest of type with great ease : Such wonderful sight is surprising in- j deed. Won’t you tell me w hat causes it, | please ?” “ Just a.few years ago my sight seemed j to fail,” Said the sage, as he chortled with i glee ; “ But the short-skirted fashions at which some folks rail Have done ray old eyes good to see.”

The Auckland City Council has passed a by-law requiring drivers of motor vehicles to remain stationary when passengers are alighting from trams at street crossings. This is a step in the right direction, but the council might go further and establish a close season during which it shall be unlawful for motorists to run down pedestrians under any circumstances. This would enable them to multiply, and bigger bags would lie the results at other times of the year. SI N HA T>