“GIANT,” TRACKED TO LAIR, AVERS HE IS NOT 7FT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17878, 21 June 1926, Page 1

“GIANT,” TRACKED TO LAIR, AVERS HE IS NOT 7FT.

POSES FOR THE “STAR” TO SUBSTANTIATE IT. < Who is the tallest man -in . Christchurch ? “ Not me,” declares Mr W. B. Jeffery, of 116, Torrens Road, Hillmorten-It-.-was several weeks ago that the Mayor told a Pressman, and the Press-

man passed it on to the public, that a giant had applied for a position as motor inspector. That giant was WilliarftF Jeffery. “He is 6ft 112 m in height,” Mr J. K. Archer had said, and when Christchurch read it in the “ Star ” Christchurch gasped and placed the laurel on the, head of William Jeffery; he surely Vvas the king of giants, the tallest man off stilts—New Zealand's wonder man. He Smiled. Mr Jeffery read the .story too, and smiled. ‘‘Hello." he said. “It’s me they mean, and yet it’s not. " No name. was published, but other personal details were given, and one man at least knew the identity of the “ giant ” —that was Mr Jeffery, the tall man himself. But William Jeffery is only sft 11 Ain in height,—a mere foot shorter than the height with which he. was credited. “I’m your giant, ” said Mr Jeffery, when he was greeted by a “Star” photographer and a reporter at his Hillmorten home. “ But you're not seven foot tall.” “ They say I am, though. ” “ But you’re not,. ” “ No, I’m not six foot- ” It’s Me all Right. “Where, is Mr Jeffery, the tall man, the one with the long legs, the giant who applied for a position as motor inspector? “ That’s me, ” declared Mr Jeffery with a laugh, “ but 1 haven’t such extraordinary long legs, and I’m just oft j Ilf in in height. ” And he told how there had been mistake, how he had written in his application for the position that he was sft Ilf in tall, and how he had read in the Press that he was a giant. “ I'm not a giant, ” he. said, “and I won't be able to tell you an3*thing about giants—but there, is something that I. would like to tell you, or rather ask ypu. and that is: How was it that rny application for , the job was delayed over a week in the post? “ Tell Me Why. ” “I sent in my application on. May 23: .the closing date for the applications was May 26, but according to advice received from the Town Clerk he did not get my letter until June 1. It must have been delay ed in the post, and I’d like to know the reason why. It’s pretty hot when they take a week to deliver a letter down the street. “ I received a letter from the Town Clerk on June 2 stating that he had received my. letter only the day before, and pointing out that I had missed the bus. I posted the letter in ample time to get it in before the closing date—and yet it didn’t get there. It's funny, isn’t it? ” As He Is. Giant or no giant, Mr Jeffery considered that he had a reasonable chance of being appointed a motor-inspector, and he was incensed at the unaccountable delay in the delivery of the letter. He consented to pose exclusively for the “Star’' so that readers might see for themselves that he isn't nearly so tall as lie was made out to be. “ Perhaps I’ll grow, ” he said with a laugh. “ one never knows. ” “ And there’s another matter,” said the giant with a smile. “ The letter I received from the Town Clerk had a note on the bottom: ‘ Your references are enclosed. ’ I had not sent any references, and I don’t get any back- ”