People and Their Doings.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 494, 1 July 1932, Page 6

People and Their Doings .

A Fine Old Maori Member of Twenty Years Ago : The Children of Bobby Jones are Guarded Day and Night : Giant Squid that Sank a Vessel.

JONES is a familiar figure to Christchurch golfers and picture patrons at present, but few realise the anxieties that his genial smile

may cover. A correspondent says that he had intended to make a private visit to England recently, but he abandoned the idea on the persuasion of his wife, whose fears for the safety of her children have increased since the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby. The Bobby Jones children are

guarded day and night. Bobby Jones is now a whole-hearted convert to the steelshafted club except in the case of “ Calamity Jane,” his famous putter, which, curiously enough, at the present time is said to be in fickle mood.

•Hi? si? THE SELECTION of Mr Ned Parata to contest the Southern Maori seat at the by-election caused by the death of Mr Makitanar# takes the minds of parliamentarians back beyond the tenure of office of Mr Parata’s brother, the late Mr Charlie Parata, or Taare Parata, to that of his father, familiarly known as Tame Parata. The old man, who was slight in figure, but had the fire of his race in a degree that recalled portraits of some of the famous chiefs, like Te Rauparaha, was a very popular figure in Parliament, chiefly for the gentleness of his manner and his very fine courtesy. But he was a man of action at heart, and disliked the long Parliamentary debates. Once, walking out disgustedly from a long and aimless debate, he remarked to members of the Press Gallery, “ Too much korero,” and they heartily endorsed the sentiment. sg 9 EXAMPLE of 16th century philosophy in regard to obstetrics was quoted by Dr J. B. Dawson, in the course of his address to members of the Plunket Society at their annual meeting. The rhyme was composed by Sciavole de St Marthe, and runs as follows: “ Don’t, till ’tis born, defer thy pious Begin betime, and for its birth prepare. Let neither grief nor fear nor boundless joy The peace and vigour of thy mind destroy. Refresh thy weary limbs with sweet repose, And when fatigued thy heavy eylids close. Be careful how your meats you chuse, And chosen well, with moderation use. With too much food your stomach ne’er oppress, And let it as ’tis richer be the less. Mix water with your wine to quench your thirst, And never let tha£ last exceed the first. Fruit, herbs and salads whqn your body is dry The most of moisture will as well supply.”

r; APT AIN POST’S THEORY that the sea monster which the skipper of an Auckland trawler sighted might have been a giant squid is substantiated by an extract from G. Gibbard Jackson’s book, “ The Romance of the Sea,” which a correspondent forwards. “It has been surmised that many a mysterious disappearance at sea may have been due to the overwhelming of a vessel by giant calamarys or squids. That such a catastrophe is possible is proven. The schooner Pearl was voyaging in the Indian Ocean, in the year 1874, when she was attacked by a giant creature which might have belonged to the squid family. The tragedy was seen from the deck of the steamer Strathowen, which was outward bound from Colombo. The schooner was becalmed as the steamer passed some distance from her. The passengers aboard the Strathowen were watching the small vessel when they noticed what appeared to be a mass of seaweed near the Pearl. Then, strangely enough, in an absolute calm, the mass was seen to be moving towards the motionless vessel. Before the onlookers could even conjecture what the mass could be, they saw it reach and overwhelm the tiny schooner, whose masts were drawn towards the water. Suddenly the little vessel righted again and then sank like a stone.”

“'J'HE STRATHOWEN steamed as rapidly as possible towards the disaster,” the account continues, “ and the crew of the steamer were fortunate enough to rescue several of the struggling men, though many went down with the Pearl. When the poor fellows had sufficiently recovered they told one of the strangest stories possible. The giant squid had been sighted some five or six miles off; then it began to move slowly towards them, but they did not realise its nature until it was quite close. Becalmed it was impossible for them to move their vessel, so they searched for knives and axes. The captain is said to have precipitated matters by firing a rifle at the squid. Knives and axes proved futile against such a huge mass, armed with many tentacles. These gripped the masts, and thus caused the schooner to come upon her beam ends; in this position she remained long enough to fill, and thus, when she righted, it was only to settle down.”

“ r J I HE PETER PAN OF THE BAR” is a nickname which has been given to Lord Craigmyle, who has just celebrated his eighty-second birthday. lie is more widely known as Lord Shaw of Dunfermline. Not infrequently, he is affectionately referred to as “Tommy Shaw.” Front 1905 to 1909. Lord Craigmyle was Lord Advocate for Scotland, and from 1909 to 1929 was Lord of Appeal. This is his own description of his career: “ I found a billet in a lawyer’s office and came under the influence of Sir John Ross. I soon felt that this sphere was too limited, and so went to college in Edinburgh. For a time I was an assistant professor in moral

philosophy in the University of Edinburgh, and it was touch-and-go that I became a professor. “ When I entered Parliament (Lord Craigmyle was M.P. for Hawick, the Scottish borough noted for its tweeds, from 1892 to 1909) I was practising in Edinburgh, and was at the height of my professional career. All the pundits said I was mad. I was travelling backward and forward between London and Edinburgh, and in each session I travelled the distance round the world. This lasted for eighteen months and then I became Solicitor-General for Scotland.” 9 ® TJACK AGAIN IN AUSTRALIA for a series of concerts, is John Brownlee. A little over ten years, Brownlee was a clerk in a hardware business in Geelong. At the age of twenty-one he was seriously studying accountancy but success as a baritone at the annual South Street competitions in Ballarat probably changed his ideas. He was transferred to Melbourne in 1922 and met Dame Nellie Melba. He sang for her and she advised him to go abroad to study. He left Australia in 1923 and to-day he ranks as one of the most distinguished baritones in Europe and a favourite at the Paris Opera House. In London, Melba took Brownlee to the famous Master Dinh Gilly and for three years the baritone never sang in Paris. In 1928 when Brownlee was in. Australia with the Williamson Grand Opera Company Melba said to him, “If I may be allowed to say it, John Brownlee, you are going to be the Melba of Australia as a man.” 9 $ CIXTY YEARS AGO (from the “Star” of July 1. 1872): Advertisement.—Bread! Bread! Down again; 5d per 41b loaf, at the Star Bakery, Colombo Street. W. Thompson, manager. To be sold for £126, 21 acres of freehold land, all well fenced, and divided into three paddocks, nearly all laid down with grass; a four-roomed boarded house, stable for three or four horses; frontage on the South Road; 9 h miles from Christchurch. Apply to J. Parker, Agent, Cashel Street. S Luke’s.—The staining and varnishing of the. whole of the interior of S. Luke’s Church will be taken in hand next week, and will be completed in about a fortnight. During the progress of the work, the week night services will necessarily be suspended. The Hagley Park Cricket Ground.—A very important addition is being made to the playing area of the Hagley Park cricket ground. The nine acres of land on the city side of the present ground have been ploughed, and when suitably levelled will be laid down in grass. It will not, of course, be fit to play upon during the coming season, but by September, 1873, the clubs may calculate upon the cricketing area being increased to about 20 acres. In face of the greatly increasing popularity of the game this will, however, be none too much for their requirements.