People and Their Doings.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 521, 2 August 1932, Page 6

People and Their Doings.

Hotels Give Ftee ’Transport from Football Grounds in Melbourne American Bridge Champions arc Faking More Limelight for Their Activities and Ranking List is Prepared.

“ JJERE you are, step, in; we do the rest.” As the crowd pours ‘Out of

the football ground, half-a-dozen motor-vans and an old-fashioned two-horse drag are waiting to convey full loads to neighbouring hotels, says a Melbourne writer. It is never long before the vans are filled. Thirsty with much standing and shouting, and hot with the excitement of the game, willing customers scramble eagerly- for seats. Soon the van is full. The driver orders a legion of small urchins off the back, and it is off. The practice of luring the great “ barracking ” public to hotel bars by providing free convey-ance is attributed in the first place to an enterprising hotelkeeper in a bayside suburb who, finding that his takings were falling off, attempted to recover the lost ground by this bold stroke. Like so many ether services which the public is now receiving, it is the result of the economic depression. If the people will not go to the hotels the hotels must come to the people. In less than tw’o seasons the practice has become common at suburban football grounds. It is not an original idea, hotelkeepers point out; it is merely an old traders’ device applied to new circumstances. WWW SUCCESS of the device is unquestionable. “ We never have to wait huig for customers,” said a driver outside the South Melbourne ground on Saturday-. “ At half-time we take along one load, and then come back for a refill. Then we get another good load when the game is over. Seventy-five people in one afternoon means 75- sixpences, and they usually feel ready for more than one drink after the match.” At this moment a yell announced that South Melbourne’s colours had at last been lowered. From every gate poured out spectators, hoarse with “ barracking,” but still fiercely disputing the merits of the game. “ Here you are,” cried the driver. “ Hop in. Positively no obligation. Men, women, and children free.” When every seat was filled, he flicked off the small boys, touch up his horse, and was off. Gradually- the arguments in the seats behind grew less bitter, and by- the time the drag had reached its destination supporters of both sides were joining in abusing the umpire. “It always turns out like that,” said the driver philosophically. “ When the match is over they- are spoiling for a fight, but the thought of a drop of beer makes them as friendly as brothers.”

INTERNATIONAL tennis champion

apparently-, can hold a candle to an American Bridge champion in the number of cups and trophies that are to be won. America, indeed, now has its unofficial ranking lists of Bridge players, all of whom are eager to improve their position on account not only- of the prestige but of the profit attached to it, for the writing of Bridge articles is quite an industry-, as readers of the “ Star ” may have noted. . Contract Bridge championships are regularly organised with teams of four, both for Auction and Contract, and Lenz, Culbertson, Jacoby-, Sims and a score of others are duly listed according to their performances. w w w RECENT PHOTOGRAPH q£ Mr and Airs P. 11. Sims shows them surrounded by silver cups and plate won in some eighteen national Bridge championships, and in the aggregate the industry must keep the silversmiths busy. Contract Bridge is making headway- in New Zealand, but an American lady visitor recently remarked that the men she had play-ed with did not seem to have a very keen appreciation of American conventions, and greater shrewdness was shown by- the ladies with whom she had played. There are one or two persons in Christchurch who give lessons in Contract Bridge, and their number % is likely to increase. w w w valued at £1,000,000, guarded by armour-plate glass, an invisible ray alarm system, detectives, and a number of commissionaires, are on show at Alessrs Selfridge’s Stores, Oxford Street, London. The exhibition is the realisation of a 20-y;ear-old ambition of Air Gordon Selfridge, who has lent single gems, tiaras, bracelets and necklets of incomparable worth and beauty. The jewels are displayed in a small room hung with black velvet curtains, and enclosed in a steel frame and glass structure, rather like a greenhouse. Visitors to the exhibition are carefully scrutinised before they enter, and are conducted through it by guides who explain to them the historical and intrinsic value of the items displayed. There is an emerald cut diamond worth £84,000, and another of the same tvpe worth £60.000.

TRAVELLERS of days

gone by were just as keen salesmen as those of to-day, according to a story- which was told at the Canterbury- Travellers’ Association’s “ president's night ” on Saturday. Atembers were congratulating Captain A. W. Owles on attaining his eighty-fifth birthday and this story- was told, Captain Owles later vouching for its accuracy. The

“ Skipper ” was travelling for a certain brand of ale and to get around the hotels he had a very smart pony-—one which had taken many- prizes in the show ring. Entering a hotel one day-, a customer told the Skipper that his ale was no good. “ Good heavens, man, you don't knowale when you taste it,” rejoined the Skipper. “My pony- knows more about it than you do.” To prove this assertion, the pony was unyoked and brought into the bar. Three soup plates of different ales were put on the counter. The pony- sniffed the first and pushed it away. It accorded the second plateful similar treatment# but the third, which was the brand of ale for which Captain Owles travelled, was drunk by the animal, which whinnied for more. After such a demonstration, the customer was silenced. It was only a trick which had taken much training, but it w-as effective. gIXTY YEARS AGO (from the “Star” * of August 2, 1872) ; Street Lamps.—Great complaints are made about the lamp at the corner of the East town belt and the Ferry Road It is said that the light is generally of an inferior character, and that it nearly always dies out about 11 o’clock p.m. Alagisterial.— Plying for Hire. William Simmonds was charged with having permitted his licensed bus to ply for hire between the Junction Hotel and Papanui, such not being his licensed route. Sergeant O’Connor proved to seeing accused’s man, Charles Smith, drive the bus past the Carlton towards Papanui with tw-o passengers in. and that the bus is only licensed to’ run between the Christchurch Railway- Station and the Junction Hotel. James Francis gave corroborative evidence. A fine of 10s was imposed. Neglecting to Keep a Light Burning.— Robert Beattie and Joseph Beattie were charged with having neglected to keep a light burning between sunset and sunrise, on the 21st and 24th July-, on a hoarding erected by them in Hereford Street. Coils.tables Brown and Davis proved the offences. The accused were fined 10s.