People and Their Doings.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 643, 22 December 1932, Page 10

People and Their Doings.

Green Peas for Christmas are a “Star” Advertiser’s Contribution to

a Cheap Dinner Table : A Sporting Editor’s Original Scoop A “Sundowner’s” Dream Came True.

'J'HE RECENT DEATH of Mr S. M’Kay, of the M’Kay-Massey Harris Harvester Co., the largest agricultural implement works in Australia, recalls an industrial epic. Mr S. M’Kay was a younger brother of H. V. M’Kay, inventor of the complete harvester and founder of the firm, who died a few years ago. When a young agricultural worker, H. V. M’Kay travelled from Bendigo to Melbourne with his drawings of the harvester, and tried to induce implement firms to adopt them. He failed. Not having enough for his return railway fare to Bendigo, he set out to walk the 100 miles. While resting near Sunbury, thirty-three miles on the way—sore-footed, hungry and weary—his eyes and sense were charmed by the beauty given by the golden light of the setting sun to the Sunbury homestead, a mansion within a lordly private park that was built by Sir William Clark, Bart., one of Australia’s richest pastoralists.. Young M’Kay is said to have decided then that, if it were ever humanly possible, he would become the owner of that mansion and live there. The harvester became a great success. H. V. M’Kay died worth £1,500,000, then worth 7,500,000 American dollars. He bought the Sunbury mansion and lived there. The place was sold from his estate and is now a Roman Catholic Seminary. WWW TTVERY NEWSPAPER believes that its advertisers give good value to the public, and when special evidence of that happy state of affairs comes along it is not to be disregarded. The special evidence about which this paragraph tells was a fine sample of green peas which rested for a time on the counter of the ** Star ” office last night until they went into consumption. They were brought along by an advertiser who had them to sell at a shilling a peck, and he thought, not without reason, that they were something to be proud of—an American variety, not so easily procured of late. Those who sampled them in the raw state think that the idea of free samples ought to be encouraged.

Jf'RANK DEXTER, sporting editor of the

Melbourne ** Argus,” brought off an original scoop a week ago. Last winter, Miss Frances Dorothy Sheil, a keen follower of the hounds, trained her own horse Precocious for the Grand National Steeplechase at Flemington, which he won. The feat naturally created a stir, and the newspapers gave Miss Sheil her full meed of publicity, none more so than the “ Argus,” and its stable-mate, the “ Australasian.” The weekly devoted a whole page to a special “ story ” by Miss Sheil. The sequel came on December 16 with the marriage of Miss Sheil and Mr Dexter. The bride is a daughter of Mr E. Y. Sheil, a well-known Victorian grazier and an owner and breeder of thoroughbreds. Frank Dexter is one of the six sons of that widely-known Sydney racing journalist, Mr Jack Dexter, “ Pilot,” of the “ Sydney Referee.” All of the brothers have done Press work, and at one time four of them were in the racing department of various newspapers. Frank Dexter resigned from the “ Argus ” a few years ago to join his brother Gayne, formerly of Hollywood, in publicity work in Sydney for the moving picture industry. In 1931 he went on an extended tour of the Far East, and on his return resumed his former post on the “ Argus.” A handy lad was Frank in his bachelor days. Following a big “ last night ” at the Melbourne Tivoli Theatre came a supper party on the stage. Dancing was suggested. Frank gathered some musicians from the guests, borrowed the necessary instruments and conducted the orchestra himself. He made a good job of it, too. W W £JII ROM ATI C ART has reached the home and now, by the control of ceiling lighting, diners may take their courses in various shades, with finest adjustment to the weather, tempers of the company and fashions of the moment. Primrose yellow and primrose green, for instance, are supposed to be a perfect compromise between vivacity and placidity of temper, while a stimulating orange is recommended for sluggish and silent visitors;

cool blue for a hot day; a warm yellow for a sombre winter’s afternoon, and so on. One must remember, however, that Dr Dudley Watson, of London, has recently pointed out that a red dining-room adversely affects the digestion. 32? 32F 'J'HE MINISTERIAL RECORD of Dr Benes may yet excel that of Metternich, who was Foreign Minister in Prague for forty years. Dr Benes is now only forty-eight and he has been in office without a break since 1918, the present being his twelfth Cabinet. His amazing capacity for work is no doubt attributable to his iron constitution. While diminutive in stature, he is, many claim, the fittest Minister in Europe. In his younger days he was a noted footballer and took part in many famous matches. He played for the Corinthians and once broke his leg. Nowadays he keeps fit by playing tennis, in which he shows the vigour and agility of a Japanese acrobat. Dr Benes neither smokes nor drinks. 9 ® ® gIXTY YEARS AGO (from the “Star” of December 22, 1872): Sharks in Lyttelton Harbour.—Several of these monsters have been captured in the harbour lately. On Wednesday evening, one measuring nearly seven feet, was caught off the breakwater. Bathers should confine themselves more particularly to the bathing shed, and not venture their lives or limbs by plunging from the sides of vessels anchored in deep water. Hurunui Bridge.—This bridge, which was practically washed away a little more than a year ago, is again open for traffic. The bridge is now 1100 feet long, exclusive of the approach to the northern bank, and is 260 feet longer than before. The work, which was entrusted to Messrs Wilson and Farquharson. of Saltwater Creek, was complete yesterday, and reflects great credit upon the contractors.