People and Their Doings.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20331, 14 June 1934, Page 8

People and Their Doings.

Mr F. Z. D. Ferriman Preserved Old-world Fashions Throughout His

Life : Melbourne has Another Animal Mishap :Mr Tom Clarkson, Ex-cycling Champion, Revisits Christchurch.

A N EPISODE in the evolution of cycling is recalled by the present visit to Christchurch of Mr Tom Clarkson, of Auckland, known to old pioneers of the sport as a champion cyclist. Mr Clarkson first raced on the high bikes, and won the TenMile Championship of New Zealand at Lancaster Park in 1891. Later he raced on the low machines in competition with Fred Hunt, Sutherland, Barker and company. It was about 1893 that “Squeaker” Adams (the late Mr F. N. Adams) imported a consignment of Crypto Gear machines. The front wheel was about three feet high and the rear possibly eighteen inches; pneumatic tyred, of course. There was no chain, the gearing coming from a series of cogs encased at the hub of the big wheel. The “ cracks ” tried this machine out at Lancaster Park and each in turn dismounted to laugh at the next trier, for the back wheel wobbled and danced about in a peculiar manner. The “ cracks ” turned it down, much to the disgust of Mr Adams, who began to see his venture resulting in a frost. Young Clarkson was approached as a last hope and he was glad to get in the races on any kind of machine. He won all three events in one afternoon and followed this up with a successful season’s racing in other parts of Canterbury. People were persuaded that the Crypto gear was easier to push than chain and sprocket, and Mr Adams soon sold out his consignment. Time has settled the issue definitely against the gear drive; it was the budding champion’s condition that brought the i n its centenary year appears to be specialising in freak mishaps to its birds and animals. Recently there was quite a fuss in Melbourne over the rescue cf an escaped pet cockatoo, who had managed to become caught on the top of a church spire by a chain attached to its leg Now “Strawberry” has had a misadventure A milking cow fell twenty feet down the shaft of an abandoned mining tunnel in the Daylesford district. Her

owner, a Mrs Richardson, searched for the cow for four days and then a neighbour heard a cow bellowing underground. Investigation of this phenomenon discovered the missing cow wedged in a tunnel leading to another shaft It took fifteen men to release the cow, which was then hauled to the surface with a strong tackle. Despite her fall and the fact that she had been without food or water for four days, the cow was practically unharmed. W F. Z. D. FERRIMAN had one characteristic that was unique as far as New Zealand was concerned, for he clung to the dress and general appearance of nearly three-quarters of a century ago. From his hard hat and his grizzly beard downwards he was a figure that might have stepped out of one of Cobb’s coaches in the earliest days of the province. He favoured a braided coat, approaching morning length, and appropriate trimmings. His old-world appearance harmonised with his character, for he was essentially solid, and brought old-world standards of honesty and generosity into his dealings with others. & W 3? 11l QW Brigadier-General Claude Champion de Crespigny saved Mrs Tree, wife of Mr Ronald Tree, M.P. for the Harborough Division of Leicestershire, from a wounded lioness, was told recently by Mrs Tree. Mrs Tree, who has returned from a big game expedition in South Africa, said she shot dead one of five lionesses near the River Thebe, a day’s journey from Nairobi, and wounded another. It was decided to follow the wounded lioness “ I raised my rifle and fired, but I missed,” she added. I fired again. The lioness was within three yards of me. I thought my end had come. I ducked my head and as I did so General Champion de Crespigny, who is a left-hand shot, fired over my head with the muzzle of the gun almost down the open mouth of the lioness. The lioness dropped dead.”

t>IG BEN having been silenced for repair and overhaul, his familiar voice is not now heard bv radio listeners throughout the world. His place has been taken by Great Tom—the old State bell—which hangs in the topmost part of the southwest tower of St Paul’s Cathedral. Great Tom was cast by Richard Phelps in 1716. Overall his height is sft SJin, and his total weight is 5 tons 2 cwt. By an ingenious piece of machinery, the quarters are started fifteen seconds before the first stroke of the hour, so that when the first stroke of the hour is heard, that stroke indicates the precise time of the day or night, the hour being struck by a hammer weighing 115 pounds. This old State bell is tolled for varying lengths of time at the death of the Sovereign and of certain members of the Royal Familv, for the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of London, the Lord Mayor of London and the Dean of the Cathedral. The clapper then used weighs 180 pounds. 3? igp & CIXTY YEARS AGO (from the “Star** ° of June 14, 1874): — The forests of the colony.--It is calculated that New Zealand contains 16.000,000 acres of bush land of more or less valuable character, of which Auckland possesses 4,000,000 acres. The Museum on Sundays.—The resolution passed by the Provincial Council was carried into effect yesterday, when the building was thrown open to the public for a space of three hours, and the attendance was considerably in excess of what had been anticipated. No sooner were the doors unlocked than a heavy stream of visitors set in, and there was scarcely any decrease during the whole of the time the building remained open. Altogether, upwards of three thousand persons showed in this way their appreciation of the privilege granted to them, and the officials of the Museum state that the general behaviour was excellent. All classes were represented, yet not a single instance of improper conduct occurred.