People and Their Doings.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 23 July 1934, Page 6

People and Their Doings .

Commercial and Sporting Offers to Chipperfield : The Dog Rajah’s Stage Performance : One of His Pups to be Sent to Mr Alan Brown for Mayor’s Relief Fund.

TELEPATHY, or what is it? That was the question asked among the audience at Methven’s community “ sing ” on Thursday night. Messrs Alan Brown and IT. E. Goodland, the Christchurch leaders, had handed over the stage to Constable J. Robertson and his wonder dog. Rajah. A small was placed in Mr Brown’s coat pocket while Rajah was off stage. When called on and told to find the article, the dog leapt from the stage and almost immediately made for Mr Brown, who was sitting half a dozen rows from the front. Rajah extracted the booklet from its hiding place and returned it triumphantly to his owner. Until then he had seen neither the booklet nor where it was concealed. He obeyed spoken commands almost as if he were human. Orders to run, walk, hurry, lie down, sit on a box, turn it over.

“ play dead ” and waltz around were obeyed on the instant. Two boys were seated on the stage, one wearing a cap. When tpld that someone was not properly mannered. Rajah approached the first boy and examined him critically from feet to head. Satisfied that he was well behaved, the dog repeated the performance with the other boy, only on this occasion, discovering the cap, he removed it hastily and gave it to his owner Rajah could not be induced to eat pieces of meat described as poisoned, bad, or stolen, but “ good ” meat was accepted gratefully. 9 T> AJAH was expected to prove the “ ugly duckling ” in a litter of six Alsatians born in Auckland. He recently became a father himself, and as soon as the disposition of the pups can be determined, his owner will forward one to Mr Brown for competition among community singers, with the object of assisting the Mayor’s Relief of Distress Fund. Among Methven residents. Rajah is extremely popular, and after the performance on Thursday night was the centre of attraction for children and adults. lie allowed himself to be patted and fondled, and delighted his admirers by assuming a variety of poses and comical attitudes, in one of which he wore

hat and spectacles and smoked a pipe like any old salt. One child, as she patted Rajah’s head, asked him innocently, “ Why don’t you speak, old boy?” If that were possible, the world would find the explanation of an animal intellect that can only be called uncanny. Even by his achievements on Thursday, when he could perform only a few of his tricks, his watchers were puzzled to account for his understanding and versatility.

fg? are proceeding between the Queensland Cricket Association, in conjunction with a Brisbane sports depot, to obtain the services of A. G. Chipperfield, the Australian all-rounder, as official coach in Queensland. Since the death of Archie Jackson Queensland has been greatly handicapped by the lack of scientific coaching for inter-State and other players. Mr R. T. Stephens, secretary of the association, says that the association had been negotiating with Chipperfield through a leading London sports establishment. Should Chipperfield accept the offer (and there was every hope he would do so) steps would he taken to enable him to play for Queensland immediately on his return from England. The offer is stated to be fairly substantial. Chipperfield has already been offered a position in Newcastle with the Vacuum Oil Co., and other offers have been made by Sydney interests.

$$ & 9 Y WELL-KNOWN FIGURE in London society is Sir Fitzroy Maclean, who has just passed his hundredth year. Besides his London house, he owns Duart Castle in Mull, which he beautifully restored into something finer than the original, destroyed by fire during the “ Forty-five.” He is one of the few living people born before Queen Victoria came to the throne, and the only man living who received his commission from the great Duke of Wellington. His father was Governor of Malta, and he remembers the Mediterranean when a steamship on its waters was a novelty. Before

the American Civil War he was a military attache in Canada, and at the conclusion of the war he went over many of the battlefields in company with General Grant. It was strange to think, said a writer in a London journal, that one was talking to a man w’ho had known people who had seen Dr Johnson, and whose fathers nad fought for Prince Charlie 52? 52? 32? TAOING A ROUND of the Westburv golf course, near Moe, Victoria, Mr Ivan Edw’ard drove between two kookaburras on the fairway. One of the birds pounced on the ball and carried it to a tree-top, with the player in hot pursuit. In seeming enjoyment of the joke, the kookaburra flew' with the ball from tree to tree. At last, by laughing himself, Mr Edwards induced the pilferer to laugh too, and down dropped the ball. For ten minutes the kookaburra then indulged in uproarious laughter while the golfer, returning to the spot where his ball/had lain, went on with his pastime, w’ondering what it is in the game that makes kookaburras and nongolfing spectators so pleased with themselves. 9 9 ® CIXTY YEARS AGO (from the “ Star ” ° of July 23, 1874) Ship Ballochmyle.—This vessel, lying alongside the wharf, has been visited by a great number of people, who have always been received with the greatest kindness. It was certainly to be expected that the visitors, being only admitted by the courtesy of the captain, would all have conducted themselves in a seemly manner, but, unfortunately, this has not been the case. The state-room has been disfigured by chips having been cut from the seats, a piece of wanton destruction deserving of much censure.

Dunedin. July 22.—Mr John Brook, produce merchant. Manse Street, was lost in the snow at Waikari last night. His body has since been recovered.