The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 9

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, SATURDAY. JULY 2, 1932. "PIGEON ENGLISH." Its Use in New Guinea. CURIOUS PARALLEL Our Gold Standard. AUSTRALIAN BIRDS, Destruction by Cats.

SIGNING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, JULY 4, 1776. (BT OHAS. MsmSDITH.) (BT O.H.P.) (BT SIDNEY WILLIAM JACKSON.) DISARMAMENT Through the Ages. A FANTASY. (BY TELEMACHD8.) pigeon, or "pidgin," English has been de 1 1 rnt prcnonls at the Oram Disarmament Conference Include discrimination between offensive nd drrenatvs armaments I limit.

uon of the former, and the abolition of Unki History usually repeats Itself In principle If not In detail and readers may be helped In reduclni the matter to basic principles by the following account drawing their own moral or conclusion therefrom. The Plenary Session of the Disarmament conference convened by King Edwin of Northumbrla met, as we are told by recently-discovered flies of the "Anglo-Saxon Gazette." at York in June, 632 A.D. The reason that this conference Is not mentioned by the better-known "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" is now known to be motives of petty spite following the death of Its proprietor, who supported the Opposition, under the battle-axe of a Minister, whom the King subsequently refused to dismiss. 0 The Issue of the following advertisement, which Is of a satirical nature, took place at the beginning of last century. The wars with France had caused the gold currency to become very scarce In England and elsewhere, and the Issue of paper money was put into circulation Instead of coin.

The following Is a copy of the "A WHOLE FAMILY LOST!" If any of the relations, or next-of-kin. of one Mr. Guinea, who about the year 1ROO wm much setn In England, and ti supposed to be an Englishman, will five information where he can nom- be met with, they will be handsome It rewarded on application to Mr. John Bull, Growlln-lane. opposite Thread nedle-street.

A proportionate reward will be given for Information relative to his son. Mr. Half-Oulnea; or his grandson, young Seven-shilling Piece. Papers Innumerable have been issued in consequence of their disappearance, but In vain: they are believed by many persons to have left the kingdom: thouirh oti.ers shrewdly susnrct they are hid somewhere In the country, m-aitinz for mora favourable times before they dare make their appearance: as they have reason to suppose they would be Instantly taken up. and put In close confinement.

Their sudden disappearance is particularly to be regretted, as they were in gteat favour with the people, and enjoyed even the King's countenance to such a degree, that they actually bore the Royal Arms. Notwithstanding thev are persons of real worth. J'et It must be confessed that by setting occasionally nto bad company, they have lost om little their weight in society yet If they will return, all faults will be forgiven, no questions will be asked: but they may depend upon being received with open arms by their disconsolate friends, who by this temporary separation have learnt how to appreciate their sterling worth. They resemble each other very closely, and may very easily be known by their round faces, and by their complexion, which Is of a bright yellow; for though they. It Is true, were born, and acquired their polish and Insinuating manners In London, yet It la well ascertained that the family orlxlnallv came, and derived their name from the coast of Guinea, a place too well known in Liverpool to require any description.

About the same period In Australia, Governor Macquarle, who had received a consignment of 10,000 worth of dollars, Issued a proclamation directing that the dollars should be struck in -waists. A French artist's reproduction (1873) of a memorable historic occasion. ABORIGINAL LORE. "CENTRAL." Sydney's Railway Station. Australia possesses a very wonderful and varied avifauna; however, certain species of our birds are strictly confined to isolated and often comparatively small areas, and are not found beyond them, and therefore, require every possible protection.

It is unfortunate that the advance and progress of agricultural and other important settlement cause so much of our beautiful forests and uncles to be cut down and burnt off; and that human progress appears to be inseparable from the destruction of nature's greatest beauties. This, of course. Is unavoidable, but often causes the extermination of bird, plant, animal, and other forms of life; in cases wnere a species is very local. Bush firs, domestic cats gone wild, the common goanna or giant lizard, the introduced fox, as well as have all done, and are still doing, great destruction among our feathered friends and their eges, especially with regard to the ground-frequenting species. The serious havoc wrought by domestic cats gone wild has come under my notice in absolutely every part of Australia and Tasmania visited, and ln seme districts certain birds which were common 30 and 40 odd years ago are to-day practically extinct, or nearly so, and chiefly as the rn.ii.lt of cats.

During my visit to the Bow, Deep, and Frankland rivers, about 60 miles due west of Albany ln Southwestern Australia, ln 1912, many cats were seen, and evidence of their cruel bird slaughter was daily met with in that part, which was covered with immensely dense whipstick wattle (Acacia), scrub, and tall karri and jarrah eucalyptus. Here on the rich soil, bracken ferns were met with up to over 10 feet high. Some 10 years prior to my visit, the large and Important karri and jarrah sawmills closed down at a little place known as Denmark, about 40 miles west of Albany; and when the hundreds of people abandoned this village and camps, countless cats were left behind. Being homeless, they wandered away into the thick bush, and have bred into great numbers, and daily preyed upon birds ever since. However, during my visit no trace whatever was obtained of the Noisy Scrub Bird (Atrlchornis clamosa), and much country waa most systematically explored on foot.

It Is a small brown bird, and a true ground and scrub frequenting species, which was once common, and peculiar to that little southern and fertile corner of Western Australia, and found nowhere else. Very few of the birds were ever collected, and to date no female specimen has been secured or recorded. ROYAL VISITORS. During the visit of King George V. and his late brother.

Prince Albert, to Torbay. west of Albany, ln 1881, the bird was then common in that part, and although very shy and seldom seen, its wonderfully loud notes could often be heard in the very dense scrub, and undergrowth, where It was well hidden, and always on the ground. Their Royal Highnesses spent some pleasant days kangaroo shooting and hunting there in the then wild bush, on the memorable occasion of the visit they paid Australia as midshipmen in H.M.S. Bacchante. The houe in which they resided during their stay at Torbay 1 saw in 1912.

I well remember their to Brisbane ln 1881. During my last to the Dorrigo. N.S.W., ln 1910. we came across a hollow log in the jungle there, in which we found several kittens, all of which were attacked by laree ticks, and on the ground at the entrance there was a great dbplay of feathers, clearly showing the various birds that the parent cats had captured; and I Identified tile feathers of ten diflerent species. If a yearly tax was placed on the tame domestic cat.

it would return a large revenue; and the domestic cat gone wild should be placed on the vermin schedules, with rewards for skins, as is done with the fox and dingo. Moreover, catplans. If in good order, are of commercial value. During the successful trip across Australia by Mr, R. T.

Maurice In 1901, he stated in his report to the House of Assembly of South, Australia, that "generallv more domestic cats than rabbits were met with." The Wilkins Australian expedition, under direction of the British Museum, in 1923, also reported much, trouble with cats, when collecting in little known parts of Northern Australia. During my visit to the Dlamenttna River, ln far Western Queensland, in 1918. cats were seen at our camp, at that remote part, and mi the Macpherson Range, South-eastern Queensland, in 1920. On the Moonie River ln Northwestern New South Wales, cats were most troublesome at our camp, during the end of 1911. They lived in rabbit burrows, and at sunset one could often see the rabbits and cata coming out of the burrows together.

The cats were so common there that, no matter where a person camped, he would hear the common Spotted Bower Bird a clever mimic imltatinit the cat's plaintive In company with other naturalists I visited Broughton Island, off the coast of New South Wales, and north of Newcastle, during 1910, and also found many traces of cats there; numerous little heaps of tail and wing feathers, lying on the ground close to the nests, told of tragedies. During my visits to Tasmania in 1915 and 1928, the destruction to bird life by cats was met with in many part, and I was particularly struck with the general scarcity of birds throughout the whole of the Island, especially about Port Arthur. A RARE BIRD. The ground parrot (Pezoporus terrestri5, once common about Sylney, has now apparently disappeared from that area, and the last one I remember seeing near Sydney waa at La Pe rouse In 1899. They live and hide ln grass and ferns.

The bird Is still to be found ln certain coastal nnrtji nf Now RnntH scribed aa "a Jargon used by Chinese In In tercourse with foreigners," "pidgin" being a corruption of "business." With people who find the acquiring of the English tongue extremely difficult, mis makeshift represents a happy medium, and affords an effective way In which to transact business affairs. When the Australian Naval and Military Ex peditionary Force arrived In German New Guinea, In order to occupy that territory, the troops discovered that the natives all used this manner of Intercourse, having assimilated the peculiar dialect, no doubt, from the numerous Inhabitant of tha local China town, In Rabaul, wherein these simple son of nature purchased their meagre require ments. With the dark-skinned people there, simple expression consisted of "Boat-be long-fight' i raan-o'-war), "plnnaoe-belong-bush" (motor car). The familiar "Ye we have no h.n.n.' had it forerunner, In Rabaul of 1914-15, aa "Yes, me no got somedlnga," when the native had disposed of hi bananas, or curios, or whatever he had been trading. However, some of the expressions were rather more circum locutory In style.

For example, the garrison quartermaster, who wore spectacle, waa re (erred to by the native aa "Blg-feller-boss-glass-stop-along-eye." A mens broom was sometime described as "one-feller-broom' mkem-dlrt-go-way-plenty-too-quick," whilst tne proclamation, issued by the Admins tra-tor, the la General Holmes, both In English and "pidgin English," I really an historical document. To conclude with an amusing Incident, the Crown Prosecutor of the Rabaul Court, a member of the force they were not known as "Diggers" then wsshed his socks, and placed them on a hedge to dry. Coming out later he discovered a large crowd of native, of all ages, playing football with an Improvised ball. He enjoyed the spectacle for a time, until a sudden revelation descended upon him. The "ball" consisted of his socks, one Inside the other, and stuffed with grass.

An ancient explained their possession of the half-hose aa "All-tlme-he-lay-long-gras. Me-t'lnk-hlm- uouc-oroae-nnisn. RICHARD DAWSON. Our First Ironfounder. (BT ii.w.i At the time of the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, reference was made In the "Sydney Morning Herald" to Richard Dawson, who established the first Important iron foundry In Australia.

The records at the Mitchell Library how that Richard Dawson (known to his contemporaries as "Dicky" Dawson) was In many branches the pioneer machinist of Australia. Th. kl. 1.1 i i 1. 1 made a considerable Impression on visitors at I me aay ana the leading people In the colony often visited his works.

Foundry at 622 Lower Oeorge-street In 1833. uh wie premises a high-pressure steam engine of 8 h.p., which was used to drive the machinery In use. In t.h. 'fnrtlaa Vw 1,1 i nui. iaj piuuute single castings up to four tons In weight.

Dawson's b.igmc eiuwbiuy iur more man Richard Dawson. years, and was considered at the time by Sydney people to be a marvel of mechanism. In 1853 the General (Screw Steam Shipping Company's ship Croesus arrived In Sydney Harbour badly damaged. At this time there was no graving dock In the port, and a portable coffer-dam was constructed by Dawson to enable the stern frame of the ship to be repaired. In his annual address to the engineering section of the Royal Society of New South Wales on June 20, 1900, Mr.

Norman Selfe, M.I.C.E., M.I.Mech.. stated that this work was thought so much of that it was often talked about after he arrived In the colony two years later, and an account of It was published in "The Engineer" of May 4 1900, nearly 50 years after, as something notable in the annals of engineering and navigation. ine large cast-iron uotnic neaa to tne main chimney shaft at the Kerosene Works. on the Botany-road, erected by Mr. Selfe about 1870, was designed by Ricnard Dawson, ana was one of the last works to be carried out at the foundry.

AMERICA'S INDEPENDENCE. Signing of the Declaration. (BY FLINDERS BARR.) The declaration of the Independence of the United states of America was signed and adopted by Congress on July 4, 1776, In a room In the State House of Pennsylvania In Philadelphia, and was publicly proclaimed from the steps of the building on the same day. The declaration was drawn up by Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia, and was agreed to almost unanimously by the delegates from 12 of the American States, and signed by them and by John Hancock, then President of CongTess. The parchment on which the original signatures were made was deposited In the Department of State when the United States Government was formed in 1789.

In 1823 John Quincy Adams, Secretary of State, had a copperplate facsimile of the signatures made, so that the descendants of the original signers might have copies, but unfortunately In the process the original document was ruined. The wet sheet of paper, which was pressed upon the surface of the parchment, drew out the Ink to such an extent that the signatures became Illegible and almost Invisible, and the text partially so. From 1841 to 1877. the document reposed amongst the archives In the United States Patent Office, and for many years waa shown on special occasions only. In 1894 It was sealed up finally.

In a steel case, both air and light proof. Charles Edouard Armand-Dumaresq. the artist, who painted the picture of the signing of the declaration, was born in Paris on January 1, 1828, and became a painter principally of military subject. He accompanied the French Army in the field on various occasions. "The Signing of the Declaration" was painted In 1873.

but I have not been able to discover where the picture Is now to be found. Armand-Dumaresq died In Paris In February, 189S. BY DAWN AND DUSK. Where young she-oaks are heavy with dew. And a kangaroo comes pushing through To gaze on me In mild surprise With wonderment in It wide, soft eye.

The world 1 a the world should be, For I know that you are awaiting me. Where magpies carol In sun-kissed tree. And perfumed eucalypt fill the breeze That wanders down to the still lagoon, To tell the rushes a new-found tune. The world Is as the world should be. For I know that you are awaiting me.

Where slowly homewards the small btrdi fly. And tree stand clear In a sunset sky In a printed pattern along the ridge As I leave the valley and cross the bridge The world I a the world should be. For know that you an awaiting me, W. VL FLEMINGS, As Laurentlus. Archbishop of York, about to open the Conference with nnmr anrf blessing, the King rose and tactfully Inquired tf the Kings of Mercia, Kent, and Essex whether, as heathens, they would prefer to rrnrc lur a moment.

Alter a whispered consultation. Kins Penda nf Mrrl. rnii.H that their faith in Wodln would not permit mem uiat me oiessmg or a foreign Cod would Inconvenience them, but In view of the behaviour of Christians to his own kingdom and to each other, he could hold out little hope that Wodln would return the compliment. He had always been tolerant to Christians In his own kingdom (The Chairman: "The honourable and royal delegate Is not In order in discussing King Penda sat down amidst considerable heathen ap- CONFERENCE OPEN. The Conference beina onftnerf Kin miti said that he was about to put before them an entirely new proposal In an endeavour to preserve the blessing of peace for the present age and for posterity.

This was to make a ciear Distinction between offensive and defensive armaments, and to limit tha fnrm.r in the strictest possible way. It was a fortunate thing that, whatever the future might hold, this distinction was very easy to make. The spear, ine swora, ana tne axe were offensive, and the shield and the fortified atrnnchnirt defensive weapons. The possession of stores of the former, with bands of house-carles and freemen skilled In the use of them, was a strong temptation to king or noble to attack his neighbours; while this could not be said of the latter. The supplies of offensive weapons could be limited to the needs of a genuarmerie, say, a few hundred In each realm.

That few hundred wnniH k. mtit. Inadequate to capture strongholds or conquer a neighbouring realm, even though similarly uaiuim. iic lurwier proposed mat mat nor-rlble engine of destruction, the horse, should be prohibited In warfare. A charge of a few mounted men could trample headlong through the best Infantry over every obstacle, and added a new terror to war.

He was proud to say that no honest Anglo-Saxon or Jute wished to fight otherwise than fairly on foot: a large supply of horses gave an unscrupulous nation a great advantage In a xumric Bttav He had only recently Joined the ranks of Christendom (Christian cheers), but he was oouig nis utmost to further what he believed to be Its spirit. He felt confident, however, that the broadmlnded tolerance of the heathen delegations would enable them to consider the question entirely on Its merits, and he thereupon declared the subject open to general discussion. OBJECTIONS. King Penda said that the soul of man was like a sparrow, which, on a dark and rainy uigiib, nica in uie uuor OI a Kings hall and. after a brief stay In the brightness and warmth, It vanishes through another door and no man, Christian or heathen, knew whence It came or whither It went.

He would not conceal the fact that one of his chief objections to Christianity was that so few of its followers were Christians, though there were some honourable exceptions, nnri m. them King Edwin. (The Klnc of Essex: "But ne nau me anvantage or a heathen But a further objection was Its entirely unscientific character. Personally, he believed In selective evolution and the survival of the fittest. What else did the history of the Roman Empire prove? Did It not fall as soon as It became Christian? It was perfectly nonsensical to deprive the free man of his arms, and you could not change human nature.

What were you to do If a man galloped off with your wife? Push him In the face with a shield and wait three weeks for the gendarmerie? (Laughter.) If fighting were to be reduced to a farce, and to become a pastime suitable to mixed company In the hall after wassail they might as well all enter monasteries, and then there would be no posterity to save. (A heathen voice: "Oh. wouldn't there!" Cries of "Put him out!" Take an axe to him!" from the Christians, out the interjector could not be traced.) Instead of the evolution of a virile civilisation they would get a race or mincing milksops who could scarcely nerve themselves to kill a sheep, and would probably live mostly on the weak, the puny, and the feebleminded would have an equal chance of survival with the virile, and the able. Count Pepin. Mayor of the Palace to King Dagobert of the Pranks, then rose amidst some disturbance, delegates singing snatches of a French music hall song about King Dagobert; but the Count genially observed that the correct orientation of one's logic was even more Important, If possible, than that of one's trousers.

It was very well for kings separated from the strife of Europe by a long and perilous sea voyage to make such proposals, but the Pranks must have security. To the east there were hordes of barbarous Slavs, who were aiming at nothing but plundering and destroying civilisation, and the scheme was, therefore, chimerical from beginning to end. HORSE OR MAN POWER. The delegate of the King of the Lombards said that disarmament was out of the question, and the horse was the only succour of his country's falling man-power against the threats of the unprincipled Byzantine Empire with Its continued unprovoked attacks. The delegate from Byzantium said that the Emperor Heracllus could not deal with the matter until successfully concluded his war with Persia; but he wished to emphasise that the responsibility for the wars in Italy was entirely the Lombards', since the country rightly belonged to the Empire.

The King of Wessex said that to his mind the attempted distinction between oflenilve snd defensive armaments was entirely unreal. If the scheme were carried out, and a omen stout robbers chose to waylay you with shields, with which they hit you on the head, the effect would be little different from present conditions when all are at liberty to have swords. If anyone doubted the effect of a well-swung shield, he would be glad to give practical proof of the matter. Or suppose that an enemy should seize his son and hold him in his castle, is not the castle an offensive weapon? Honorlus, Archbishop of Canterbury, said that he would try to bring to them, In conclusion, a little of the wisdom of old Rome. They must at least admit that the political situation placed most formidable barriers In the way.

How could Europe disarm until the Slavs had been converted and civilised? Or how coulld Lombards and Byzantines be Induced to limit armament until both had greed honestly to a final settlement of their quarrel? As for offensive and defensive arms, the difference lay, as the King of Wessex had Indicated, In the heart of man rather than In his weapons; If his heart was evil he would assuredly find evil weapons to work with, and If his heart was pure there was no need of limitation. If once he had chosen to fight, nothing was more certain than that he would fight with the most terrible weapons that he could devise. If a man entered into a battle which he could with honour have prevented, no weapon of any sort could be clean or fair In his hands; Indeed, his hands, his whole body, and his very soul became fouler than the most evil vapours of the Devil. Neither was any weapon offensive In the hands of the Innocent, provided he did not exceed his Just rlshts of defence. The whole danger of such schemes of limitation was that the Innocent Blight suffer more than the gull y.

An old councillor of King Ea sin's arose, waving a copy of the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle." which he said proved that King Penda's simile of the sparrow had been originated by himself before King Edwin's conversion. The conference then terminated In tome confusion, but It seems that King Edwin's proposal ss not adopted, since he was defeated and 'In In the following year by King Penda of Mercia. who treated the vanquished with unusual clemency. THE MASTERPIECE. Ood made tha rose, Whose fragrance fills the air; Ood made the tree.

Whose graceful bran chea bear Their fruit for me. Ood made the sea. And round It, built the shore Whereon I stand, To watch. In wondering awe. The blessings of His hand.

Ood mad the heart WnTre'ln'T His finest work an earth And last, best gift to ma. 'isUC- THE CAPTURE OF THE EMUS. The ground covered was carefully studied for the tracks of any animals, for the fast-dwindling aboriginal tribe was desperately hungry. A warning, "Oo-ole." sounded In front. A warrior threw up his arms and arched his back; then, standing side on, bent his arms downwards In Imitation of two emus feeding.

The signal was quickly conveyed to the whole tribe, and It hurried forward, eager to be -in the kill. They gradually spread round the emus. In a big circle every walking child, lubra, and warrior, with the boys flourishing reed spears In almost hysterical excitement, closed In upon the birds. The male emu lifted high his commanding head and listened, a picture of wild alertness. The stalking continued without raising undue suspicion.

However, the emus sensed danger, and when another emu's head bobbed up from behind a bush, how surprised they were! But Instead of danger, the head ducked and hissed of safety behind the bush. They advanced slowly towards It. There was a clicking as throwing arms twitched wommera5 against spear butts. The big emu had come within spcar-throw before he realised he was betrayed. The head had been a warrior's arm draped with emu feathers and an emu's beak fixed on at the top.

The warrior was the "emu" which had chicked so reassuringly. The hen crashed down, struggling and kicking, with five spear-ends protruding from her body. The big bird charged straight on. and caught the spear of the "emu man" full In the breast. It fell, a target for twenty spears.

The whole tribe danced and yelled. Here was meat plenty of meat! LLOYD BANKS (13 years). THE MINSTREL'S FRIEND. One day, whilst walking down a busy thoroughfare In the heart of the city, a curious sight arrested my attention. A musician, standing on the footpath, was playing some plaintive tune on his mouth-organ, scarcely well enough to attract attention.

Something else proved the attraction, however. A wee, glossy-coated grey mouse was nibbling food from the brim of the felt hat placed on the ground for the collection. It was not exactly like a common little mouse that steals Into our pantries in the night, but rather an aristocratic-looking member of the rodent family, with an occasional white spot on that silky, smooth grey coat, and with a long, slender tall, and two small beady eyes characteristic of all mice. What patience the Door musician must have possessed In order to have tamed that naturally timid and alert little creature! But he was duly rewarded, as, alas, not those weird, un-melodlous strains attracted the small gather ing, out me grey mouse, mooting contentedly, regardless of the curious spectators. I wondered at the Interest such a small creature could arouse.

Nevertheless It was a unique sight which arrested the footsteps of Sydney's busy throng, and but for his well-trained, faithful friend I am afraid that the earnings of the street minstrel would have oeen very mucn smaller. NORA DUNN. PINK-EYED RABBITS Don't you think that rabbits with pink eyes are the cuddliest things? I know where there are five of the fluffiest little round balls, with big flop ears, and such funny little blobs called tails. Thev live in a wire-netted en closure with two 'possums, and are the best of friends. The big 'possum carries the baby round on her back, and sometimes the rabbits think they would like a Joy-ride; so up they climb, but soon tumble oft, as they don't know how to cling on tightly.

There Is a rrignteneo squeal, ana Dae iney scamper to their mates. They have burrowed all round the enclo sure, and all you can see Is just a wee white tau sucKing out oi tne noie. i aiways mime of the white rabbit In "Alice in Wonderland," and expect to see one of them pull out a watch and murmur. "Dear, dear; I shall be late." LETT WADDY. TOWER.

SO year at the corner of waa demolished ia ,1898. tne centre, ana inus irom tne one coin wouia be issued a smaller one, which coins came to be known as the holey dollar and the dumD. There was no Australian coinage until 1855, wnen tne nrst mint was esiaDiisnea at tsyaney, followed by the opening of mlnta in Victoria In 1872, and Western Australia in 1B99. In 1909 an Act of the Commonwealth Parliament provided for the Issue of Australian coinage, in certain values, and the coins were temporarily stamped In London. The Australian note issue was first brought Into force in December, 1910, which prohibited me issue oi paper money dv private oanics.

and the notes previously issued by these banks were gradually replaced by the Commonwealth issue. an aci oi iyii tne uommonweaitn Treasurer was bound to hold a gold reserve of not less than one-fourth of the Commonwealth note Issue. The beginning and rise of Aus tralian currency is a long and interesting suDjecu SYDNEY'S OLDEST INN. 'The Hero of (BT J. ARNOLD CROCKETT.) Reputed to have been constructed 104 years ago, "The Hero of Waterloo," at the corner of Windmill and Lower Fort streets, Miller's Point, is said to be the oldest public-house in Sydney.

Built of stone It has a slate roof this solid-looking structure contained nine "blanks' for windows. This was probably a means of evaaing me window tax. On the original map the property Is described as: "Lot 1. section 94, City of "The Hero of Waterloo." It wa registered In the name of John Clarke, and wa transferred to George Paton In 1842. Thomas Kirkman was evidently the nrst owner.

In 1854 he followed the Victorian sold rush, and died In Bendigo 41 years later. Although Klrkman's name does not appear Ln the Indexes at the Titles Office from 1838 onwards, still. It Is possible that he owned or leased the premises prior to the passing of the Torrens Act. Little Is known of the Inn's earl history. and this Is accounted for by the fact that it has not always retained Its present name.

We do resd, however, that candidate for election to the first Parliament under the new constitution (1856) held their meetings at the Inn. In the basement Is a forty-foot square cell. A small Iron grille supplies the only light. During the tenancy of Mr. Michael Finney, a humorous incident occurred at the Hero of Waterloo.

A certain police-constable, well known in "The Rocks" area, was wont to visit the public-house for an evening glass. One night, hawing Imbibed too freely, he lapsed Into a drunken slumber. Taking advantage of the situation, a thief stole his clothes. Morning arrived. The constable was due for duty.

But, alas, he could not saunter forth in a state of nudity. He was further embarrassed, for nobody's clothes would fit htm. Mine host, though small In stature, conceived an idea. Producing a pen- of his discarded trousers, he Placed them on the coroulent policeman they reached to the knees. "Needs must wnen tne aevu anves," tnougnt the resourceful publican, so, wrapping an old overcoat around the unhappy constable he bundled him off to the police-station.

"The Rocks" rocked with laughter. OPEN DOORS. Discoveries in Megalong Valley. (BT OWEN MEREDITH.) The road wound through the valler. and wa followed It until It brought us to two little old buildings, whose open doors Invited us to enter.

In the first we discovered our welcome dampened by a notice writ large on a blackboard to the effect that trespassers would be prosecuted. But as we had passed no one for miles we were not driven into retreat, but continued our Inspection of the Mecalone school. A tiny one-roomed building, with an open fireplace, almost as big aa Itself, It con- uinea inree lorms. two blackboards, a chair. Books and pencil cases filled with treasures lay unprotected on floor and seat.

A tin of treacle took Its place beside a school msgazlne. and a billy beside the chalk. So different was It from a city dweller's memories of a schoolroom that I was reluctant to leave It for the exploration of the building opposite. But the Congregational Church proved even more Interesting. Another one-roomed structure.

It was all crooked and crazy like an Illustration to a folk tale. Prom Its four windows the paper wa peeling, and a cobweb or two festooned Its four little pews. A glasa and a Jug were on tha pulpit-table, and before It a plate on which eighteenpence rested unmolested. We stood silent awhile, then added a few more pennies and fell to wondering Just how long the faded confetti had lain on the floor, and who was the bride who had knelt in the Utile old church. CONSTANCY.

A errata! river ever seaward flowa Prom gold-tipped eastern hills. Its silver source Unwinds with virgin steadfastness its course: Straightway due west and truthfully It goes, For aeons It has spent Us constant force. No left or right or wayward twist it knows, In levelling stumbling-blocks without remorse. And cleaving roekfaced banks through forest ciuee. Birds floating on Its surface sing their best When, mirrored In the sunlight on Its breast Their gay reflections vie with echoed song To reinforce the beauty of the throng.

out att uie hiciiw, iisnening waters say Is "Jta," when "ye 1 meant, or nay for nay. BXDLEY BARRON MTU FOR THE CHILDREN. "WHO'S WHO" IN THE ARK. "Walt awhile. Captain." called out Mrs.

Noah, Aa the Ark was about to cast off from the shore; "Though there isn't much time, I must really Insist On your taking a glance at the passenger list. or inmK it my aucy, twiore we embarK, To explain to you Just who Is who In the Ark. Now, to Mrs. Brown Rabbit I do not object. And grey hares should be treated with proper respect; But for gay Mr.

Goat there's not much to be saiu, Thouch a very good butter, he's rather ill-bred; And Bill Kan Karoo isn't ud to the mark. There is no greater bounder than he in the AM. All lobsters are shell -ftsh. it must be confessed, While grasshoppers are everywhere counted a pest. Sydney Flathead's In very low water no doubt, But a rumour's afloat that he's going to swim out.

And I may as well mention, between you and me. That young Teddy Koala is right up a tree. And "Belav. there. I don't want to hear anv more That'll do to go on with." cut In Captain Noah.

"I cannot allow any further delay. For by now the old Ark should be well under way." MAY COURTNEY. THE CAUSE. Oh. why does Hector leave the room With such a stealthy tread.

And why do auntie's eyes assume That sudden look of dread? Oh, why does Donald's cheery face Appear so very glum, And even mother's show a trace Of patient martyrdom? No tidings of a doleful kind Fall on our ears to-day, But fortune, suble and refined. Has filled us with dismay. To entertain a stranger well, Father's begun once more, Those stories that we've heard him tell A hundred times before. ALEX. BCOTT.

WHAT WILL I BE? When I'm grown up I'll wear a grand hat, A soldier's or postman's. Or something like that. I don't know yet what I'm going to be, A policeman perhaps, Or I might go to sea. Or I might be a gen'ral And fight for the King (Uncle James Is not anything). Uncle Ned goes to the Jungle and shoots Tigers and lions, and wears great boots.

Billy Jones's father, who lives next door. Goes hundreds and hundreds, of miles to explore. But I think I'll Just be one of the guard Who march about In the palace yard. In a scarlet coat and a big black hat Yes. I'll go and tell nannle I think 111 be that.

EDYTH BAVIN. A CHILD WONDERS. I wonder how our Ood can tint A face for every flower; I marvel how It Is He finds A space for every hour. How does He tune a varied voice For all the happy birds? And how tor all the countless boys He tones their speech and words? I wonder how He set each star In heaven's vast domain; And where the bright celestials are. And how their throne we gain.

It trouble me how every leaf I different from it brother, And how He wove a separate soul For every thoughtful mother, LAWRENCE J. TTERNEY. HANCOCK'S Tbi building ctood for mora George and Quay- treeta, than and Rain-making Magic. (BT W.B.R.I Superstition Is Inherent In the human family, and a belief In magic can never be wholly eradicated from the minds of even the well educated. There Is little wonder, therefore.

that both find a fertile soil In the limited Intelligence of the Australian aboriginal. Among the tribes, the rainmaker Is the magician, he takes the place of the witch doctor or devil-man so prominent In African and Asiatic races, and he wields a power in some respects equal to the worst specimens of those dreaded parasites, for It Is he who lead in all the devilment which is secretly enacted In various forms. It Is he who, at the head of the old men. determines the identity of the one to be held responsible for the death of a warrior, and It Is he who mutters the last diabolic incantation over the death bone before it Is used on the victim: or. If other means of death are devised, he it Is who makes the clay figure and utters the withering curses which are to bring about the gradual decay and death of the selected, but generally lnno cent, Individual, who may at some eailler period have incurred his hatred by crossing his will or endeavouring to supplant him In his all-powerful office.

He Is, according to his own showing, the maker of charms both good and evil, the associate of evil spirit, and of the Alcoorlnga (the totemlc ancestors), a pastmaster In occult knowledge, and Is well versed In black magic and the folk lore of the tribe. His chief office, however, Is that of rainmaker, and If he proves unsuccessful for a longer period than Is compatible with the well-being of the tribe, he is deposed in favour of another, for there are always aspirants for the position, and It can be held only by force, strategy, and diablerie. The position Is no sinecure, for, as the name Implies, he has to "make." or bring about weather conditions which will produce rain: a rather difficult problem when, through a combination of circumstances, drought conditions prevail, and rivers disappear and lagoons dry up. yet by sheer effrontery the situation Is often saved, and much kudos accrues to the sorcerer. He keenly watches every change of weather, and by deduction and experience can forecast rain some hours before the event.

But, like his white brother, the meteorologist, he makes mistakes, although such blunders weigh as lightly upon his conscience as they do upon It la his duty, every year, to visit the river. creeks, lagoons, and waterholes within the ujun unaer nis jurisdiction, and by Incantation cause them to be filled. He rarely Commences his Official round hefnr th atnrm season la due to break, and then he performs v.t. me uitiisaiuii ui which. It is held, would bring down upon wiw wiuc uic wraui oi me lotemic ancestors.

The ritual Seldom nrln and th. of a corroboree, at which the rain maker Is ui ciun acior, supported oy the old men. Then, everything prepared for an auspicious campaign, he sets forth upon his peregrinations. STRANGE CEREMONIES. Wherever he finds a pool of water, spring or running stream and they are not numerous at that time of the year he must enter the water facing away from Its source, and, with his hands beat the water through his extended legs up against the natural now of the watercourse, at the same time muttering incantations which, to the uninitiated, seem both weird and unholy.

At times, when the heat is greatest, he will Impress lubras into hi service. To these he will delegate the strenuous task of beating the water while he promenade up and down Invoking his familiar spirit. Sooner or later, as he knows, storms will brew and burst, or the monsoon break, and some rain fall, even in the driest year. Be It plentiful or meagre, the credit Is always appropriated by the rainmaker. The writer once had the doubtful honour of knowing one of the brotherhood (his name was Quatchl-Koom-Koorl, but we called him "Old Soak" for short).

He was a great rainmaker, standing high In the estimation of his tribe, who considered he could, it so Inclined, draw moisture from a cloudless sky. ror some reason he conceived a great liking for me. and was delighted when I reaulsltlnned hi. services as a purveyor of the transparent fluid. 11 tne weaklier was propiuous, ne WOUld Start his conjuration without delay, and.

It must be admitted, on more than one occasion succeeded In his efforts to such an extent that a waierspout would nave been more welcome than the resultant washout. Then there were times when, with every natural Indication of a deluge to aid him, great clouds banking up In the south-west, vivid llshtnlni that showed like livid weals across the sky, crescendo peals of thunder which followed so close upon the flashes, and rolled so ominously, mat tne very xounuauons oi tne eartn seemed to shake, and a pall of blackness blotted out all but the nearest objects even when coupled with all these, his most awful Incantation and gesticulation were of no avail. A cool gust of wind would come out of the eye of the storm a gentle sighing wind and we knew that the storm had broken so far away that no slightest portion of its precipitation would reach us. On these and other occa sions our rainmaker showed of what sterling mew ne wa maae, ior, iar irom Deing die-concerted, he would ascribe his failure to the machination of a more powerful wizard who nad hi abode to the west, accept a stick or trade tobacco, and, with the enigmatic remark, "blme-by 'nother pfeller come would betake himself to his camp, there to feast and corroboree, and live up to his reputation. For the rainmaker amongst the aborigine, like any other charlatan.

Is usually taken at his own valuation until his bluff 1 called by another more astute. THE ARCHIBALD FOUNTAIN. Fall with the loveliness of rain the fountain' tear, As the black moonlight of the Huntress, with her bow. Darkles among the shattered silver that uprear It Jetted waters from the turtle beak below. The dylnv Minotaur looks Ms tut look on life.

As ends the montrou tumult was hi flesh to nsught; The dumb ox tn his hands and feet no more at strife Against the greater beast the god within htm wrougnt, And there, Pan, god of field and herd, still guards among Th' eternal hills of youth his flock, while, on the height, Apollo looks beyond toe Morning Star, low hung, To where dawn break forever on the dark of nignt. There was a man a man one lived In this our town. Re had a dream: The city wears It as bar crown. -v-' j. MARY (BT OXO.

A. OrLDXR.1 Let 'is stand for a while at the point where Pitt and George streets unite, and try to re construct, In our mind's eye, the scene of the early seventies of last century. The outstanding object to the south-east Is the semicircular roof of the Exhibition Building, and a little nearer, but to the left, standing In a large paddock, the Iron building which did duty as the Sydney railway station from the commencement of the railways In 185S. In the Immediate foreground we see the home of the Benevolent Society, with the old cemetery beyond; also Mr. Pos berry's residence and the convent of the Good Samaritan, all flanked by Devonshire-street.

To the north the police barracks, the Haymarket, and that most Interesting spot known as "Paddy's Markets." Behind all this Is the rising ground of Surry Hills. Close to the spot on which we stand Is Hancock's Tower, with It battlemented walls, dummy guns and peculiar comer effigies. The University occupies a commanding posi tion to the west on Grose Farm HU1. Towards the north we see the railway line running away to Darling Harbour, and, In the distance, the upper reaches of the harbour Itself. George-street and Pitt-street run on a northward rise and the infant city centres round these thoroughfares.

Very little of this scene meets the eye to-day: the topography of the fore ground has been vitally altered; many great Duuaings nave risen ail around, out, dominating everything, stands the stately edifice known orieny ana lammany as central. Although there are to-day five railway sta tlons In the city of Sydney, It Is more than likely that any Inquirer for "Sydney railway station" would be directed to "Central." Or should one jump Into a taxi and merely sav "Railway." he would certainly be conveyed to me same place, as a matter oi lact tnere nas been no station bearing the name "Sydney" since 1874, when the original corrugated Iron structure of 1855, built on the Cleveland Paddocks, about where the Railway Institute now stands, was demolished, and a brick building ereciea miaway Detween tne institute and George-street. The latter building was always known as "Redfern," and when, despite repeated additions and alterations, it became apparent that It could no longer meet traffic requirements and that further additions or extensions were Impracticable, the Hon. E. W.

suuivan in isoj authorised the present magnificent structure, which has always borne the uue centra. THE OLD ORIGINAL. The original Sydney station of 1855 was a simple corrugated Iron shed, inside of which was a long wooden platform, with two or three rooms thereon for the accommodation of the Puduc ana tne staff. The building cost approximately 2000. As exterior adjuncts there were two skill Ions.

In which hay and meat arriving by rail used to be sold bv auction The lighting was by a few oil lamps, but for sume years ii was only on very auu aays that these were lit, as there were no night trains. From time to time piecemeal addition were made to this building, until In 1865 the Commissioner reported that "unless it Is Intended very shortly to build a new station at Svdnev. extensive additions to the present building should be at once carried out." Many years elapsed, however, before definite action was taken. Between 1871 and 1875. sums aggregating 53,500 were voted for "station build ings, worasnops.

goods sneds. at In 1874 the new brick najuunffr ataMnn fnn. SlstUlg Of two nlatfortna and two rinrk-a wrn. openea ior iramc ana was named "Redfern.1 In Its life Of 32 Veara it occunieH a rnnnl.u. oil place In the hlstorr of Svdnev Communication with the city proper had been established between the former station and Circular Quay by a line of buses run by the Commissioner, In which train passengers nee.

pmi Gsune me norse- drawn Pitt-street tram, which ran Mvmii iaai and 1887. From the latter year until the new Btauon at, iteaiem was brought Into use, there was a nondeserlDt bus service hut vn. tually the Sydney Tramway and Omnibus Company made adequate provision for the conveyance of the public between the station and the Quay. In 1879 the first steam tram came Into operation aa a result of the opening of the International Exhibition In the Garden Palace grounds. The subsequent extension of this mode of transit sounded the death knell of the buses.

In 1899 electricity superseded steam as the motive power, and the steam trams gradually followed the buses on to the scrap neap. PRIMITIVE METHODS. There are many Impressions left on one's mind of the old Redfern station of 1874 onwards. For Instance, there were no destination signs on the station In the early days, and the writer has keen recollection of that human Indicator, Inspector Oagen, who was also the train starter. His strident cry of, "Take your seats, please; Newtown.

Petersham, Ashfleld, Burwood. Homebush. Parramatta Junction, Parramatta." followed by his vigorous ringing of the large hand bell, seem only to have been happening of yesterday. The change over to 'Central" necessitated the removal of "the residents of Ood's acre," and also the demolition the buildings In the vicinity. On the site thus mad available, that great structure, which will always be regarded by the people as Sydney station, stands to-day.

a monument to the foresight of the Hon O'Sulllvan. Aa one watches the, electric tram from the suburbs passing through Central en route to Museum. 81. Jamea, Town Hall, and Wynyard, a feeling approaching sadness Is experienced lest this Imposing pile should lose some of It Srestlge a "the' railway station of Sydney; ut the trend of the city southward will probably confirm the Judgment of those responsible for placing Central hi It present position, and the consequent distribution of the shopping area may make It the true business-centre of the city In year to come. It will certainly be many years before the longdistance service where (team traction I at present Involved will go past Central.

The city underground station can never rival Central In the public eye, mainly because their mas and beauty do not strike the tva a do those of the surface structure. RECONSTRUCTION. Amid the shambles of a ahattar'd world. Where passion hideous predomtnata, We live, where envy, greed, and lust, and hats Have millions Into death and ruin nurl'd; Where godless flags, defiantly unfurtd. Challenge our shrines, our temple desecrate, And humble, virtuous hearths annihilate.

Whose latj smoke In peaceful ring upcurrd. Assuredly, It was divinely meant, When the Oreat Architect HI schema began. Our will should be Indomitably bant To labour with Him to fulfil His phsn; Will one arise to lead thla grand event TO darkest hour I bar, where Is the man? a wrutuHs. Wales, but It la rare, and Is found south to Tasmania. It feeds, and builds its nest.

amongst grass and ferns on the ground, and lays from three to four white in th Upper Hunter River district of New south Wales, the cats do much destruction to various birds, including the beautiful red-rumped i oaccv vrscpnums naematonoius wmcn are constantly feeding on the ground. In 1907 the birds were very common, and in 1928 the falline-ofl In their numhers pot slderable, but they were still plentiful. In ibvi nave oiien countea as many as aoo to 400 sitting close together, ln one continuous line, on a teleeraDh wire, and mnicintr great babble, and well away from cats. The well-known bush curlew, once common, is a rare bird to-day ln many parts, but tha slaughter of this ground species I put down chiefly to the tox, also the destruction of many of our handsome lyre birds, and others of the larger forms. The beautiful night parrot (Geopslttacu oecldentalls), was once frequently met with, but now It has almost vanished most probably through cats and grass fires, and is another of the unfortunate ground-frequenting species.

The bird is nocturnal, and sleeps and hides in thick clumps of the prlcklv porcupine grass by day, the seeds of which It feeds upon. It Is said to have been falrlv numerous at Cooper's Creek and other places ln the Interior during the eighties, and data show that It disappeared after an Invasion of cats. During the Horn scientific exm.Hit.inn ti Central Australia In 1894. it waa reported that in one of the rooms used by the ooerators at the far Inland and Isolated telegraph office, at Alice Springs, several picture frames were covered and ornamented with the wings and tails of this rare bird, which were from birds that had been caught by a cat there the previous summer. tile bird Is al.so known as the porcupine parrot, on account of It living and nesting in the prlck'y porcupine gras (Triodla), so plentiful Inland, and fires often destroy large areas of It.

The bird Is known to the older aborigines at some of the central parts, and about the Hermannsbiuii Mission station, as "Tnokkapaltara." li the very large and exceedingly valuable scientific collection of Australian birds which the late Mr. H. L. White, of Eelltrces. presented to the Australian public, there are few of these rare nlsht parrots, also a male specimen of the extremely rare noisv scrub bird already referred to here, and collected over 50 years ago.

NOVITIATE. Love is no more, love Is no less Than a soul's secret wilfulness. For how should transient words express Eternity's Infmitenoss? Love Is no more, love is no less Than gyve on hands that would caress, Than mute on lips that would confess. Than mask an eyes lest one should guess. Love Is no more, love Is no less, Than a stilled prayer that may not bless.

Yet bares the spirit's nakedness To make devotion passionless. Love Is no less, love la no more Than hushed listening at a door For call of on who went before lior is me schooled In patience-lore. tv MARY CORRINQHAM..