Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

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10 Mr. Hi Pong spoke with a quiet and impressive dignity. What proof, he asked, had they in Scotland that their bird-seed was any good since they had no birds to speak of? America and India boasted of the eagle and the vulture, carnivorous birds. What would happen if bird-seed from those countries were fed to the canaries? Would they too become carnivorous? But the birds of China were the most beautiful to be found anywhere in the world. Moreover, the Chinese were a yellow race, and so the Chinese bird-seed might be expected to make the canaries yellower. Members from various other nations expressed opinions, and a vote was then taken, resulting in the award of the con- tract to China. The Society is grateful to Mr. M. R. Stevens and to Mr. W. G. Maundrill for their continued interest and lively contribu- tions to the debates. Officers for the season 19 ' )1-1952 President Mr. J. H. Kerry Secretary D. B. Wingate Committee: C W. Kempe, D. E. W. Lines, M. G. Marsh, F. R. Snape and B. E Wheelwright Cadets N.C.O.s — Sgt. H. H. Dunkley; Cpls. Marsh, Minugh, Cassidy; L Cpls. Boyle, Burns, Grayston, Tucker. Band L Cpls. Carey, Dunch. Cadets:— 41. Total Strength:— 51. It is necessary to explain a change which has occured since last year. The Cadet Corps is now controlled by the L6ical Forces Board, a Board appointed by the Governor to implement the Local Forces Act which was passed into law late last year. A result of this change of control is that many changes are to be made to the constitution of the Cadet Corps, though for us at Saltus the procedure will be little changed. We are pleased to report the acquisition of a qualified Sergeant-Instructor, one of the changes mentioned earlier, who has had the thankless task of making drill movements

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9 At the conclusion of the debate tea was served in the Library. The session wound up with a meeting of the United Nations Assembly on April 3rd for the purpose of hearing arguments advanced by delegates from four of the associated nations in support of their claims to a contract for the supply of bird- seed to the United Nations canaries. The four delegates, assuming national dress for the occa- sion were . . . Mr. Gordy McTaggart, for Scotland (G. H. Grayston); Texas Bill, for U.S.A. (B. E. Wheelwright); Mr. Daffi Ghan Istan, for India (C. W. Kempe) ; and Mr. Poo Poo Velly Hi Pong, for China (M. G. Marsh) . The Russian delegate had previously withdrawn his claim as his country had not yet concluded their investigation of the possibilities of producing a bird-seed which would induce canaries to sing Communist songs only. Mr. McTaggart argued that the fact that the beautiful music of the bagpipes could only be accounted for by the nutri- tional qualities of Scotch Oats should be enough to convince any logical mind that Scotch bird-seeds was the brand to evoke the sweetest response from the canaries. He felt that the dis- turbed political conditions were likely to interfere with the production of good bird-seed in China and India; and, if grown, would it be exported? He was informed that America was largely a land of desert, and the few green patches were fully taken up with the cultivation of oranges. Texas Bill spoke next. He felt that the question as to what proportion of his country was desert would be irrelevant be- cause his bird-seed was a synthesis of the rich mineral wealth of the U.S.A. He gave a formidable list of its components, including sulphuric acid, nitroglycerin, gelatine and sawdust; above all, it was radio-active. His further eulogiums were reminiscent of the advertisement features for patent medicines on ZBM. Mr. Daffi Ghan Istan gave a scientific appreciation of Indian bird-seed, built up on millet as a base. Cheap labour made production economical, and large quantities were avail- able for export. Scotland was too bare and bleak to grow any- thing much beyond weeds . . . and golf-courses. The Ameri- cans were too busy blowing up their country with atom bombs to have much time for such peaceful pursuits as growing bird- seed. China was over-populated, and couldn ' t grow enough food for its own people, let alone bird-seed.

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11 sharper — we hope that those who have been fortunate to share in this drill will give of their best as the Instructor ' s lot is surely not a serene one .... The Band has been at work, for the most part on its own, and we feel that when Founder ' s Day arrives a good account of this work will be available for all to see and hear. Our thanks to Mr. Weedon for his valuable assistance in the past especially in the instruction of recruits, who are rapidly assuming cadetship. F.L.S. An Unsolved Mystery Though three men dwell on Flannan Isle To keep the lamp alight As we steered under the lee, we caught No glimmer through the night. A passing ship at dawn had brought The news; and quickly we set sail, To find out what strange things might ail The keepers of the deep-sea light. North-west of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland lie the Flannan Islands. The coast is rocky and very dangerous, and so, to keep ships off the shore, a lighthouse has been built on one of the islands. The work of the keepers of the light is very lonely, for there are no other inhabitants, and only a few ships pass by. Another disadvantage is that very often, for long periods, the sea is so rough that no boats can reach the island and consequently the keepers have to stay on the island for months at a time with very little fresh food. It was on one of these occasions, when the keepers had been on the island for some considerable time, that a ship passing early in the morning noticed that there was no light burning. Other ships confirmed this, and a relief boat was ordered out, as soon as the weather would permit, to discover what was the matter. Considerable time and effort were spent in trying to get a few men ashore, but at last a small party succeeded in landing. The men called to the keepers and, receiving no reply, embarked on a thorough search of the island. But they could find scarcely a clue. The keepers had completely disappeared, and with them the secret of what had happened. In the lighthouse the table was set and a half-eaten meal was lying neglected. It looked as though the