ITEMS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 212, 4 June 1929, Page 12

ITEMS IN BRIEF

FROM FAR AND NEAR Adelaide-Perth Air Mail Service.—The new air mail service between Adelaide and Perth began yesterday, states an Australian Press Association message. The scheduled time of the 1453-mile journey will be 27 hours. The service will at present be weekly in each direction.

Fatal Shooting Accident.—A Press Association message from Sydney states that a party of pastoralists went shooting wild pigs near Moree. Godfrey Neich, aged 25, became excited when a litter of pigs jumped up close to where he was standing. Neich threw a loaded gun at them. The charge exploded and shot him in the stomach. He died immediately.

Financier’s Suicide.—An Australian Press Association-United Service message from London states that at the inquest on the financier J. E. Mounsey, whose body was found in Richmond Park, disclosed that his affairs were most satisfactory and that nothing -justified selfdestruction. A verdict was entered of suicide- while of unsound mind.

Power from Arapuni.—By way of a test several Auckland suburbs were served with electric current from Arapuni on Sunday night. The test was completely satisfactory.—Press Assn.

Southern Cross’s Figurehead.—The figurehead which graced the stem of the Melanesian Mission yacht Southern Cross .has been discarded, and replaced by a plain fiddlehead. Since her launching, the vessel has carried an almost lifesize male figure clothed in flowing robes and clasping a book to its bosom. It was supposed to represent St. Barnabas, the first missionary. Although many layers of grey paint had somewhat obscured the carven lines, the figurehead was still a good example of its kind, and an interesting reminder of a very ancient custom now practically abandoned. Unfortunately the figure was damaged on the vessel’s recent voyage to Norfolk Island. and to replace it would be very costly, the carving of figureheads being now practically a lost art.