NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 10, 13 January 1941, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Running No Risk.

On account of war risks, to obviate chance of loss, degree examination papers of the University of New Zealand, completed last November, have gone no 'further than Australia for marking purposes. Some have not gone as far as that and are being marked in New Zealand. Ordinarily the papers go to England, but an arrangement was made with the English examiners to have the papers marked this time nearer home. One result should be an earlier announcement of results.

East Coast Railway. Railway workers living in camps along the route between Gisborne and Wairoa returned to their jobs last week and began preparations for a year which is expected to see the railway completed as far as Gisborne, states a Gisborne correspondent. From a peak of between 900 and 1000, the number of men has gradually receded until in the past few months it has been stabilised at about 450, attention being concentrated upon the major tasks of completing the Tikiwhata-Waiau tunnel and the bridges in the Kopuawhara and Waiau Valleys. Normally there is a fairly large turnover in labour following the Christmas and New Year break, as many men find new jobs or depart in search of more congenial conditions. This year the number of defections of this type is comparatively small. Witnesses' Expenses. "We are not going to pay them these fancy wages," said the Auckland City Coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, when the question was raised of witnesses' expenses of waterside workers who had given evidence. A police sergeant said that the standard rate for these men was £1 3s 4d a day. "As much as I get and more," exclaimed Mr. Hunt. The sergeant said such witnesses were paid for what they had actually lost by attending Court, and they had to produce a certificate to prove the loss. Mr. J. J. Sullivan, who was appearing in the case, said these men were not adequately paid. There were 700 or 800 accidents on the wharf every year. They took their lives in their hands. "I know," said Mr. Hunt. "Everybody else takes his life in his hand." Fish Salvaged. The long spell of dry weather has had a detrimental effect on the flow of water in the Waihao River, South Canterbury. The stream is now very dry over a great part of its length. This has resulted in a great deal of extra work for the officials of the Waimate Acclimatisation Society, who for some time past have been engaged in moving fish from isolated holes in the riyer to running water, states, the "Christchurch Star-Sun." "More fish have been shifted this year than in any previous season, and it has meant a tremendous amount of work for the rangers," said Mr. J. C. Winning, secretary of the society. "The rangers have been constantly on the job and have had to go over the same ground on several occasions, owing to an occasional fresh in the river. They have lost few fish in these operations." Thanks From the Navy. The commanding officers of two of the New Zealand naval units have written to the National Patriotic Fund expressing appreciation and thanks for the Christmas parcels put aboard their ships, and commending the board for the attractive nature of the contents. "I wish to express my thanks for the generosity of your board in sending Christmas parcels to every member of the ship's company," the captain of one of the ships wrote. "These goods were gratefully received and your action is greatly appreciated, so, while it is impossible to thank the many individual sub-committees responsible, it is hoped that this acknowledgment will express the thanks of my officers and ratings to all concerned." Missing Air Force Plane. Though it is over three months since an R.N.Z.A.F. Airspeed Oxford bomber with a crew of three was lost when on a flight from Hobsonville to Ohakea, the Air Force authorities still hope that the machine will be traced. Piloted by Flying Officer A. N. Major, of Auckland, with whom were Flight Sergeant S. B. Smith (Auckland) and Corporal R. B. Smith (Wellington), the twin-engined monoplane left the Hobsonville air base at 11.45 a.m. on September 30. From then on nothing positive is known. A machine was seen flying in heavy mist and rain " heading for the coast north of New Plymouth, and another report was that a crash had been heard in the rugged country inland. A most intensive [ search was made, without any result, but so that efforts may be continued even after so long a time the Air Department is offering a reward of £50 for information which will conclusively establish the fate of the missing plane and its crew.