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Evening Star, Issue 22682, 23 June 1937, Page 8

Straining every muscle, a young man sprinted along the platform at the station this morning, and managed to post a late-fee letter by a narrow margin. The train had already commenced to move when he came on to the platform, and in a moment the belated messenger was tearing after the train, which was gathering speed. The runner overhauled the vans at the rear of the train, however, and managed to hand his letter to the guard to post. The opinion that the New Zealanders were the “ worse dressed” contingent in London during the Coronation celebrations is expressed by a resident of Napier who was in London during that period. In a letter to a Napier friend he states that the uniforms of the New Zealanders were stock sizes and their hoots were built for the trenches. “ They were the worst dressed contingent there,” he said, “ while the Australians were dressed in tailor-mades and wore walking shoes. They were properly turned out.” " It was a good time to take a rest,’’ said the Hon. 11. Semple, Minister of Public Works, on leaving hospital tins week. “ Everything in my department is in good order, and reports from all over New Zealand state that the organisation of men and equipment is very satisfactory. To organise 20,000 men in 12 months—we did not get authority to proceed for six months after the election —and at the same time provide new equipment is a great effort, and the progress we have made redounds to the' credit of onr engineers. The men, too, are responding magnificently. The ‘ scroungers ’ are gone, the Communist element is dead, and the boozers have been chased out, and we are well on the way with onr programme. It has almost wrecked my health in attempting to get it done, but I am now again fit for the battlefield.” About 50 applications for flying training under the Government scheme for the establishment of a Civil Reserve of Pilots have been received by the Otago Aero Club. Niue members have been allotted to Dunedin, and a selection will be made toward the end of the month. The annual winter sketch exhibition and crafts display of the Otago Art Society is attracting considerable interest at the Pioneer Hall. Paintings in oil and water colour, black-and-white drawings, and examples _of craft work comprise the display, tvhich is of a very satisfactory standard. Most of the well-known artists are represented in very competent work, and there are some promising efforts by members of the younger school. ‘ The Old Barn,’ a small water colour, by Bob Reid, was sold yesterday. Tho display will bo open each day and evening for the next two weeks. A perfect halo, its inner edge displaying brilliant colour effects, circled tho moon at a considerable distance last night. A refraction of light passing through minute ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere is thought to be the reason for halos of this kind. The crystals are formed by the freezing of very small, drops of water. A Wellington P.A. telegram states that, pleading guilty to tho theft of £6 5s m money and making out a false receipt for £S ss, Victor John Peddie (29), a motor driver, was committed to the Supremo Court for sentence. Michael Dominic O’Rourke (25), a taxi drivel’, was committed for sentence on a charge of carnal knowledge; also Lionel Hart Warren (52), a labourer, on a charge of incest. The postal authorities advise that the Niagara, due at Auckland on Monday from Vancouver, has 130 bags of English and American mail and 17 parcel receptacles for Dunedin. The mail should reach the local office next Wednesday afternoon.