NEWS BY MAIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12864, 19 May 1936, Page 2

NEWS BY MAIL.

SOARING AMBiTION. Tho fascination exorcised b.v tho aeroplane on rhe mind of the African native, and. his perfect. faith in the essential simulicity of the white man’s inventions, are both implicit in tho application of a Nyassaland “boy,” for the position presumably of second pilot in one of the big air liners which four times a week pass over Nyassaland on the business of the Empire’s air mails (says “The Times”). The letter, received at the office of Imperial Airways at Salisbury, Rhodesia, is as follows: “Dear Sir, —I beg to apply for a vacant situation as aside driver on the Aeroplane. I would like to be aside driver on the ‘Mail.’ I have no. qualifications or testimonials as regards my experience of the Aeroplane. But I have a life’s ambition, which should be favored me now or never to drive an Aroplane. You may rest assured that should I succeed I will do mv uttermost best to accomplish what may he given mo to do. My nationality is.a Nyassaland Boy. Every night I don’t rest from dreaming of myself in the air as aside driver or an assistant. , This is tlie second time I am writing a letter of this nature, and 1 trust you will favor me with a very early reply, please.”

A PAUPER-MAKING SECRET.

Sir Humphrey Milford, the newlyknighted head of the Oxford University Press, is one of the very few sharers in a carefully guarded trade s.ccret —the process of manufacturing Oxford India paper. About a century ago there came into tho possession of an Oxford graduate a small quantity of thin, tough, opaque paper, which lie allowed to ho used foi printing a few copies of the Bible, one of which was presented to Queen Victoria. .The University Press, tided hard to reproduce this paper or trace its origin, but failed in both endeavors (says tho “Manchester Guardian”). Tlio quest had long been abandoned as hopeless when one of the Bibles came by accident' under the lioi.ico of the late Mr Henry Then.manager of the Londpu branch,of tho Oxford University Press,, and lie.*, by a.neiv series of experiments, at‘ last bit on the correct process, and gave first proof of his success by tho ’issue of a new Oxford India paper, edition of Hie. Bible in 1875. It avus agreed to. keep the process a, speret,,,l,o be. shared by, only three living persons at any one time. The -workmen engaged in the’manufacture are swfprn To secrecy,, and permitted to become jfamiliar with only one stage of the (process.