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Hawera Star, Volume LII, 31 January 1933, Page 4

The bell of th e former Melanesian mission steamer Southern Cross V., which is in the hands of shipbreakers, has been placed in the mission’s museum at Mission Bay, Auckland. There were several claimants for the bell, but the purchasers of the steamer decided that the museum was the most appropriate resting-place for it. The bell was a presentation one, hut the inscription has been obliterated by the continual striking: of the outside with a beater, following the loss of + -he bell’s tongue. The bell bears the date 1903, which is the year in which the steamer was built. “Prince,” an Alsatian dog owned by Mr. P. R. Wingrove, secretary of the Tail-Waggers’ Club of New Zealand, has been in Napier during Carnival AVeek accompanied by his master. “Prince” has an interesting history He was alleged, in June last, to have bitten a man, but the Tail-Waggers-Club defended the ease on behalf of his owner and it was dismissed. Princ-e was then trained by his present owner as a collecting dog. He has been very successful and has 1 brought in quite a large sum to the club’s funds in aid of stray and injured dogs. During the flight of the Southern Cross from Athenree to Auckland last week, Silr Charles King? ford Smith allowed the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour, captain of the Auckland Aero Club, to take the controls for about 20 minutes (reports the “Auckland Star”). Although he has a pilot’s license, Mr. Scrimgeour had previous handled only light ’planes, and he describes the handling of the Southern Cross as the greatest firing experience I have ever had.” The wheel control.was somewhat strange, he said, to one who had been accustomed to the joystick of a Moth, but he soon learned the use ct it The Southern Cross is equipped with dual control, the two pilots, or instructor and pupil, sitting side side.

An incident which, aged with the years, may now be looked on in- the light of amusement, was recalled by Ml-. J. S. Barton, Napier Commissioner, while addressing those pesent at the luncheon given in Napiei by members of the touruig V utcrian farmers (says the “Daily Telegraph ). The occasion, Mr. Barton said, was one when Victoria was experiencing a severe drought. Newspapers daily stressed the growing seriousness of the farmers’ plight, and finally declared that, if rain did not fall within 4b hours, many would be ruined. \\ mini the next 24 hours rain came over the borders and the State experienced a heavy and steady downpour. JSewspapers alarmingly told their readers that the fall had caught hundreds ct farmers in the middle, of their harvesting, and. if the wet spell did yuot break within another 24 hours hundreds would he ruined.