NEAR AND FAR.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1804, 21 December 1912, Page 7

NEAR AND FAR.

INTERESTING NEWS ITEMS.

It. is interesting to traced the successive heights reached by aviators since Santos-Dumont began with his memorable flight of one yard above the ground. The official records began to be taken in 1908, when Wilbur Wright won the Prix de Hauteur at Anvours, reaching an altitude of 150 ft. • The same aviator doubled this height in his next flight, and closed the year by a third flight iu which lie rose to 310 ft. In July, 1900, Paulhan rose to 50(V , L , and in December Latham reach-d 1583 ft. This year 1910 was fruitful in high flying records, there being no fewer than seven. The year be:ign with a flight to 4230 ft by Paulhan, and closed on St. Stephen's Day with an elevation of 11.580 ft. It was not till September, in the following year, that this height was exceeded, when Garros reached 13.167 ft. The next higher flight was in June of the present year, when Blachte rose to 14.200 ft. This was exceeded on September 6th by Garros, who reached 16.700 ft; and" ten days later Legagneux flew to a hight of 19,067 ft.

The inquest just concluded at Waihi in connection with the death of Frederick G. Evans occupied over nine days, during which time fortyseven witnesses were examined and cross-examined. The type-written evidence totals 374 folios.

A gentleman, well versed, told a Southland News reporter that there were abundant evidences of a great wheat shortage in New Zealand this year. He was forcibly struck with the small quantities being handled on the railways and gave it as his opinion that millers were stocking very heavily against-the poor prospects of next season's supply. The Canterbury crops were a very thin and weather-battered lot and their productions would fall a long way behind the usual. There was every indication that flour would go up to a very advanced price before many months had passed.

Mr N. Shailer, fitter at the Taumaruuui railway sheds, met with a painful accident last week, which might easily have been attended witli serious consequences. He was overhauling the railway pumping plant, when by some means his shirt became caught in the governors of the engine, the result being that the garment was torn from his body, his neck, left breast and shoulder being badly scared by the cloth as it was dragged away. Had the shirt been a newer one possiblv it would not have given way to the force of the machine, and the injuries received would have been a great deal more serious.