Salvaged Air Mail From Calpurnia

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 308, 29 December 1938, Page 5

Salvaged Air Mail From Calpurnia

DECIPHERING ADDRESSES Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. The General Post Office, Wellington usually presents a scene of bustle anc haste over the Christmas and Nev Year period, but in one room thi: morning feverish activity was to b< seen. Ten specially selected members of tht staff are employed in the arduous tasl< of sorting and deciphering the name* and addresses on mail salvaged frort Imperial Airways Calpurnia, whicl crashed in Lake Habbaniyah 55 mile: west of Bagdad on November 27. Then is a noticeable smell in the room ol dried-up swamp, and the fact that al the mail has been fumigated does no’ lessen the rather stuffy atmosphere. Altogether there are 60 bags of mail, some of which arrived last week, bui the major portion came by the Awates Dn Monday. The mail on which it is possible to decipher the names and addresses are sealed and stamped “received in damaged condition ex flying boat Calournia.” This is ready for forwarding immediately, but a very great amount is unable to be deciphered at a quick glance, and this is being laid aside for closer examination later.

There is a big probability that a quantity of the salvaged mail will never reach its owners, as in some :ases articles have been separated completely from their coverings, and it will be a well nigh impossible task to put the wrapper and the article together. In such cases the matter i s to be removed to the Dead Letter Office, where the more or less unimportant articles will be kept for the usual period and important articles for a somewhat longer period. After the authorities consider that sufficient time has lapsed, the goods will be disposea of. It is hoped to have the decipherable portion of the mail cleared up by the end of the week, but the rest will take a considerable time.