Air Mail Service

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22779, 15 January 1936, Page 6

Air Mail Service

With respect to the proposed establishment of an air mail service between the North and South Islands, the secretary of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce (Mr H. P. West) stated yesterday that members of the local chamber were in full accord with the views expressed by the Canterbury Chamber of .Commerce in the resolution which it has forwarded to the Postmaster-general urging that mails should be carried by Union Airways, Ltd., on its trunk service. Mr West said that local business men realised the benefits which would result from an air mail service, and would support any endeavour to bring about its establishment. Man Still Missing Up to a late hour last night no word had been received of the whereabouts of James Sim, who has been missing from the Ross Home, NorthEast Valley, since Thursday last. The man, who is suffering from loss of memory, is 76 years of age, sft 9in in height, of mediufn build, and has a full grey beard. He was dressed in a grey suit when he left the home. Mr Sim lived at Purekireki and Moonlight. A Beneficial Rainfall The steady, soaking drizzle which commenced in Dunedin early on Monday will be of considerable benefit to gardens and especially to the farming community throughout the province, as pastures had become badly parched and feed for stock had withered away to an alarming degree. The rain was particularly heavy throughout yesterday, and up to midnight 93 points of rain had been recorded, and there appeared to be little prospect of the weather clearing. The position in North Otago was becoming desperate for farmers, many of whom had practically no feed for their stock and were compelled in some eases to cart water ior their own use. The rain is reported to be very steady in the northern parts of the province, and will be worth many hundreds of pounds to the farming community. So far as the city is concerned, the water supply will be augmented to a satisfactory degree. Bird Life at Milford Operations on the Te Anau-Milford Main Highway have not had the effect of diminishing the bird life for which the district is noted. Mr T. M. Ball, district Public Works engineer at Dunedin, who returned yesterday after paying a visit of inspection to the works, told a Daily Times reporter that large numbers of paradise duck appeared to have migrated to other valleys, but, generally speaking,

tTie bird life had not been disturbed. Mayoral Chain Lost A committee to inquire into the disappearance of the mayoral chain was set up by the Tanranga Borough Council some months ago. The finding of the committee has been presented to the council by the Mayor (Mr Wilkinson). The committee reported that it could find no evidence that would indicate the circumstances in which the chain had disappeared. The chain was last seen in the town clerk’s safe early in January, 19.14, the loss being discovered in March of the same year. The purchase of the chain was made possible mainly by the generosity of several interested citizens, and as the council was entrusted with its safe keeping and the chances of recovery were very remote, the committee recommended that the council should consider its replacement. The town clerk, in reply to a question, said the cost of the chain was £22, and about half of the sum was contributed from outside sources. The report of the committee was adopted, and the council deferred consideration of the purchase of a new chain until after the end of the financial year.

AH Blacks and Scotland New Zealanders will be interested in a letter received by Mr George Mnnro, a business nian of Auckland, from a business acquaintance in Bannockburn, Scotland. The letter refers to the New Zealand Rugby football team’s match against Scotland. “ With regard to New Zealand and Scotland,’’ states the writer, “we were beaten by a better team. It was a delightful game, and we all came away feeling we had seen one of the best. There was only one thing that beat us, and that was speed. Certainly we could have played the old Scottish traditional game of ‘feet, feet!’ but New Zealand is not used to that, and they were our guests. This team is miles ahead of the last from a Rugby point of view, and will depart with a knowledge that they played the game and won. and left a very friendly feeling.”

Horse Electrocuted A narrow escape from electrocution which caused the death of a horse, was experienced by Mr J. M'Callum, a Waikato farmer. Mr M'CaHum went to examine a prostrate horse near a fence. Instead of passing through the fence, Mr M'Callum went round it by walking some distance to a gateway. He touched the horse’s hoof and received an electric shock. Further investigation disclosed a broken power line which had come in con-tact-with the fence and had caused the death-of the horse. Auckland Photographer’s Success Information that ho has been awarded a prize at the fifteenth Annual Competition of American Photography has been received by Mr H. J. Schmidt, of Auckland. The competition attracted 5000 entries, of which only 350 were accepted and hung. The picture accepted • was a fine figure study entitled “Power and Poise.” During recent months Mr Schmidt has been successful at international salons of art photography in India, Ireland, South Africa, and the United States. One notable exhibition at which his work was included was the Invitational Salon of the Photographic Society of America. For this a list of leading camera artists of the world was compiled, and each was invited to submit one example of his work for exhibition through the United States and Canada. Altogether, 162 artists responded, the excellence of their work creating a marked impression on the critics. “ No Labour Available ” A plea that he had been unable to clear his property of ragwort owing' to the difficulty of obtaining labour was made in the Putaruru (Auckland) Magistrate’s Court by a farmer who was charged, with neglecting to clear the weed from his farm. The defendant said he could not attend to the clearance of the ragwort and carry out the usual farm work as well. It was only because of his inability to secure labour that the weed had not been checked. The defendant had applied without result to agencies in Aiickand and Hamilton for labour, and even Maori workers were not available. The defendant was convicted, the magistrate stating he would suspend the fixation of a penalty until March. The New Zealand Press

Replying to the civic welcome extended to him at the Council Chambers yesterday afternoon by the Mayor, Colonel Sleeman, the chief commissioner overseas of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, said he would like to p# a tribute to the press of New Zealand. He had been chief of the Defence staff in New Zealand for two years, and since then he had been in practically every country in the world, and he could honestly say that, with the exception of one or two English papers, he had never read such good newspapers as he had read in the Dominion. He said this in all sincerity. In the 14 years which had elapsed since he had left New Zealand he had always missed the papers published here. Somehow, they appealed to him as giving very clear and accurate news. It was fresh news, never or very seldom repeated, and there was, to his mind, no bias. As he had said, the news was very clearly stated; it was very accurate and very good. He would, therefore, like to give expression to that opinion and also his regard for the press of the Dominion—not because he wished to pat the press on the back, but because he desired to be honest. The Fainting Woman

An experience which a number of Auckland householders had a couple of years ago with a fainting woman at the front door and an emergency cal! for brandy was recalled (states the Auckland Star) when a city household was interrupted at the breakfast table one morning recently by a call for spirits to revive a well-dressed but swooning woman who appeared on their doorstep in apparent physical distress. Discussing the subject with friends from the same district, the good Samaritans found that the friends had also succoured a fainting woman in distress. The discussion occurred on the tram, and the coincidence decided both parties to return to their flats, remove their spare jewellery and cash, and take another look at door and window locks. New Zealander’s Success

Determination to succeed usually brings it own reward. It has certainly done so in the case of Mr Clifford Peene, son of Mr and Mrs G. A. Peene, old residents of Napier, who left New Zealand shortly before the earthquake for Canada, imbued with one desire—to establish himself in aviation. He was without tha funds which would have been necessary for him to enter a college for the purpose (states the Daily Telegraph), but such was his enthusiasm that during the comparatively short space of time which has elapsed since he left New Zealand he has secured his certificates for engineering, aeroplane construction, instruction, and as a commercial pilot. He is also an expert wireless operator and telegraphist, which he learned while a fnetnber of the Post and Telegraph Department at Napier. It is stated that there is only one other man connected with aviation in Canada at the present time who is so widely qualified.

The Railways Department will run a day excursion from Dunedin to Timaru on Sunday next. Particulars of the trains and the special cheap fares are advertised in this issue. Seats may be reserved for both journeys for Is. E. W. Walden, Architect. 3i Dowling street, and 22 Hurt street. Roslyn.—Advt. If it’s rings', Williamson’s will give you better value, good quality, and a fine selection. You get life-long satisfaction. —3l Princes street. —Advt.

Eye Strain—For Eye Comfort, for better vision, cipnsult Sturmer and Watson, Ltd., Opticians, 2 Octagon, Dunedin. —Advt.

A. E. J. Blakeley and W. E. Bagley, dentists, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telearanh Office). Telenhone 12-359.—Advt.

Those who are requiring an Engagement Ring will do well to inspect our stock. Peter Dick. Jewellers and Opticians, 488 Moray place, Dunedin.—Advt.