Salvaged Air Mail

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23002, 3 October 1936, Page 12

Salvaged Air Mail

The General Post Office has received advice that 10 of the 12 bags of air mail for New Zealand were salvaged when fire destroyed the airliner Athena at Karachi. This mail left London on September 24. Shortage of Labour A dearth of farm and domestic labour is reported in Napier and Hastings, and labour bureaux in both towns state that, although there are plenty of vacant positions available, it is becoming increasingly difficult to supply employees. The manager of one bureau told a Hawke’s Bay Herald reporter that there were mimbers of jobs available for farm labourers, cow-men-gardeners, ploughmen and domestics, but very few applicants, “There is a particularly good demand for married couples and good wages are offering,” he stated. Another firm stated that only one applicant had replied to an advertisement calling for two bushmen. Marine Light for Milford Sound Advice has been received that the erection of a light at the entrance to Milford Sound has been favourably considered by the Marine Department, which is calling tenders shortly for a light to be erected on St. Anne’s Hesfd, at the southern entrance to the sound. It is expected that the light will be in operation before the summer of 1937. Maori Slaughtermen During the next few days a large contingent of freezing works employees will leave New Zealand for Australia. Included in the number are four Maoris from Temuka, who have been working under the chain system for some years. This system • has only recently been adopted in Australia. The contingent will go into the various works, the object being for them to give instruction and demonstrate the working of the chain system. Motor Cycle Scout Platoon As part of the scheme for modernising the present territorial force the Government has authorised (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington) the recruiting of a motor cycle scout platoon in each territorial battalion. The men will be armed with Lewis guns and will wear berets with an appropriate regimental badge. The Wellington Regiment is at present recruiting men. Pohulu Geyser Active A Press Association telegram from Rotorua states that during the month of September the Pohutu Geyser, in the Government Reserve at Whakarewarewa, established something of a record by playing on 135 occasions. Records which have been kept over a period of years, indicate that the geyser was more active during the past month than it has been for a considerable time. The geyser played on 20 days, its longest, sustained display being for four and a-half hours. Other smaller geysers in the reserve have also been particularly active. Child Flown to Hospital For the purpose of conveying a child from Great Barrier Island to the Auckland Hospital, the twin-engined flying boat Cutty Sark, of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, was despatched from the Hobsonville base at 7.30 am, on Wednesday. Piloted by Flyingofficer R. J. Cohen, who was accompanied by, Dr Foote, resident doctor at the hospital, the machine returned about 2 p.m. after a round journey of approximately 100 miles. The patient, Else Noeline Medland, aged two years 10 months, daughter of Mr Joseph Medland, was then taken to hospital suffering from an injury to her neck, caused through jumping from a chair. Her condition was not serious. Patriotic Emblems The importation of Japanese articles for commemorating the Coronation was recently complained of in Christchurch. Similar trouble has been experienced in Britain, where special regulations have been adopted covering the importation of souvenirs bearing portraits of the Royal Family, royal emblems, or flags of Empire countries. The regulations discourage the importation into the United Kingdom of foreign-made patriotic souvenirs and decorations. Some govern the rate of import duty, and one requires that flags of any country in the British Empire or flags resembling them shall carry a distinct indication of the country of manufacture. “The example is one deserving to be copied.” states an English trade journal, drawing the attention of the dominions to the regulations. “It may be that patriotism is not enough.’ Evidently such patriotism as exhibits itself through the use of shoddy symbols, manufactured by underpaid labour, working under conditions incompatible with decent standards of life, deserves no encouragement. The lead should be promptly followed.” Control of Rabbits In answer to a question of which notice was given in the House of Representatives recently by Mr T. D. Burnett (Opposition, Temuka), the Minister of Agriculture (Mr W. Lee Martin) said on Wednesday that the Government was aware of the research work of Sir Charles Martin at Cambridge, England, into rabbit-disease virus and of the intention of the authorities in Australia to give the virus a trial. The experiments were just commencing in Australia, and, if reports were eventually favourable, the question of introducing the virus into this Dominion would be given careful consideration. Reports to hand so far indicated that rabbits must be in direct contact with affected animals to contract the disease, necessitating affected or inoculated animals being liberated in every colony, and indicating that while rabbits under controlled conditions might be quite successfully exterminated, the results under natural conditions as they existed in New Zealand might not be so successful.

Defect on Commerce Stamp A mistake on the new Chamber of Commerce stamp of the halfpenny denomination has been discovered by collectors. The error occurs in the licence numbers of the lorry laden with wool which is depicted on the stamp. Instead of heavy traffic plates there Is a five-figure group, which should be displayed only by motor cars. A magnifying glass is required to show the defect, which, however, is not regarded seriously by the Post and Telegraph Department. Centenary Claim The claim of which is celebrating its centenary in January next, that it is the oldest settlement in New Zealand, is disputed by those responsible for the organisation of the centenary of Moeraki on December 24, 25 and 26. While there had been intermittent settlement in some places prior to Moeraki, an examination of the early history of New Zealand discloses that since December 26, 1836, there has been continuous settlement at Moeraki, and on these grounds is based the claim that Moeraki is the oldest settlement in the country. Like Riverton, Moeraki has had a Centenary Committee hard at work for the greater part of the year, bringing to maturity plans to ensurd the successful celebration of its centenary, and with the co-operat ! .i of Maori and pakeha, the Moeraki celebrations promise to be an outstanding event. Record Community Sing The weekly community sing which was held in the Strand Theatre yesterday was one of the most successful of the season. The -theatre was filled to capacity and a large number of people were unable to gain admittance. The leaders and assisting artists, who were all dressed in Appropriate Scottish attire as the sing was a “Scotch Day,” were piped on to the stage by Miss, Mollie Doyle, the 13-year-old piper from Bluff, and were given a rousing reception. Miss Doyle was later heard in four selections which were enthusiastically applauded. The other assisting artist was Mr Arthur Macdonald, whose two numbers met with hearty approval. Donations were more than usually plentiful, the gifts including several articles from Scotland. Among these were a Gordon tartan tie and a Macdonald tartan handkerchief which were sent from Edinburgh by Mrs Carty, a popular artist at the sings in previous seasons. These articles were sold to an Invercargill resident for £2 10s. Another gift which was eagerly sought after was an attractively dressed Scottish doll; sent by a Bluff resident, and eventually purchased by members of the Southland Daily News staff for £5. Other articles were a tam-o-shanter, from a Kaitangata resident, which was bought for £l, and a Fraser tartan tie, .which was sold for 7s 6d. The collection was larger than usual, and, with the money from sales, £2l had been received by the treasurer (Mr J. F. Himburg) at the conclusion of the entertainment, but it was expected that, when all the promised donations were received, the total would reach approximately £6O. To the amount sent in will . e added the donation of Mr W. H. Shepherd, who offered last week to contribute one shilling for every £1 sent In. The choruses, which were conducted by Mr H. P. Desmoulins to the accompaniments of Mr. Alf Pettitt, were mostly Scottish numbers and were very popular. National Character

Denmark’s strength as a competitor with New Zealand .in the butter market was attributed by the Rev- W. J. Fellow in an address at One Tree Hill, Auckland, partly to the Danish force of character, . the outcome Of generations of national and individual rectitude. Although New Zealanders should be proud of what their country had accomplished in the-29 years that it had been a, Dominion, there were indications, as instanced in the amount spent on unworthy pleasures, that the spirit of the pioneers was fading. A people could not be legalised into greatness and righteousness, as the repeal of the prohibition legislation in the United States of America, after 10 years’ trial, had shown. There the idealism of the people had brought about the supposed reform, but their character had not kept pace with their ideals.

The United Starr-Bowkett Building Society invites applications for shares in its new No. 12 group. The Dunedin Starr-Bowkett ing Society will dispose of £SOO by » ballot in its No, 6 group on Wednesv day evening. The Railways Department announces in this issue the purchase of Mr Wal lace’s. Kaitangata-Dunedin road service and its co-ordination as from Monday with Mr Tweedies Kaita-ngata-Balclutha service and the South road services, recently acquired by the department. • An examination of candidates for certificates as , dredgemaster will be held at Dunedin and at Greymouth on November 18. Particulars are advertised in this issue. .. The Railways Department advertises in this issue particulars of a special train to Dunedin at cheap excursion fares from Invercargill, stopping at Balclutha. Stirling, and Milton, on Sunday, October 11, and returning the same day. An excursion to Lawrence taking passengers from Balclutha and Stirling will also be run in conjunction with the Invercargill-Dunedin excursion. . , ~ The Railways Department advertises in this issue train arrangements and the issue of special excursion tickets to Dunedin in connection with the Dunedin races on October 8 and Octobsr 10 The degree of M.R.C.S, accorded to the late Dr Davies in his obituary notice should have read F.R.C.S.E. C W Sundstrum, dentist Dunedin, will visit Omakau, Oturehua, Ranfurly. Naseby. Tuesday, October 6: Waipiata. Palmerston. Waikouaiti. Wednesday October 7.—Advt For 40 years Williamsons have been making good rings. Beautiful finish and expert craftsmanship is the reason for their popularity. Opposite The Savoy.—Advt. A. Frank Anderson, dental surgeon. Princes street, Dunedin, will visit Waipiata and Patearoa, Thursday. October 8; Ranfurly. Friday, October 9; Omakau and Oturehua. Monday. October 12. —Advt. Fishing tackle. Season opens October 1. Be ready Select from, our ,iew season's stocks We can supply all requirements. Inspection invited. Catalogues available. Fine display to select from. See window display.— Barth Electric. Ltd. 36 George street, -Advt. . , Eye Strain.—For Eye Comfort, or ' better vision, consult. 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 Telegraph Office). Telephone 12-359. Advt.