Overseas Mails

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23081, 6 January 1937, Page 6

Overseas Mails

The Tainui. which reached Wellington yesterday from London, has 52 bags of English mail and 49 parcel receptacles for Dunedin. The mail will reach the local Post Office this afternoon. The Singapore air mail which was despatched from Dunedin on December 13 reached London on New Year’s Day. • ; Chimney Fire The Central Fire Brigade received a call to a chimney fire in King street at 3.47 yesterday afternoon. Order of St. John New Year greetings to members of the Order of St. John in New Zealand have been received from the Duke of Connaught, Grand Prior, and the Duke of Kent. Prior of the Wales Priory. Search for Adventure Miss Eileen Morris, the Napier girl who last year crossed the Pacific as a member of the crew of the ketch Te Rapunga and returned late last year to spend a holiday in Napier, will leave at the end of February for Honolulu to rejoin the vessel. The next destination of the ketch (says a Press Association telegram) is not known to Miss Morris. It is possible that the party will sail to San Francisco or to Vancouver.

Traffic Control Systems A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that traffic control in London was studied by Mr Marcus F. Marks, who returned yesterday by the Tainui. Although the system in force made driving slow, it was safer driving a car in London than in Sydney, Mr Marks said. The control of pedestrian, traffic and the manner in which pedestrians observed the control system was marvellous, and this was an aspect of control which would have to be studied in New Zealand. In order to inculcate the principles of safety steps were taken to educate the children in the schools at Home. Mr Marks added that the control of traffic in Paris, which at one time was dangerous, had greatly improved. An Historic Link The Otago Early Settlers’ Association is building up a valuable and varied collection, one of the recent acquisitions being the silver trowel used at the laying of the foundation stone of the New Zealand Exhibition in Dunedin in 1864. Some time ago the association was presented with the collection of coins recovered from the stone when the old building was demolished to make room for the new administrative block at the Hospital. The trowel is of silver, with ivory handle, and is a fine example of the silversmiths’ art. On the front an heraldic crest, with inscription, is surrounded with a heavily engraved , scroll. The inscription reads:—“Presented to the Hon. John Hyde Harris. M.L.C., Superintendent of the province of Otago, president of the Royal Commission for the New Zealand Exhibition 1865, on his laying the foundation stone of the exhibition building, February 17, 1864.” On the back of the trowel is the following, beautifully engraved, with appropriate flourish:—“ The Royal Commission for the New Zealand Exhibition. 1865 President, his Honor the Superintendent of Otago. Vice-presidents-the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, the Hon. the Colonial Minister, Christopher William Richmond, Esq. one of the judges of the Supreme Court, their Hono?s the Superintendents of the .various- provinces. Major John LarCheese Richmond. M.H-R., M.P.C. Commissioners—James Hector, Esq., M.D.; Thomas Dick, Esq., M.H.R.. M.P.C.; Thomas Bannatyne Gillies Esq., M.H.R.; James Patterson, Esq., M.H.R., M.P.C.; William Mason, Esq. m!h!r.; Edward Bowes Cargill. Esq.. M.H.R., M.P.C.; John Cargill, Esq., M.H.R.; Richard Bowden Martin. Esq/ James Rattray. Esq., chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Dunedin; Alfred Eccles, Esq., F.R.C.S.: Henry Clapcott, ■ Esq.; William Hunter Reynolds, Esq., M.H.R.. M.P.C.: Honorary Secretary. Alfred Eccles; Honorary treasurer, Thomas Dick; architect. William Mason, Esq.; contractors, Messrs Cornwell and Horsman.” A Large Turntable A turntable weighing 20 tons and, measuring 70 feet in length, which has been built at the Hillside Railway Workshops for installation at the Arthur’s Pass Station, is a notable piece of engineering construction, and its transfer to its destination will entail an exceptional haulage job. This up-to-date turntable, the largest in the South Island, should considerably facilitate the turning of engines at Arthur’s Pass, where the steam engine is replaced by the electric engine for the journey through the'Otira tunnel. Several small wagons; coupled together / will convey the heavy load on its long journey. As a crane will be available which is capable of lifting 40-ton weights, it will not be necessary to carry out the original intention of transporting the structure, in three sections. , Records of Evaporation

Statistics for temperature, wind-cur-rents. rainfall, and evaporation are being compiled by the Public Works Department for comparisons with other countries where irrigation has been introduced, according to statements made by the chemist to the department at Temuka, Mr K. S. Birrell. Evaporation-rainfall figures are being taken in Ashburton, South Canterbury, and Blenheim, and a further recording station as Malvern will be established soon. The records show that the annual evaporation at Ashburton is comparatively high, about 40 to 45- inches. With, its relatively low . rainfall, South Canterbury’s evaporation figure of about 30 inches is also high. Comparisons show that dry areas in America and in other countries employing -irrigation have evaporations of 40 to 50 inches and more. Nurses’ Memorial Fund

The New Zealand Nurses’ Memorial Fund benefited to the extent of £55 12s as a result of the Nurses’ Day held in Oamaru recently. This was due mainly to the \bork of Mr Neil Colquhoun and ,the matron and nurses of the Oamaru Hospital. The fund is also to benefit under the will of Mrs Susan Spence, of Napier, who bequeathed nne-fourth share of her estate to it.

Novelty in Canoeing A novel craft in evidence at Maraetai, Auckland, created much interest among the large gathering of spectators at the annual regatta. It was a single-seater canoe .about 12 feet long, designed and built by its present owner, Mr A. King, of Epsom. It was driven by a propeller, the shaft of which is geared by means of an old lathe wheel, which in turn is driven by a chain from an ordinary bicycle, sprocket wheel. The “ motor ” is nothing but an old bicycle frame, stripped of everything except its sprocket wheel and pedals, 'and fixed in the bottom of the canoe in an inverted position. The occupant reclined at his ease and pedalled the canoe, then travelling at surprising speed, both ahead and astern, without any undue effort on the part of the driver.

Bride Pilots Aeroplane The first stage of an aerial honeymoon ended at New Plymouth on Saturday evening, when a newlymarried couple arrived from Wanganui on the first part of a tour of the North Island by aeroplane. An unusual feajrure is that the bride is piloting her husband. The couple are Mr and Mrs R. E, Glenn. The groom’s parents live in Auckland, and Mrs Glenn, formerly Miss I. Summerell. is a well-known Wanganui pilot. They were married at Wanganui on Saturday afternoon, and later set out by air for New Plymouth. Mr and Mrs Glenn were met at the New Plymouth airport by a number of North Taranaki pilots and flying enthusiasts. After being showered with confetti they were photographed and then driven to their hotel.

The local treasurer of the Sudan United - Mission has received, among other anonymous donations, the sum of £SO. .

Williamson’s Lucky Marriage Rings are hand-forged into the latest shapes and beautifully finished, in 18ct gold Opposite The Savoy.-Advt, Eye Strain.--For eye comfort or Delier vision consult Sturmer and Watson Ltd opticians 2 Octagon Dunedin.Adv’t.

A E J. Blakeley and W t, Bagiey, dentists, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office! Telephone 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. Dunediu.Advt