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Otago Witness, Issue 3803, 1 February 1927, Page 48

Two old steamers that have completed a long period of useful service in New Zealand waters are about to be handed over to an army of workmen who came under the heading of shipbreakers. The vessels are the Union Company’s Moana and the ex-Government lighthouse tender Stella. The Moana was towed from her moorings in the lower harbour on Thursday and berthed at the Union Company’s wharf at Port Chalmers. The ship will be stripped of all her internal and also deck fittings and machinery. The Stella was towed to Dunedin on Wednesday from her moorings off Carey’s Bay. The vessel was berthed at the northern end of the Victoria wharf, where she will be completely dismantled.

Under instructions from his executive, Mr J. Pow (secretary of the New Zealand Farmers-’ Union) recently wrote to the Secretary of the General Post Office, asking that no mail fee should be charged settlers whose property is situated more than a mile beyond the point of delivery (states the Dominion). The secretary (Mr 'G. M'Namara) has replied stating that, while it is true that settlers have to travel some distance to the point of delivery in order to despatch and receive their mail, it must be remembered that they would probably be required to undertake a longer journey were there no rural delivery in existence. If the suggestion were agreed to, says Mr M'Namara, the progressive policy in regard to rural delivery extension would have to be considerably curtailed. Without rural fees from all settlers participating in rural delivery it would not have been possible to establish quite a number of existing services. At the present time the department is actually losing on the majority of rural deliveries, and cannot favourably entertain the question of exempting settlers residing a mile and over from a rural route.

A unique feature of the Methven Society’s annual sports occurred in the 75 Yards Handicap Race (reports our special correspondent in Christchurch). In this event three fathers and their three sons ran side by side hotly contesting the final. They were Messrs W. J. and A. Burrows (father and son), who finished first and third, and I. Scoon and Ray Scoon, J. Mauger and R. Mauger.

There were at least two narrow escapes from drowning at the Ocean Beach on Sunday afternoon. In one instance a man, who was apparently a poor swimmer, got out of his depth opposite Tahuna Park, and but for the promptitude of a young man a fatality would doubtless have occurred. The young fellow swam out to the elder man’s assistance, and succeeded in bringing him ashore. In the other qase a young woman was fairly well out, and evidently did not realise her danger until she attempted to return towards the shore. She was seen by a passer-by to throw up her arms several times, and, on an alarm being given, two young man dashed into the surf. When they reached the woman she had collapsed, and was being tossed about like a cork. Up to their necks in water they struggled inshore with their helpless burden, and in a few minutes reached the sand, where restorative measures were applied, and the bather recovered sufficiently to be able to proceed to the sandhills. This incident took place almost opposite the end of Moreau street, where a nasty jumble of surf was noticeable. The two young men deserve much credit for the promptness with which they acted.

There is still no work available for the miners at the Kaitangata coal mine, and the position is becoming very serious not only for the unemployed miners but for the business people of the town, who are dependent on the prosperity of the coal mining industry. On Monday week the men made a start in the morning under a promised guarantee that a portion of the back wages owing to them would be paid, but in a few hours word came from Well.ngton from the head office of the National Bank that there had been a misunderstanding on the part of the local representative for the receivers, and that no such guarantee could be given. On receipt of this information the miners ceased work immediately, and since then only the “safety” men have been employed to keep the underground fires in check. There is no guarantee that the wages of the safety men will be paid, and it is suggested in Kaitangata that they may .cease work before long. Probate has been granted by his Honour Mr Justice Sim in the following estates: —Thomas Hunt, Evans Flat (Mr S. Fletcher); Sarah Cable, Dunedin (Mr Gascoigne); Ellen Graham, Port Chalmers (Mr Kenneth G. Roy); John Purvos, Akatore (Mr S. C. Marshall); Charles Corbett, Dunedin (Mr O. L Calvert); David Ewan Fogo, Mosgiel (Mr W. Allan); James Minnear, Awamoa (Mr W. G. Grave); John Adam Callander, East Taieri (Mr C. Payne); Margaret Andrew, Roxburgh (Mr J. Fletcher); John - Gow, North-East Valley (Mr J. Wilkinson). Letters of administration were granted in the estate of Charles Stewart, also known as Charles Sutherland, New York (Mr H. L. Cook),

The official opening of the recently completed portion of the Medical School in King street will take place to-morrow, when the chief speakers will be the Hon. W. Downie Stewart (Acting Prime Minister) and the Chancellor of the Otago University (Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P.) The meetings, of the Australasian Medical Congress, which will be opened on Thursday, will be held in the building.