GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLI, Issue 20335, 6 February 1936, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS

John Refloated. Yesterday afternoon the steamer John, which was driven ashore on the railway embankment at Kaiwarra, Wellington, during Sunday’s storm, was refloated by the combined efforts of the Toia, Uta and her own engines. Inclined to Wander “You must excuse me gentlemen, but like the cows I’m inclined to wander a bit.” This was the apology of a certain member of a farmers’ organisation which met in Palmerston North on Saturday. He was giving his views on the farm labour problem and recognised his limitations as an orator. Wool Thieves Busy. Wool thieves are once again active in Central Hawke’s Bay after a lapse of a year. Warning of this was given at a meeting of the Waipukurau County Council, when Mr L. Monckton stated that his wool-shed had been raided, and although there was fortunately no wool in at the time, 400 empty manure sacks were taken. The council decided to warn farmers of the danger of leaving wool-sheds unlocked and their wool clips unprotected. Maori Orators. Picturesque language was employed at the welcome to Colonel J. L. Sleeman, Commissioner of the St. John Ambulance Brigade Overseas, at Ratana Pa. “You have come in a canoe of love.” said Mr E. T. Tirikatene, M.P. “You will carry back our message of sympathy to the Royal Family and our message of loyalty to the present King.” “You are as a lone white crane which has flown to these shores for the love of us,” ran the address prior to the speeches. Flying Blind. “I would not think of making such a regulation,” .said the Controller of Civil Aviation, Wing Commander T. M. Wilkes, yesterday, when discussing the recent Australian restriction which demands that all commercial pilots should pass a stringent blind flying examination by the end of the year or lose their licenses. It was right to demand that pilots flying on regular air services should have had adequate blind flying experience such as required by the Australian authorities, but it was not necessary for joy-riding commercial pilots who flew only in good weather. Nearly all the pilots on the air services operating in New Zealand had already passed blind flying tests similar to those now required in Australia.