The Waipawa Mail, WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 12, 1928. CURRENT TOPICS.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue 151, 12 September 1928, Page 2

The Waipawa Mail, WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 12, 1928. CURRENT TOPICS.

Wonderful Achievement. The congratulations being showered on Squadron-Leader C. E. KingsfordSmith and his companions on their successful flight of the Tasman have been thoroughly earned. The flight marks a new epoch in aviation in the Southern Hemisphere. It has shown that with ordinary common-sense precautions—a reliable machine and competent navigation—the greater dangers can he surmounted. When one compares the time occupied on the trip—less than 14J hours—with that taken in a voyage by sea, it shows a marvellous advance in the saving of time, and it will no doubt have an important bearing no the flotation of a company to establish trans-Tasman flying for commercial purposes. But to ICinsford-Smith and Ulm the success of the flight means more than that. It marks the successful completion of the last leg of one of the most ambitious (lights in the history of aviation, and it has “blazed the trail” (if literary license will permit of the term being used) for a great airway service of the future.

More Light Wanted. It is difficult to understand the point of view of those Borough Councillors who opposed the placing of street lights on the road from Rose street to the traffic bridge. Simply because the Power Board had stipulated that a certain number of lights must be installed before a light could he placed at the traffic bridge and these terms had been turned down at a previous Council meeting, some Councillors considered it would be derogatory to their dignity to reverse that decision. The matter of the rights of people living at the southern end of the Borough, or of the convenience of Lindsay settlers (who bring- a considerable amount of trade to the town) does not enter into it. But quite apart from every other consideration, the road in its present unlighted state is absolutely dangerous for pedestrians. Originally there was a railed off footpath, which gave the pedestrian a certain amount of security against motor traffic, but the , Council, in its wisdom, widened the ' road to include the footway, and left ' those on foot to take care of themselves. If Councillors who have any doubt as to the need for lights would only take a walk on a dark night from Rose street to the traffic bridge we are confident they would very soon he convinced.