Electrical scheme

Harvesting in Canterbury. Carting from the stack on a farm at Lake Ellesmere. — Otago Witness, 24...
Harvesting in Canterbury. Carting from the stack on a farm at Lake Ellesmere. — Otago Witness, 24.2.1920. COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ

The hydro-electric meeting at Roxburgh last Thursday evening led to some very straight speaking on the part of local residents, who stated that they were sick and tired of hearing city people speak of what they were going to do for the district. Promises had been made in the past that had never been carried into effect. A wave of enthusiasm was responsible for a spasmodic effort now and again that never resulted in any practical benefit to the district, and the result was that Roxburgh and the surrounding country was being left behind, while other districts were being pushed ahead. They had come to the conclusion that if their district was to go ahead it had to be done by the people themselves, and that if they wanted any of the modern conveniences of life they had to provide them themselves. For that reason, therefore, they had taken up the question of electrical energy generated from their own scheme with an earnestness that was bound to carry it through, for, as one speaker put it, they wanted to enjoy some of the modern advantages of life before they died.

A long, hungry journey

Through passengers from the north by the Wahine on Friday night and the first express from Chrischurch on Saturday had an unpleasant experience through their difficulty in getting food. The steamer arrived at Lyttelton, after an uncomfortable crossing, before the hour at which breakfast was served on board, and the passengers proceeded without delay, by train to Christchurch, where the express, which had been held back for them, was awaiting them, so that they had no time to refresh the inner man at the railway station. In these circumstances, the only opportunity they had of obtaining food or drink before their arrival at Oamaru was at the refreshment counter at Ashburton. As a matter of fact, the express was so greatly crowded with passengers and there was such a surging rush for the refreshment rooms at both Ashburton and Oamaru that in a great many cases it was a practical impossibility to obtain any food at all until Dunedin was reached.

Experimental air mail flights

The successful trial of conveying mails by seaplane which was made in December last between Auckland and Dargaville has encouraged the Postmaster-general to make fairly substantial experiments with seaplanes, and next week mail matter will be carried by machines from Auckland City to Thames, Whangarei, and Dargaville. The Hon. J. G. Coates (Postmaster-general) informed a Post reporter to-day that an agreement has been entered into with the New Zealand Flying School at Auckland for experimental flights for the carriage of mails extending over a period of one or two months. There will probably be two trips a week, or even a third each week, over each of the routes named.

Successful fund-raising carnival

The Christian Brothers’ Carnival was brought to a successful conclusion on Saturday night, when His Majesty's Theatre was crowded to the doors. The attendance, in fact, proved a record for the carnival. The net returns over the three weeks have exceeded all expectations, and there seems every probability that the new residence for the Christian Brothers will be erected practically free of debt, if not absolutely free of dust.

ODT, 29.2.1920.

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