NEWS BY MAIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1925, Page 2

NEWS BY MAIL.

STEAM ’BUS TO SEAT 130. LONDON, Nov. 18. -- An account of one of the first longdistance journeys ever made on the highways of Britain in a mechanically propelled vehicle was given last night Ity Colonel R. E. Crompton, who read a paper to the Royal Society of Arts mi “The Motor Car, its Birth, its Present, and its future.” In the. siimmcr of 1871 Colonel Crompton, bis nil--, and a largo p.nly set out from Ipswich to Edinburgh In an immense steam omnibus which was christened the “Bavee.” The “Bavee” said Colonel Crompton, was constructed to carry 131) people, CO inside and 70 outside. It was divided !,v a curtain so that the front part became a parlour for his wife and her servant and any guests, and the back half for engineers and others who joined their trip on the road. “\Ve were able to slash along at a great pace, and we soon found that on open stretches v.c could get up to speeds exceeding 20 miles an hour. On the way to Doncaster the highest speed ever made on a hignway, that is, ovei 25 miles an hour, was recorded. “Eventually the ‘Bavee’ arrived safely at its destination, the actual travelling time being 77hr. ‘ifimin. making an murage speed of 0.-lo miles an hour.

‘‘ln returning from the North travelling clown Dean-street, Newcastle, we experienced the first real bad .side-slip. The engine with the omnibus measured over 00ft. in length. It was very greasy and. although we were descending the street at a very moderate pace, r found the whole train gradually turning sideways across the* street. I tried to straighten ii- by acelerating tile engine; it made matters worse, and eventually we slipped sidelong down the whole width of the street, sweeping everything before us, damaging a great number of lamp-posts, and only straightening lip when we got to the level at the bottom.”

FAITH-1 IKAi,I.\G. LONDON, November 13. It is understood that the whole question of faith-healing missions is being considered by the ecclesiastical authorties.

Jn same quarters there is a desire that a regular ministry of healing, controlled by the Church, should he established similar to the ministry in connection with the Church in the United States.

It is. however, felt that it would he desirable first to ascertain what members of the clergy, if any, have the gift of healing such as that attributed to Mr J. M. Hickson, the ultimate idea being that they should practise a ministry of healing as part of their ordinary parochial task

If necessary, it is suggested that lavmen possessing the healing gilt would he enrolled to work with the clergy. Meanwhile one ecclesiastical dignitary is considering a proposal that Mr Hickson, on the principle that a labourer is worthy of Ids hire.” should he invited to undertake a mission at a biting stipend, plus his expenses, thus doing away with the present system which provides collection-boxes ior thanksgiving offerings to him.