GENERAL CABLES

Hokitika Guardian, 9 December 1927, Page 3

GENERAL CABLES

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.)

HEIGHT AIR AT I EMJiT. LONDON, Dec. 8

A new Bristol biplane specially designed to climb iinattuined heights, is awaiting favourable weather at luirm boro ugh aerodrome. The Air .Ministry is anxious to test the theory that there is a constantly moving wind, ten to twelve miles high, ai the rate of two hundreds miles hourly. Much conditions might have a revolutionary influence on long distance flying. 'Lhe engine is specially equipped for maintaining power in rartlied air. The pilot will use an air suit and helmet similar to divers and will bo enclosed in a glass windowed cabin, and aat-runatieally supplied with oxygen.

SENDING A RANSOM. HONGKONG, Dee. 8. Naval authorities state tlieic i» a mysterious silence since .Missionary Tocher left yesterday niorning carrying twenty thousand dollars ransom for Captain Lalor. Tocher departed in company with bandits for the rendezvous with a pirate chief who undertook to hand over Lalor.

COTTON CROP. WASHINGTON, Dec. 8. The Department of Agriculture forecasts the cotton crop at 12,789,000 hides of 200 pounds gross for 1927, compared with 17,977,000 hales for 1926. FLYING ATTEMPT AT RECORD. (Received this day at 10.16 a.m.l SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 8. Smith and Pond took off from Mills Field at 7.66 a.m. in a third attempt to break the world’s endurance flight record. ATTEMPT FAILS. SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 8. A message from the Spirit of California received at eleven a.in. stated the attempt would he abandoned. The airmen reported they were turning back because of a broken oil line. After being in the air little more than three hours they landed at -Mills Kivld at lli2o.

HAVE ANOTHER TRY. SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 8. The aviators announced they would make another attempt to-morrow if the mechanics effect repairs in time. QUEENSLAND AFFAIRS. LONDON, Dee. 8. ' At a meeting of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Coy, -Mr Shepherd presiding said great disappointment would be felt if Queensland Advisory Board’s conservative recommendations regarding extension of leases were not adopted by the Government and passed into law. Queensland borrowed liberally and it was greatly important that her exports should he maintained and if possible increased by close settlement, which it is understood will bo the Government’s reason for omitting the recommendation. An extension of leases was an important movement but it must diminish the quantity or wool grown and reduce the State’s export of wool without producing other export commodities to make up the decrease. It was sincerely to lie Imped that better counsels would prevail and legislation ultimately provide for extension of leases at least to moderate recommendations.