TOO LATE?

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 464, 23 February 1933, Page 6

TOO LATE?

Our Own Correspondent.)

OPOTIKI MESSAGE INYITATION TO KINGSFORD SMITH WHICH DID NOT ARRIYE INQUIRIES INSTITUTED

(From

Opotild, Wednesday. Prior to Sir Charles Kingsford Smith's departure from Rotorua for Gisborne, in the Southern Crobs, a request was made to him by the Mayor of Opotiki, that he should fly the machine over the town en route. No response was made to the invitation and it was not until after the arrival of the 'plane in Gisborne that a telegram was received from Sir Charles to the effect that the invitation had not been received until after the 'plane had landed. Surprise was felt at this informaation a!s it was considered that the telegram had been despatehed from Opotiki in ample time for it to be received in Rotorua before the departure of the 'plane. It was accordingly decided to make inquiries from the Post 'Office in order to establish time of receipt of the message and at Tuesday night's meeting of the Opotiki Borough Council it was decided to make public the following better from the Oh'el' Postmaster, Gisborne: — "In reference to your letter of the . 20th ult. addressed to the Postmaster, Opotiki, in conneotion with a telegram forwarded by you to Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, at Rotorua, inveStigation discloses that the telegram in question was delivered to Brent's private hotel, Rotorua, at approximately 4.4 p.m. on the 17th idem., the day of iodgment. "The manager of the hotel intimates that all such' correspondence received was handed to tlie addressee's business manaiger, Mr. Wilfred Kingsford Smith, and the telegram referred to was not re-addressed to Gisborne by any of his hotel staff. There is no reeord of the meslsage having been re-addressed by telegraph from the Rotorua Office on the 18th, 19th or 20th ult., and it is suggested, therefore that possibly some misunderstanding has occurred in the matter." Tfie letter was geoeived wilthout comment.