GOODS ON WHARVES

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20731, 15 February 1939, Page 4

GOODS ON WHARVES

NO LICENSES AVAILABLE POSITION IN AUCKLAND (Special to Times) AUCKLAND, Wednesday Tt is reported that instances are occurring of goods from overseas being held in the wharf sheds because the importers concerned have not obtained import licenses. Such goods were ordered subsequent to December 5, when the scheme was announced, importers expecting that licenses would be forthcoming. In some of these cases applications for licenses are beintr considered, but in others licenses have been refused and the goods are held pending the result of appeals that have been lodge’d. Applications for licenses to import certain classes of seasonal goods for the second period of the year are being considered by the Customs Department In Auckland. A few licenses for the second period have actually been issued. Throughout the past few weeks the department has been maintaining the rate of issue of licenses for the first six months of the year, and yesterday the total of licenses issued reached 16,425. IMPORTED UNIFORMS BAND REFUSED A LICENSE (By Telegraph.—Press Association) HASTINGS, Tuesday An application for a license to import a set of new uniforms from Scotland by the Hastings and District Scots’ Society Pipe Band has been refused. The decision comes in the nature of an anti-climax of three years’ effort to secure sufficient funds to purchase the uniforms, £SOO having been raised. It is impossible to equip the band fully with material procurable in the Dominion, as much necessary equipment is obtainable only from Scotland. An appeal against the decision is to be lodged. owing to the bad weather and the pair stayed the night at Blenheim. Saturday morning, January 21, the flyers were in the plane as *6 o’clock and conditions were perfect for the long trip to Christchurch. Owing to clouds on the Kaikoura Ranges the plane was directed inland until the sky cleared and the coast was reached at Kaikoura. From there the coast was followed and two hours 25 minutes after leaving Blenheim, Christchurch was reached in time for breakfast. After two hours’ spell the flyers left for Timaru, where the week-end was spent. The return journey began on Monday, January 23. In the afternoon the flyers took off from Timaru aerodrome and after circling Caroline Bay, set a course for 'Christchurch. The Canterbury Plains were seen to advantage, hundreds of miles of perfectly flat country stretching further, than the eye could see and relieved only by the Southern Alps tipped with snow. ~ v At Christchurch ChristchurcH Was reached after travelling for one hour 10 minutes. Here the pilots were weather-bound for a day, Tuesday being wet and boisterous. However, the following day they left Christchurch for Blenheim. A head wind was encountered, resulting in a slow trip of two hours 40 minutes, and rough conditions prevailed until Blenheim was reached. When favourable weather reports were received from Nelson the machine took the air again. Flying through Havelock Valley, great difficulty was experienced in attaining sufficient height to cross the ranges and downdraughts were causing the plane to drop over 1000 feet at a time. Updraughts were very welcome as the plane struggled for altitude. However, Nelson was sighted nestling at the foot of the hills and flanked by the calm sea, while the whole place was bathed in sunshine. The pair were met by the aerodrome caretaker when they landed. Having ascertained the state of the weather at Wellington an early start was made the next morning. After 45 minutes the machine was over Marlborough Sounds, which looked particularly fine with the sun Just rising above the ranges. A last look at the South Island was had as the plane approached Wellington Heads. The city was reached one hour 25 minutes after leaving Nelson. Ten minutes after landing the flne weather turned into a 40-mile an hour wind accompanied by showers, but favourable conditions were reported from Hastings and the. pilots headed their plane in the direction of the Hutt Valley. Rough Weather Rough conditions and low clouds were again encountered during the journey to the coast and a boisterous passage was experienced over the Himutaka Ranges. However, rapid progress was made, Hastings being reached after one hour 45 minutes in the air. On Friday morning In* fyirs headed \ • .‘cived repoi ts f • .m Gisborne. llazv conditions a:le •• d visibility or Mi" trip to Gisborne but after an liohr and 10 minut ;s flying the ? >wn was reached and g and cl uds were re | ported over the Motu Range, while i similar conditions were obtaining at | Rot 'iua, the next stop. Three hours later the clouds lifted and the machine !V. is - imi aloft and the rugged M iiu j Range v <s crossed at that height, i Skirting upotiki and Wliukalane a I course was set inland for Rotorua and irds Mt. Tarawera and ! uther landmarks in Hie lakes district up. Aflcr an hour and 20 j minutes the machine settled at the aerodrome in Rotorua. on the Sunday morning the final | hop home was marl-’. Visibility was i ponr. tlie clouds being low and making Ihe haze worse there than on any other portion of the -trip. The pilots , fly Jov bul ill.- countrv well. After 5u minub-s’ ! dying Rukuhia was reached and the machine was taxied up t-» Ihe tarmac.