OCCASIONAL NOTE

The American seaplane NC4 reached Plymouth at 2-26 on the afternoon of Saturday last, thus completing her flight, or series of flights, from America to Great Britain. The impediments met with on the way and the misfortunes of other machines have helped the public to realise how great is this achievement of the first aerial crossing of the Atlantic. It may be that in a few years this success will have been out-distanced as completely as Bleriot’s first crossing of the Channel ten years ago; but at the moment it constitutes the most striking triumph of aviation yet witnessed, and the enthusiasm of the welcome given to the American aviators at Plymouth and in London was well justified. The NC4 had to make one descent shortly after leaving Lisbon, on account of a leaky radiator, thus losing a day, but between Ferrol and Plymouth, she flew five hundred miles in four hundred minutes, which is a marvellous record for the closing stage of a journey of three thousand miles. The actual flying time of the whole passage from America is given as thirty-five hours, which is nineteen hours less than Commander Towers’ original estimate. Including the delays at the Azores and Lisbon, it has taken a fortnight to accomplish the journey. With relays of machines at the stopping-places, Plymouth might be reached from Newfoundland by way of the Azores, presumably, within forty-eight hours or less. It now remains to be seen what can be done in a non-stop flight.

KOLAR GOLD FIELDS TRAGEDY

A tragic occurrence, involving the death of Mr. Albert Williams, employed as European supervisor of the local watch establishment, occurred yesterday in his bungalow at the Champion Reef Mine. The deceased, it is reported, lay down on his bed, placed the muzzle of a Webley service revolver to this right temple, pulled the trigger, and killed himself. The verdict returned at the inquest was that the deceased committed suicide by shooting himself while under temporary mental strain. The late Mr. Williams was a popular man on the Gold Fields, and before taking up his appointment in the watch establishment was in the 2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. He was an active member of the local I.D.F., and in the old volunteer days did some good shooting at the S,I.R.A. meetings held at Bangalore.

WITHHOLDING RICE FROM MARKET

The Governor-in-Council is pleased to declare that rice, an article of commerce, is in the city of Bombay being unreasonably withheld from the market. The Governorin-Council is pleased to empower the Hon. Mr. Keatinge, Director of Civil Supplies, and any person specially authorised in writing by Mr. Keatinge in that behalf, to take possession of any supplies of rice which may be found in the city of Bombay on paying the owner of such supplies such compensation as may be determined by agreement between the person herein before empowered and such owner, or, in default of agreement, on payment or tender of payment of such compensation as the person so empowered considers reasonable. A court of appeal has been set up to hear appeals from the Controller’s decisions, consisting of the Collector of Bombay and two others.

DISTRICT CHARITABLE ASSOCIATION

The eighty seventh annual meeting of the Indian Committee of the District Charitable Society of Calcutta was held last night at the Jorasanko Rajbati, Rai Hari Ram Goenka Bahadur presiding. Those present included Justice Sir Asutosh Chaudhuri, Major A.J. Pickford, Rai Radha Charan Pal, Kumar Krishna Mitter. Rai Radha Charan Pal read the annual report which stated: The year has been rather a notable one on account of the various attempts made by the Committee to start some industry by means of which the numerous new applicants for relief, who are generally sent away for want of funds, may, instead of living on the precarious doles of individual charity, be put in the way of earning their livelihood by doing some useful work. Several persons connected with home industries in Calcutta and elsewhere were approached and several attempts were made in the directions indicated by them. Major Pickford congratulated the society on the good work it was doing and announced a donation of Rs 250.

JOCKEY IN TROUBLE

Before the Chief Presidency Magistrate yesterday, A.E. Cornwell, said to be an Australian jockey, was prosecuted for cheating Messrs. Sen, Law and Co., of Wellesley Street, by means of false cheques. It was alleged that accused called at the firm’s shop and, representing himself to be an assistant of Messrs. Saldhana and Co., purchased liquor to the value of Rs 12-8. In payment he is said to have issued a cheque on the Alliance Bank of Simla for Rs 20 and received the difference of Rs 7-8 in cash. The cheque, on presentation, was dishonoured. Accused is alleged to have similarly issued a cheque for Rs 5 on a second occasion when he called at the shop for a bottle of liquor. The hearing was adjourned, accused being released on bail of Rs 250.