“Phenomenal!”

Efficiency of N.G. Aerial Services.

AN eminent international engineer who visited New Guinea last year has illustrated the efficiency of the aerial services in a letter to the Aus tralian controller of civil aviation (Captain Johnson).

“My outstanding impression,” says the engineer, “is one of amazement at the efficiency and adequacy of the ser vices, completely overshadowing any analagous accomplishment I have seen or known in any other part of the world.

“Freedom from accidents to passen gers and from either loss or damage to goods in transit is phenomenal. I understand that to date no passenger has been injured, although the entire white population of the region has gone in by ’plane, and most of them are frequent users of the ’plane service.

“An official having knowledge of the details regarding the thousands of tons cf freight carried from the seaboard by ’plane told me that the aggregate loss plus damage suffered thereby was considerably less than that from the mere transfer from ship to dockside at the ports—and this official was not connected with the air companies in any way.”

The steamer Alynbank (5,151 tons), while proceeding to Wellington from Suva early in November, broke her tail shaft, and returned to Suva for re pairs. It was estimated that it would take a fortnight to effect repairs.