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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 6, Issue 4 (September 1, 1931.)

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page 45

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Photographs of Railwaymen's Children.

Owing to the keen interest taken by parents in the “Children's Page” series now appearing in the Magazine, it has been decided that cabinet-size prints of any of the photographs of railwaymen's children reproduced there may be obtained for one shilling each, on application through the nearest Station master.

Death of Captain L. D. Mitchell.

A recent cable recorded the death, at his home in California, of Captain L. D. Mitchell, the noted deep-sea angler. Colonel Mabin, whose articles in the Magazine on deep-sea fishing at the Bay of Islands will be remembered, has kindly supplied the following biographical note on the late captain's career:—

“Captain Mitchell was a retired British officer, who, after serving in the Great War, joined the staff of Mr. Zane Grey, the American novelist and angler. It was during the 1925–26 fishing season that the late Captain Mitchell first visited New Zealand, with Mr. Zane Grey's fishing expedition, and on February 25th, 1926, while camped at the Bay of Islands, he landed, successfully, the world's record black marlin swordfish, which turned the scales at 976 pounds. This catch still constitutes the world's record for this species of fish. The marlin took Captain Mitchell three hours forty-five minutes to land, towing the launch ten miles out to sea.

Apart from being acknowledged the most skilful deep-sea angler of his time, his fame as a sportsman was world-wide. Little did it matter whether Captain Mitchell was in the heart of the unknown wilds, in search of big game, or on the river bank casting a fly, or on the deep-sea fishing grounds in New Zealand waters, he was always a gentleman, and ever ready to give his kindly advice and help to anyone who wished it, especially to the novitiate.

No one could have done more, with a view to bringing New Zealand prominently before the outside world than Captain Mitchell. He loved our Dominion and was directly instrumental in inducing people from overseas to visit our country to indulge in deep-sea angling and to enjoy the many other attractions to be found here. The late Captain Mitchell was a walking encyclopedia as far as sport is concerned, and his death has deprived the Dominion of one who rendered a signal service in popularising its tourist and sporting attractions.”

Rolling Stock on the Home Railways.

Statistics are at times apt to be a trifle dull, but the recently published Ministry of Transport annual railway returns, packed tight with figures though they may be, are alike interesting and educative. According to these returns, the Home railways had some 20,419 miles of road open for traffic at December 31, 1929. Expressed in single track, the total mileage of running lines was 37,169 miles, and of sidings 15,514 miles. Steam, electric and petrol locomotives numbered 23,454, while passenger carriages numbered 51,243, with a seating capacity of 2,800,272. There were 229 Pullman cars in use at the close of last year. Goods and coal wagons numbered 700,093, with a total tonnage capacity of 7,690,405 tons.