CHRISTCHURCH VISIT

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28267, 3 May 1957, Page 8

CHRISTCHURCH VISIT

Special Traffic Arrangements

Special arrangements have been made by the City Council’s traffic department for the big crowds expected to go to Harewood airport tomorrow and on Sunday to see the Royal Air Force Comet, which is due tomorrow morning.

Motor-vehicles arriving by Russley and Burnside roads are to turn right at the main entrance to the airport and enter a parking area on the right of the road. All vehicles are to be parked facing north. Cars from Harewood and Wairakei roads are to go along Orchard road and turn right into the car park on the north side of Orchard road. Vehicles which enter the car park from Russley and Burnside roads are to leave via Orchard road and turn right into Russley road, where they can go along Burnside road or continue on Russley road. Vehicles which enter the park from Orchard road are to leave from the opposite side of the car park to Harewood road. No cars will be allowed into the airport itself.

The Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P.) will meet the aircraft and welcome Air Marshal Sir Andrew McKee. Air Marshal McKee, a New Zealander, whose home town is Oxford, will be invited by the Mayor to morning tea at the City Council chambers on Monday. Flight Over Towns Geraldine and Waimate have been included in the towns over which the Comet will fly on Monday afternoon. The itinerary is now as follows:—Christchurch, Ashburton, Geraldine, Waimate, | Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, Mosgiel, Milton, Balclutha, Gore, Bluff, Invercargill, and direct return to Christchurch. No time-table for the flight has been announced. As the course of the flight will depend on the weather, no firm announcement is expected before Sunday evening. To enable the public to see the interior of the plane, the Air Force plans to allow a “crocodile” to pass through one door in the plane when it is on show at Harewood on Sunday afternoon, and out the other.

The aircraft will be open between 2 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. The Comet will stay in Christchurch a day longer than expected. It will now leave at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.