MASTERY OF THE AIR.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 923, 16 September 1910, Page 5

MASTERY OF THE AIR.

'WELLINGTON TO CHRISTCHURCH. A PEOPHECT. ; Mr., J., B. Clarkson, head. of the firm of Messrs. J. B. Clarkson and Company,' of Wellington and 'Christchurch, returned, Worn," a trip to. jinierica . England .on Monday evening. In ! the 'course of ,' a ■conversation with a ; Dominion ; reporter, he happened to ■ disclose ;: the, , liyely' :interest ho had taken, in , aviation ~d uring the time, he was iu England,. and from ; what passed-it- is if there is any New Zealaauer 'jrhb has a deeper and more knowledge' of aviation , than Mr. Clarkson. .He made a point of attending most of . the meetings held, while ihe.:was: away, and as he was m close, touch with the firms, that were turning their- attentibn to, manu ; : factum of mono and bi-planes, he was able to , gain' access to , the inner circle. He counts: among .his-.friends' IJr. < Graham; Whito, the distinguished airman, 1 and the ,late Hon. C.' - H.. Eolls, whos« death' occurred only four or' five ; day's after-Mr. Clarkson had witnessed him iiy. Mr. Clarkson, was one' of' the. officials at 7 tho Wolverhampton meeting, .organised to the Midland Aero Club, where both Jit. Graham vVhita and the Hon. Captain . Rolls Hew successfully.

Passenger and Mail Sorvices, . - "It is a wonderful; sight," : said V Mr.: Clarkson, "to see one ■• of '■ theso meetings, and almost eerie to .witnessfour or fiva aeroplanes in tho air at the same time, ¥et .such a sight is not uncommon. In-; (locti, flying has become sucli .an assured success—l mean as: sometliing that will revolutionise transport—that rules nf tlio ,air have been ''drafted and; printed,' so that airmen will,'have some sort of a guide fortheit ■ mutual ' protection; - just the;,'samo as wo have rulea of. the road for tho cycle and-motor-car. So impressed .was I with ' what ■I ' have ~ seon during the last few months that there is no doubt-whateveriih/my . mind'that there will be/a : regular; passeager. and mail service per ■ aeroplane. betvson 1 1 rndon. and Pans within two years.' Xady Abdy, the. enthusiastic lady . ;flyer, has already offered" .£10,0,00 to the first Bntish' firm which establishes ;, such a service, and I know there are several firms: of .'flying-machine,.: makers. after -tho prize. I would gii fiiVlliui, arid suy that in ten years' time there will'be a regular service flying between ;• Wellington" and Christchurch.' What is tho nietancbP Nothing at all, and in", fair weather; conditions it could bo covered in two or three hours.

"Flying Is So Easy." , "There ar» . many- firms of manufacturers now, turning--out..maohines to order. ■ You can'-iiow__buy a -monoplane witli engine complete for ..£451)," and :bi-i)laiu,a from -jeSKMI -to'-JBlUOO,; I am going to -take orders for -them -in New -Zealand, haying made arrangenieu:s with a fii m' to supply on order, i'lying-machines, are now being advertised and sold like motor-cars wero ten years ago.' ..The great thing in connection with'flying is that it is so easy. Anyone .can Jly who_ understand!) I.h» engine of a; motor-car' after, a couple of lessons in the management of the plane*. Lots of women-are.- now. included among those who have; taken up the sport, and once taken up no one drops it, ouch 'is its fasciaatio'i." • • i • "I di 1 not got a fly myself, though at: Wolvorhampton. : .1 wafc uext_. on the list to go up wih" Graham White." .Un-. fortunately, it came on very blustery, and tho lest trip —lie had alreudy taken up three passongers—had'to bo: abandoned. While at Home I • came in: jiorsonal contact on . many occasions with Mr.-' H. Harpor, the London journalist, who does nothing else, but write on aviation ,for the "Daily, Mail," and' as '-/he: has a thorough .knowledgeof : the business, lus articles are read with tlie greatest interest by all interested' in'; the mastery of tho air."