MONOPLANE FOR NEW ZEALAND.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1790, 1 July 1913, Page 6

MONOPLANE FOR NEW ZEALAND.

IMPERIAL GIFT.

CHRISTENING CEREMONY. ,

Lady Desborough on, May 22, nt the Hendon Aerodrome named tho aero*plane which has bean, accepted by the •yNew Zealand Government from tho Imperial Air Fleet Committee. Tho London "Morning-Post" of May 23 states that the occasion _ was the first time in tho history of aviation when such a ceremony has been performed, and the aeroplane m s a PJ> r ,°P™te]y named . Britannia. Ihe machine, a Bleriot two-seated monoplane of the latest; type, has already achieved a record flight from Dover to Cologne, a distance of 310 miles, in four hours and eighteen minutes without stopping and in rough weather. The pilot ivas Mr. Gustavo Hamel, and foe was ac- . ..'ompnnied by Mr. Frank Dupree as passenger, the grand total' flying weight being 17291b. It is intended to use the machine'for reconnoitring and observation purposes. 'The objects of t.he Imperial Air_ Fleet Committee are to draw the attention of the Empire to tho imperative need of aerial defence and to provide complementary first units of an Imperial Air . Fleet for tho aerial • defence of the Overseas Dominions. Lady Desborough was accompanied by Lord Desborough, President of the Imperial Air/Fleet Committee, and there were also present Lord Charles Beresford, M,P., Sir Joseph Ward, Lady Ward, and Miss Ward, Sir, James Buchanan, the • Hon. T. Mackenzie, High Commissioner for New Zealand, and Mrs. Mackenzie, Mr. and Mrs. Wray Pallisnr, Mr. W. Coward, Mr.Norbert Chereau, and Mr. Graham White. Lady Desborough, in naming, the Britannia, 'broke with a hammer- a .bottle of win 9 hung over tho • front of the machine. Lady Desborough was, afterwdrds presented with a bouquet .by Miss' Ward, with a pendant of New Zealand jade by Miss Mackenzie, and with a replica ot tho pennant -which tho Britannia is to fly by Mr. Coward. Mr. Mackenzie, in accepting the aeroplane, and in thanking Lady Desborough for performing the ceremony, said he was ((into sure that the people of New Zealand would regard it as a very striking honour. In this country aeroplanes were associated with defence in -war, but the counry to which the-machine was going, those green islands amid glistening sens," bad more to do with peace than with war, and the Britannia might well .prove a forerunner of easier means of communication between the islands. New Zealand was ono of the healthiest countries in tho world, and it was the recruiting ground for health for the Australians. It might become the sanatorium of the " Southern Seas, and it ivas possible that they would soon, see an announcement Btuck up in Melbourne advertising the voyage of a clipper of the air to New Zealand. Ho offered New Zealand's grateful thanks for the gift. Sir Joseph Ward, who also returned thanks, described tho occasion as historic. The men who formed the Imperial Air Fleet Committee were not acting for any' sentimental reasons. They were under, a stern "belief that'the future of this great old country would depend/in a considerable measure upon. our..aeroplanes, and the skill with which they were managed, as accessories to our land and sea forces.. The'whole of the committee recognised the valuable work that Lord Dejljorough had done in this connection. These aerial machines were to be of'the utmost importance to all - countries that flew the British'flag. Lord Desborough, replying on behalf of Lady Desborough, said that those associated with,,.him felt it was a very high honour that New Zealand should be the first; to .accept one of their aeroplanes. Their object was to encourage the Doliiinions in starting a fleet which would protect the Oversea ends of our great trade routes. He hoped the i other Dominions would follow tho example set by New Zealand in that great Imperial air.,fleet movement. ' • - Mr. Gustavo Hamel, accompanied by a,passenger, afterwards gave a fine exhibi-' tion flight- on tho Britannia. Two biplanes also ascended, and for some time ', the three machines manoeuvred overhead.