TO MOUNT COOK BY 'PLANE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 202, 21 May 1920, Page 8

TO MOUNT COOK BY 'PLANE

A .PARTY ON THE WAY. By ToJegraph-PrcM Association. Timaru, May 20. Captain Ewan Dickson was to have flown from tho Srickburn aerodrome to Mount Cook and back to Fairlio •to-day. A wintry storm delayed the start from Sockburn from 8 o'clock till 11. Two hours wero lost on the way to Fairlie, a descent being made at Pearse's Farm at Waitohi for ijetrol, driving against a head wind having run thp supply short. Captain Dickson expected at starting to reach Fairlie at 12.30, and a largo number of people, including many who went out by car from Timaru, awaited his arrival in tho keen winter weather, tho surrounding hills being white to the foot. The Avro hove in sight over Brothers Hill, at a height of 3000 feet, at about 3 p.m., and after some fancy stunts a good landing was effected in.a paddock near the township. Captain Dickson stated that he had a 30-mile wind agaiiist him. His actual flying time for the 100 miles was 2J hours. _ The pilot and passengers (Messrs. R. WSgley and R. L. Banks) stated that they enjoyed the trip; despite the cold at an avcrago height of 3000 feet. Tho course ran just seaward of Geraldine, across the Waitohi .Downs and up tho Totara Yallcy. Snow fell at the Hermitage in the" morning, but later cleared, and fine weather is expected to-morrow. A start will be mado for Mount Cook at 8 a.nii