SEA-PLANE AT TAUPO

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 73, 18 December 1937, Page 12

SEA-PLANE AT TAUPO

Perfect Landing & Take-ofl TAUPO, Last Night. As far as angling is coneerned, Taupo is experihncing the quietest period since the opening of the season and there afe practicMly no visiting anglere in the distriet-. Lieutenant-Cornmander Peter Datvnfiy,. togethef with Lieutenant-Com; mfinder MacClintoek, have enjoyed some good sport at F^illjames's canip. Admiral Bodell is still at this camp enjoying a quiet fishing holiday. An interesting event occurred at Taupo" to-day, when a naval plane from tt.ii.S. Achilles pfiid visitS her6. It first afrivefi at 6.30 a.m. and, aftef circling Fulljames's camp, returned to the lake, Which was beautifnlly cairn, tvith a mild wind blowing ofl? shore, and made a perfect landing about a mile fioni the beach at the end 0f the mUin street. This is the first oceasiofi On which a plaUe has landed on Lako Taupo, and it was fitting that the first and only person to greet it was the paramount fighting chief of Taupo, Tupara Maniapoto, Who, in truly modern style, approached tlie plane in his private launch, which was rather a Oontrast tO what would have been his greeting a few years back. After picking up a naval officer, the plane, without malcing a contact with the shore, made a beautiful take-off at 7.30 a.m. for Auckland. At 3.10 p.m. tlie seaplune lolurnc'l and agaiu niadc a perfect landing on the lake, left a jiassenger, and, witli anothcr wouderfnl take-off at 3.25 p.m., returned to Auckland, in a rather heavy rain squall. It has always been a debatablG point why this lake should not bo used ns a naval depot for seaplanes, and. after this experience, thefe seems no rtiason why it shOUld not be utilised, as, owing to its central position, it should bo ideal, together with the fact that Tauhara Mountain is a splendid land-raark for'both sea and land planes.