FLYING-BOAT SERVICE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1920, Page 1

FLYING-BOAT SERVICE

A GISBORNE PROJECT

GISBORNE, May 2* l

A proposal lias been mooted to establish a, company for the inauguration of a flying boat service between Auckland Gisborne, and Napier, and to extend the aerial service around the coast of both the North and South Islands should the circumstances warrant t! c 'venture. The proposal was brought forward by Mr Chas. Matthews, <himman of the Cook County Council. He introduced Major S. E. Adams, who is visiting Gisborne. Major Adams served in the. Royal Air Force right through, the war ill France, and subsequently in Egypt. 'He is associated with Captain Seabrook of Auckland. Major Adams declared that the proposed flying boat service was quite practicable. Already similar services had been inaugurated along the coasts »' England,' and if the service proved sfinancial success in England as a hol.bj f then in should be a success on the Fast Coast of the North Island, where suen a service is a necessity. The proposal was to utilise a super-flying marine similar to that employed on passenger flying services at Home, the boat vas capable of carrying «■ pilot and thro; (passengers and was ab.lo. to 1 ■ i '450 miles -without replenishing supplies. The distance from Auckland could be covered in 21 hours and to Napier in about an hour. The machine was capable of landing in practically any sea, and after inspecting the conditions locally, lie was satisfied iliac a landing could be effected safely m the bay, and the machine could either “taxi” up to the Kniti bridge, or passengers could be ferried ashore by launch. The conditions at "Napier were also favourable, whilst at. Auckland thev were ideal. The machines are totted' witli IfiO h.p., Benrdmore 'mg nb. which is located in the planes above the heads of the passengers, the latter hysn«r jicomrabdated in sea,ts ’P the “boat” itself. Major Adams consul us the service could carry mails and oassengers daily, and the machine would be capable of flying practically all the vear round. Based on the present taxi fares overland between Gisborne and Napier, the service would nay handsomely.