ACROSS THE STRAITS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 January 1921, Page 1

ACROSS THE STRAITS

AIRMEN’ TO CARRY -MAILS

BLENHEIM, Jan. 8

An aeroplane hangar, to bouse one machine, is to be provided in Blenheim. As soon as the molding is ready the Canterbury Aviation Company will send an Avro machine from Christchurch to be stationed at Blenheim. This is in anticipation of the early inauguration of an aerial mail service between Christchurch and Blenheim, and, eventually, between Blenheim and Wellington.

A decision in regard to the erection of a hangar was reached yesterday, when Captains Dickson and Isitt met the Marlborough Progress Committee, the meeting being also attended by the Mayor of Blenheim a nd members of the local bodies, in an unofficial capacity, as well as by a number of leading citi zens. The ground selected by the airmen, after a thorough inspection of the Lower Wairau plain, is a mumcipal area two miles out of Blenheim, where there are lit) acres of Hat land, clear of tro.s and other obstructions. This land, it is understood, will he made available by the Blenheim Borough Council, while the cost oi the erection oi the hangar will lie borne b,v the various local bodies about Blenheim. In bis remarks made at the meeting, Captain Dickson stated that bis company expected to receive word Irom tlu* I’ostmaster-Ceneral, at any moment, in regard to starting the ChristohurchBlenheim service. The arrangements concerning the cross-strait sen ice would take longer to make, as it would be necessary to secure a seaplane m living boat for that part of the aerial mail route between Wellington and Christchurch.