HIGH IN THE AIR.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 December 1924, Page 4

HIGH IN THE AIR.

■SKILFUL FEAT PER FOR A! ED. SUVA, Dec. b. A clever and risky wireless task was successfully carried mu last .Monday by Air 11. Sabbcu. ol the ini’chniiienl branch of the Public Works’ Deportment. Air Saljben toinul that the wireless section needed a longer top-niast, so as. to bring within the compass of the plant a wider range of stations. To ilo this it v.as stated that help would have to he obtained from Australia or New Zealand, as there was no one in the colony to do the job.

-Ur .Snhhcn. who comes al' a ran- of navy men, valuaLeered to do t'oe work. His life was insiirod by Hie Government lor £l!7K,\ as was the life of a liaifeaslo named Rcntloy, who was to ascend with .Hr Sahhen. Instead of an elahorate plant, .Hr Sahhen got two Din. x Din. dreami derricks up by the aid of the old topmast. This stick was pulled oufi of its 12ft. socket hy the derrick, and when lowered it was found to he rotten right through. How it stood the strain of hauling up the derrick is a mystery. If it had hrnken hath Sahhen and RenLley, who were aloft, would most probably have boon killed. After all preparations were made the next 12 x 12 Oregon topmast was raised by tin; derrick so accurately* that not one fault was made. Mr Sahhen. who

ascended three times in a small chair alone, jvas able to get the spar inside the, iron mast and bolted when 12ft. down, <fa ring a small gale. The iron mast was 130 ft. in the air. and the new wireless mast is 180 ft. high. Mr Sahhen had the assistance below of Hentley and a white engineer* and some native hoys. He saved the Goveramerit some £7OO or £80(1.