AEROPLANE TRIP

Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1929, Page 3

AEROPLANE TRIP

CHRISTCHURCH 10 WESTPORT. Picked up by a Government car at home we proceeded to S.ic.tburn aerodrome and on arrival got straight away into Hying kit. The engines ot the two planes were running, and in a few minutes we had taken off for the first time. The time was 9.20 a.m.

The morning was hazy alter a frost. \\ e headed straight for Oxford and, being a Canterbury man, the route was' famiiiar. Speaking by tube to Cap-

tain Buckley, 1 was correct in nearl;, every case as to the objects ahead and beneath. The Waimakariri was von plain and we were travelling about 7( miles per hour and climbing steadily. Over the Waimak we were about 3(Kk feet. The paddb'eks beneath in theii even squares, with different lines,'look ed very beautiful. The Ashley rivci on our far right, the Oxford Gorin bridge on our left, were easily seen. 'I-lie Vaiinak, although a very wide expanse of riverbed, looked lo lane only a few drains of water running at a!

angles. j Alter passing Oxford, and stU' climbing hard as we had to get to 8030 feet for the Alps to pass beneath, tin bushy hills were of a dark green, hue ami the uioiliuls as the bids appeal’d 1 to he, gave a mignificent view. W< still had the Waimak on our left am snow was beginning to lie our underneath view. The various stations am' railway" tracks, the bottom of which wc could see, wore a wonderful sight. ) • Arthur's Pass was covered in mist, so nothing was seen there. Once ovt” Otira, the sky was overcart and on!' several sawmills. Wainiliinihi being one, and old dredge workings wen I seen. Lake Moann was Idanmeted in mis! and only a little strip oF water was visible. Mount Cook and other high peaks well.to the south wen l majestmally showing themselves in the morning sun. The trie was being cnioyod immensely and nt times I would remove my goggles so as to miss nothing, and T think Contain Buckley will say 1 missed nothin?, not even the doer marks along the ridges in the snow. Contain Bucklev gave me every assistance in pointing out the places; in fact, T remarked to him. “Am I talking ton much?” and the reply was “No; go ahead.” At times I was talking rather loud and had to reduce mv vocal strength However, we glided along beautifully in fact, too steadily, as I wanted to experience what decent dumps were, but I was disappointed. "Well, we are coming down to about fiofiO feet, as it was getting colder or at least we were, hut nothing to grumble at, as I often took off mv gloves to see what my hands were like and I had the full use of them.

Now, we have the West Coast beach in view. Foiir different rivers were to be seen on our left and hills on our right. Greymouth loomed into sight Hokitika was well on our left, hut .1 was unable to see any buildings, although the weather was fine and clear to south ami misty on our northern route. Greymouth beneath us; station, wharves, racecourse and everything I could get an eyeful ol was .seen. Cobden, on our right in fart almost beneath us, was easily seen.

Now we head out over the sea anil

down to 3500 feet and set our course lor Westport 52 miles distant. The trip along the coast was very nice. The white breakers on the sandy head broke the monotony. Tli'q roads wind mg here and there were also outs Winding. The numerous trcni;lie« Or ..old In dies appeared to have’ been used tin •the geld mining days as they wgre veil covered with growth; ■, "" ‘‘Westport ahead” calls' the 'pilot! and n a few minutes we Avere over ..the own. The people were in the streets Mid debris and chimneys down everyvliere. We circled the town with- a ■teap hanking of the plane on its side ;> I waved a welcome flutter of the lamlkerehief which hundreds .waved ack in acknowledgment. The next nimites wc were circling the beach and uy first trip, and 1 hope not the las' vas over. The other plane whiyh I’oiowccl us all tlie way landed on our iools almost at the same time, the trip taking 2 hours 5 minute’s to' accomplish.