OSCAR GARDEN

Hokitika Guardian, 1 December 1930, Page 3

OSCAR GARDEN

“BORN AN OPTIMIST.’

ADDRESS AT LUNCHEON

WELLINGTON, November 27

Admitting that he was not too much of an optimist when he set out on his flight, Mr Oscar Garden addressed the Optimists’ Club, where he was the guest of honour at luncheon.

“I must have been born an optimist,” said the aviator, acknowledging the reception which had been given him. “In the first place, I wag very optimistic in hoping to fly to Australia, .-.to: say nothing of New Zealand, bcf.spe I ..had learned to pilot an aeroplane, hut my instructor was not quite so optimistic as I was, judging by some of his remarks when I made a dud landing.” He thought that the company which had laid down his oir the route, had been op‘*ram glad to say that optimism and kia ora brought me through 0.K.,” he concluded. Captain F. W. Haig recalled the early days of aviation pointing out that anyone who went up was not expected to get down safely. Time was, he said, when an aeroplane was looked upon as a mystery, like electricity and income tax, something which science did not know very much about ; luit by-nnd-by they had learned that pilots were quite ordinary fellows, as they could, see by looking at Oscar and himself. , _ ; “A nation’s progress is judged by . its means of communication apd transport, and to keen, up thj^rcstjge,! of the British nation we must go ahead with our aviution . development,” he said. ■ ’Referring to the Aero Club movement Captain Haig remarked that the" instructor, held. A..XQK, •fe l P2rt a nt position. He had a definite influence. m building the character of the young people. '.Welcome aTchristchurch. : (Bv Telegraph—Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 29. Oscar. Gnrden and Capt. F. W. Haig, who left, Rongotai Aerodrome, at ten this"morning in the former’s G|P«y Mnth for Blenheim, arrived there after, a flight, .across thre. .Strait, occupying fortw iiiihuteX. They! Mere accompanied "by Squadron Leader Findljiy.. On arrival at Blenheim, Mr Garden was accorded a civic reception. Late*, the;aviators proceeded to schedule. CHRISTCHURCH, November 29. r.Oscqr Garden, the aviator, received a. tumultuous welcome on bis arrival at Wigrtfm Aerodrome this afternoon.. Garden, who. flew bis own machine from Wellington, was accompanied by Captain-Haig, Flying Officer for New Zealand and Australia for tlm Vacuum Oil Company. The Livo visiting aeroplanes wgre .met at Kaiapoi by planes from Wigram and from the Ganteihury Aero; Club, At. about 3.20 p.m,, hlack -spccks in the northern sky were visible.,iron, the city, apd then wore ..seen byj.the crowd at the aerodrome. Two thousand people surrounded the roped ."enclosure and when Garden landed, the crowd, attempted to rush his machine, hut the police held, all back, but two young women, who, dashed up to' the plane , and embraced the -laughing young-airman. His car was ah most mobbed while he was driven round the ground. .: Speeches of welcome.- and eongmtulatidn- were, made- by M.V Jas.xLcslie. ('Chairman-'. of the. .Panama,- County: ■Couhoß).,’ in>" whose, territory , the ?ero- • drome is 'situated, ,Mr J.. K. .Archer (‘Mayor , : of Christchurch), and Sir Francis Bovs Con behalf of the Canterbury and New Zealand Aero Clubs). - Garden -briefly acknowledged the welcome; Tii an interview after landirig, lie said that lie would certainly not attempt'to flv the Tasman in his Ginsy Moth, which had not enough petrol cann'eihv..-'- He would not sav whetln'i he intended' to make the attempt in some other machine;

Garden, will be at "'Christchurch till .Tuesday, when he ’caves for Ashburton. Th-om: there lie will .. .- go to; Oamarn, apd Invercargill. returning to Dunedin aiuh. Timaru.