OSCAR GARDEN

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1931, Page 7

OSCAR GARDEN

NOW A PARTNER IN AN AIR CIRCUS. WELLINGTON, October 14. Although Oscar Garden, the young Scottish-New Zealander, had hoped to be the first man to fly from England to New Zealand, Kis plans have been changed, and he is a partner now in an air circus, which is probably on its way to South Africa. His mother, Mrs If. Garden, who arrived at Wellington to-day by the Tamaroa, explained how her son had conie to abandon the proposed EnglandNew Zealand flight. Garden used a second-hand Moth aeroplane for his flight from England to Australia in 19 days, a performance third only to those of Kingsford Smith and Bert Hinkler. For the England-New Zealand flight, however, Garden proposed to use n much larger and more powerful machine costing nearly £3OOO. He therefore made up his mind to form an air circus and soon got others interested. One of them, John Travel, is his partner in the new concern, which is known as “skywork.” There are four others, in addition, and they have bought three or four suitable machines. With these the party ar e presumably now' on their way to Africa. Mrs Garden said to-day that two of the party would go on ahead of the rest from town to towrn, and would act as publicity men for the show' which followed. According to Mrs Garden. her son was (accorded a great reception in the Isle of Man. her native place, where he finished his education at the House of Keys,, and was received with acclamation in Douglas. Subsequently, in England, lie set about learning as much advanced pilotage as possible. Mrs Garden was accompanied to-day by her daughter, Miss V. Garden. She has two other daughters in New- Zealand, one of whom, Mrs Jj. L. Hindle, of Christchurch, she intends visiting before going on to Australia. Before going back to the Old Country Mrs Garden lmd been living in Sydney with her son for four years.