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Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1932, Page 4

If tho visit of the Australian airmen to the Coiast can; be brought to pass, interest iii aerial transport will be considerably stimulated. Besides the landing ground at Hokitika now taking such shape 1 and being able to accommodate the Southern Cross already, landing are being' made at (Waiho, Weheka ftM Okuru. Both Waiho' and OkUtu hav§ been used already, but they are how being improved further, and 1 steps affc in hand to enlarge the Weheka field,. These landing places will .be useful to the Hokitika pilots now completing their training and' qualifying for their tickets. An examining officer is expected here shortly to put the trainees through the -final tests. With a number of pilots established locally, flying will become more general and it will be possible to take trips .south with lauding places at suitable stages. Westland Offers an attractive field to-flying men because of the wonderful scenery to be enjoyed from the air. The Southern Alps. , can, be seen in all their grandeur, while the opportunity to circle some of the highest of the peaks affords a unique privilege. Now that flying in - Westland ' offers such an opportunity,, civilian pilots from other parts of New Zealand' are making enquires as to the facilities for landing along the’:Const.- As a result, a visiting plane is expected from Wellington in October, and its objective wil) be Waiho, so as to have a handy jumping off place for the mountain and glacier trips. This is evidence of the possibilities of aerial development and interest, and for that reason the work of improving likely landing grounds should be pushed on with all expedition. To the north of Hokitika, no doubt, this matter will be taken up also. At the several centres interest will be excited by reason of the enterprise at this end, and there wil] be the desire to keep abreast of the times and provide accommodation for flying machines, the use of which will grow more and more in favour as time .goes on. For the present at all events Westland is doing its best, and those connected with the Westland Aero- Club in particular deserve all credit for what is being done.