HOKITIKA 'PLANE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 August 1933, Page 6

HOKITIKA 'PLANE

■ ■• .• ,:i.; / % > . :t' j. BItINGS PATIENT FROM OKURU VALUABLE SAVING OF TIME. Suffering from a poisoned leg, Sir Hughton Cameron, an- active flying officer attached to the Indian Air Force, who has been spending a holiday at the Haast for the past two months, was brought to Hokitika this morning in the Spartan plane piloted by Mr A. H. NaPcekivell, who flew south yesterday afternoon. Sir Hughton Cameron is at present on sick leave, and has been taking a rest cure in South Westland. Becoming aware of the condition of. his leg, he wired Mr Nancekivell to meet him at Okuru, whither he went Ly horseback. It was night.time when he reached Okuru so that it was impossible for Mr Nancekivell to make the return flight until this morning, when it- was made in 110 minutes, flying at 1000 feet under thick clouds, and the plane landed at the Hokitika airport at midday. The flight to Okuru yesterday occupied 105 minutes. This is the first occasion that a plane has been commissioned for medical service here, and residents of South Westland will feel heartened that delay in the transport of patients to the hospital has now been removed by this efficient service, as the plane is at the disposal of the -Hospital Board for such cases. The recent reconstruction of the plane, now provides accomodation for a stretcher.iLnecessary. The benefit. oft sricfcO*:'may be readily- imagined when_j't is seen that to come overland* - the journey from the Haast 'would have' occupied about four days.