ATTEMPTED FLIGHT TO CHRISTCHURCH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3559, 6 November 1926, Page 2

ATTEMPTED FLIGHT TO CHRISTCHURCH.

TIRWY weather in cook STRAITS. .MACHINE RETURNS TO FOXTON. At ten minutes to eight this morning Capt. Buckley and Air-Mechanic Smith set out on tlie return journey to Christ church in the aeroplane in which they have been engaged on aerial survey work tor the Alana-watu-Orona River Board. The weather reports were adverse and a message from the Government Meteorologist (Mr Bates) late last night, advised Captain Buckley to dehty the trip until Monday at the earliest. As Capt. Buckel.v is anxious to get haelr to Christchurch, having spent over three months in Fox ton owing to had weather, and taking into consideration the he.aulil'ul night last night, he decided to endeavour to cross the Straits this morning. There was scarcely a breath l of wind locally when the plane, after pushing its way through the waterlogged ground, found a dry spot and look off hut as soon as they got up a little Capt. Buckley’s fears that ihe Straits would he impassable, were confirmed. A big cloud-hank loomed up on the southern horizon and a strong southerly wind was soon encountered, which, after'Wellington was passed, developed into a howling gale in the Straits, ihe altitude of the machine at this point was 11,000 ft. and Capt. Buckley informed our representative that the gale went three thousand feet ahove that. Rain was also encountered and the aviators had no othei option hut to return to Foxton. A good landing was made hut this morning Capt. Buckley inspected the Beach with a view to locating a suitable landing ground there as"he says that he would not like to- risk another start similar to the one experienced this morning. The flight lasted exactly two hours. Where the machine is now located, on Mr S. Austin’s property alom>' the Ilimatnngi Road, the ground" is absolutely water-logged with lagoons of considerable size all over"it. When traversing this ground this morning, prior to getting a\\a>, the wheels of the machine sgnk into the ground to a depth ol eight inches to a foot. Another attempt to get away will be made on Monday, weather permitting.