FOXTON BEACH AS AIR PORT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4450, 10 May 1930, Page 2

FOXTON BEACH AS AIR PORT.

MAJOR DALTOX TO BE ASKED TO INSPECT RIVER BED. Foiae time ago the Foxton Chamber of Commerce look up the matter of having the Foxton Beach declared an air port and had the old river bed' inspected by the Hun. T. M. Milford, then for Defence, and .Major Wilkes, of the Defence Department, both of whom expressed the opinion that the site indicated would make an admirable air port. Pilots who have visited the Beach in their 'planes have also been loud in their commendation of the ground and at Thursday evening’s meeting of the Foxton Chamber ot Cummeree the secretary reported that since last meeting Captain .Mercer had brought four 'planes lo the Beach for the purpose of showing the pilots liie ground. Ail had voted the landing ground one of the best they hail been on and no one experienced any difficulty in landing or taking off. Captain Mercer had recommended on his last visit the erection of a hangar suitable for housing n Moth machine, which if put up, he considered would attract many 'planes down at the Beach as Foxton was an excellent hopping off place for the South Island. The secretary tabled plans and specifications which had been drawn up by Major Wilkes and said tlm I there was an offer from a local resident to erect the building free of cost provided the material was i on ml.

Mr Spoil's estimated the cost of an iron shed on the lines indicated at £SO. The Chairman said that it would be necessary to confer with the Harbour Board before miy steps were taken io erect a hangar. Mr A. Aisop said that there was a seventeen acre reserve held by the Harbour Baord which extended mound the point and bounded ou tiie old river bed. If the Board was approached it might permit the election of a hangar there. The Chamber would not have to overlook tlie fuel that the old river bed v. as somewhat wet in winter time, due to swamp water finding its war on to the flat to the mirth. To gel her with Mr \V. E. Barber and Mr W. Woodham he had inspected the break in the sandhills which \i as allowing the water through

and lie did not think there would he much difficulty in closing up the breach and compelling- the water to find an outlet via the Drain, which connected the lakes with the river. The Chaimran said that although the river lied been me wet ill the winter it had a solid bottom and did not become boggy. Mr Aisop a>lso mentioned that there was a large area at the top end where the aeroplanes usually' landed that was never wet.

It was pointed out that the drain had this season been cleaned and widened and possibly this would take a greater volume of water and prevent flooding through the breach in tlie sandhills. It was decided to write and ask Major Dalton to inspect the area with a vriew to having it declared an air port. It was also resolved to thank Captain .Mercer fur the interest he was taking in Foxton and matters concerning the raising the £SO for the purpose of erecting a hangar were also discussed. It was decided to notify the Chairman of the Foxton Harbour Board of the action it was proposed to take and to ask him to be in at tendance wln*u Major Dalton made his inspection. The matter of obtaining permission to erect the hangar will be placed before the next meetiug of the Harbour Board. .