VISIT BY BIG AEROPLANE

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 133, 13 January 1939, Page 2

VISIT BY BIG AEROPLANE

ARRIVAL TOMORROW ( 4-ENGINED: 14-PASSENGER AERODROME INSPECTION BY MINISTER OF DEFENCE

To-morrow will be a red-letter day for Opotiki, when' the first big passenger aeroplane will land on the recently completed Opotiki aerodrome. The machine is the DH-86 Union Airway’s machine, a. Be Haviland 4enginod, fourteen-seater, and this will be thei first- occasion that a- 4,-engined machine has paid a visit to Opotiki. The big ’plane is expected to arrive at Opotiki at 9 o’clock in the morning, and: will stay about lmlf-a-n-hour, before leaving for Tauranga. The ’plane will return from Tauranga in the afternoon but probably will not land at Opotiki on the way to Gisborne.

The Be Haviland left Palmerston North this afternoon, and will call at Napier on the trip to Gisborne. The .machine will stay overnight at the Gisborne. aerodrome. Leaving Gisborne at 8.30' in tlie morning the ’plane is expected to land here after about a half-hour’s flight.

The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, who will perform the opening ceremony at the Wliareroa. aerodrome at Tauranga to-morrow afternoon will make an inspection of the Opotiki aerodrome. The Minister is being accompanied by Colonel Falla, managing director, and Mr. Maurice Clarks?, general manager of Union Airways, and Mr. .Barrow, air secretary.

Although the official opening ceremony is not.expected to take place for several weeks, the Minister of Defence and his party will be briefly welcomed by Mr.* F. J. Short, chairman of the Opotiki and Waiocka Domain Board, wlm lias taken a very great interest in and worked for the establishment of a first-class aerodrome to serve the interests of the district-.

The ’plane will again remain overnight at Gisborne after returning from Tauranga. and the party tvill return toWellington on Sunday. As country Children will particularly like to have a close-up view of the big passenger machine, and on account of the short notice to the public, it is suggested that borough residents communicate with as many friends in the country as possible. -

i.No date lias yet been fixed for the inauguration of the passenger service between Auckland and Gisborne, buttlie following fares will probably be charged from this town: Opotiki to. Gisborne (single) £1 7s 6d ; Opotiki to Tauranga. £1 7s 6d; Opotiki to Auckland £3. The present car fare from Opotiki to Gisborne is 2os. According to the suggested timetable ’planes will leave Auckland at 5.15 a.m. arriving at Opotiki at 9.55 a.in. Departing from Opotiki at 10.5 a.m. Gisborne is expected to be reached ut 10.45 a.m. On the return journey ’planes will arrive from Gisborne at 4.20 p.m., leaving Opotiki after a stop of 10 minutes, and arriving in Auckland at 6 p.m. after a. flight of 1 hour and 40 minutes, including the stop at Tauranga. The suggested time-table is a summer one and will operate from Monday to, Friday inclusive. .Lt is proposed to operate the multi-engined DeHa vi bunts over the route. Twelve passengers can be carried in addition to the usual crew.

When an aerodrome lias been, provided for the Wluikatano district that town will he connected with the service, while- it is possible that Hamilton will he touched on the journey between Tauranga, and Auckland.