AERIAL SURVEY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 17, 11 April 1927, Page 7

AERIAL SURVEY

SHOOTING FROM ’PLANE AN EXPENSIVE OPERATION (From Our Own Correspondent.) PALMERSTON NORTH, To-day. Some little time ago the services of the Sockburn Aviation School were enlisted by the Manawatu-Oroua River Board in the taking of an aerial survey of the board's area, the authorities being then preparing for the presentation before the ratepayers ol: an extensive scheme for the protection from flood encroachment of the extensive area between Palmerston North and the outlet at Foxton of the Manawatu River. The task was by no means a sinecure for the pilot and his “shooter” were faced by wretched conditions for a considerable period of their stay at Foxton, which point they made their base, old man flood not making the task any the easier. The presentation of an account for £IOO at a meeting of the river board on Thursday, such being the cost of the survey, was instrumental in provoking some discussion on the subject, but the engineer, Mr. F. C. Hay, gave it as his opinion that the expenditure on the part of the Government had been more in the neighbourhood of £SOO. The Sockburn people had agreed to do the whole area, but had left with the work not completely done. Three months had been spent in the taking of the survey and the work had been well worth the outlay. The aeroplane had originally come up at a rush request to take flood pictures, the cost of which was to be £SO, the mosaic of the remainder making the contract figure up to £IOO. It had, he explained, cost £l2 an hour for flying time alone.

In reply to a question as to the possibility of a ’plane being again brought north with a view to taking an aerial survey of Palmerston North, the engineer stated that he was of the opinion that an airplane could stay in the north for some time and make money, the Director of Forestry at Ruapehu having 40,000 acres at Ruapehu which could be taken immediately, while with the proposed town planning scheme of Palmerston North there were some topographical features that would be well worth the taking. Moreover, he added, there would be a good source of revenue in the selling of aerial pictures. The members realised the magnitude of the task and the account was passed without further comment, and it will remain for the future to determine whether the Aviation School will employ its more modern plane and photographic apparatus as a revenue producing asset.