TWO TOWNS VISITED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 784, 3 October 1929, Page 16

TWO TOWNS VISITED

LARGE CROWDS WELCOME AUCKLAND AIRMEN FIRST HOP OF AERIAL TOUR (Special to THE SUN) TE AROHA, Wednesday. Within a minute of schedule time, the four Moth airplanes which started a tour of the North Island today circled over Paeroa. It was 10 a.m. when the machines landed, having taken exactly one hour to fly from Auckland. A large and enthusiastic band of residents welcomed the airmen, who were assured the co-operation and support of local authorities in establishing a suitable landing-ground. At a conference which was made up of representatives of the Paeroa Borough Council, Ohinemuri County, Paeroa Chamber of Commerce, and the Defence Department, Mr. Marshall, Mayor of Paeroa, said that the borough wished to extend every facility to the Aero Club, for it was desired to place the town on the aerial map. According to Mr. Spencer Mason, chairman of the Aero Club, a landingground at Paeroa would have a particular virtue. The town was the approach to a hilly area, and an airdrome there would he utilised frequently during cross-country flights.

“I do not feel that it would be necessary to dip very deeply into the municipal pocket to meet the essentials,” said Mr. Mason; “but if the step is delayed, it will be found that the land will have assumed exorbitant values in the future.” The district could not develop and operate an independent club, and its best interests certainly lay in linking up with Auckland. It was explained to the meeting by Major G. A. C. Cowper that any ground used for flying was not a loss, for it was quite practicable to use it for grazing. A hangar for a light plane could be built for £SO, and a pilot could soon clear the ground of grazing stock by circling twice before landing. , Mr. E. Edwards, Deputy-Mayor, and Mr. P. Williams, president of the Paeroa Chamber of Commerce, assured the visitors of support for any proposal which would stimulate aviation in the district. VISIT TO TE AROHA The machines took off from Paeroa at 3 p.m., the Mayor of Te Aroha, Mr. R. Coulter, being a passenger. A landing was made on Mr. George Goodfellow’s property, about three miles from Te Aroha. There was a large crowd present. Major Cowper and Captain Seabrook gave an exhibition of aerobatics, and Mr. Horton made a number of passenger flights. Plying continued for about two hours. Three of the machines were tied down for the night, Captain llewitt taking OH on the return to Auckland at 5.15 p.m. A conference with the Te Aroha Aviation Committee was held in the evening, at which Dr. I. Dempster presided, when the Government ban on the use of racecourses was criticised. Members of the committee said the owner of the property on which the machines landed tvas anxious to give every facility to aviators. If the adjacent property could be merged a landing-ground suitable for average commercial machines would he furnished. Labour and material for a hangar have also been promised. It was stated that there were two or three prospective purchasers of airplanes in the district, and that 25 flying pupils might be found in Te Aroha.