AEROPLANING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10154, 28 December 1910, Page 4

AEROPLANING.

The timo is not far distant when the latest form of locomotion, which I has seized so violently upon the public of Great Britain, America, and the Continent, will be. at the disposal of New Zealanders. The last . English mail brings details of the arrangement of a mission to Australia and New Zealand by representatives of the' British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, of which Sir George White, Bart., is Chairman. Mr Joseph Hammond, with two of the latest "Bristol" bi-planes, will be one of the. commission which comes to New Zealand. Mr Hammond is a native of Feilding, and was educated at the.Wellington College, afterwards taking up farming in Australia. From this occupation he turned to gold-digging in Klondike and trapping in Alaska. For some six months after this he, toured in the United States as a cowboy in the famous show of Buffalo Bill. Going to Europe, he travelled in most of its countries, and became fascinated by the new art- of aviation, and after gaining much experience by visiting the best-known aerodromes in Franco, he entered the school at Rheims and obtained certificate with marvellous, rapidity. The sight of an Australian aviator of the greatest courage and daring, flying the production of a manufacturing company of the Mother Country, should evoke the greatest enthusiasm all over the Continent and in rsew Zealand. The manager hopes to have the opportunity of demonstrating to the military authorities of the Commonwealth and Australia, and also to those of New Zealand, that he brings a machine which is absolutely invaluable as a means of tactical reconnaissance, and the .acquiring of a number of which would, in a few months, enable them to take foremost places among tho aerial fleets of the world.