THE HERALD BY AIR.

RECOKD DISTANCE SERVICE

WHANGAREI AND THAMES.

A NOTABLE ENTERPRISE.

EARLY MORNING DISTRIBUTION.

The election edition of the New Zealand Herald, yesterday with its comprehensive display of the stirring results of the Parliamentary and prohibition polls was distributed by a supermarine filing boat "> Whangare, and Thames. ~ A notable record of JT tribution by air was established, enterprise in every way was an outstandin*7 success. • . Even the most prosaic details of unique service to newspaper e " on a great occasion of nakonal interest w quicken appreciation of journal*,tc nnt. ative and of the utilityand speed of aerial transport. It may be said in pass ing that the general results and community advantages of th ° " u^ eS J h U Do . terprise—the first of its kind in . minion—far exceeded the most confident anticipations of not only the progressive originators of the experiment, but o thousands of the isolated homesteads and distant nam Lnd towns north and south o. Within a little over five hours a first faint break of day the latest and best supermarine flying boat in Australasia had flown a double journey, nonh and south, of. some 266 miles, at a speed of better than a mile a minute, had distributed nearly half-a-ton o Heralds at fixed depots at Onerahi, near Whangarei, and Thames, and .arrived safely back at Kohimarama with a fine achievement to the credit of Messrs. Walsh Brothers at the New Zealand Flying School. Dropping News at Dawn. After the attractive election night tumult at the Herald's brisk display of poll results, the extraordinary strain ot preparation was concentrated upon the production of the f\rst edition and the latest available details, which were not very materially altered in. subsequent editions. Everything worked without a hitch. notwithstanding the additional work of preparing for a wide extension of the distribution service. All the arrangements for the record delivery of the big issue for Northland and Thames worked without a hitch, exactly to the scheduled programme. Within five minutes after the special delivery of the papers at the Kohimarama flying school the seaplane; which is the only one of its kind in Australasia, and is known as a supermarine flying boat, with 230-h.p. "Puma" engine, was on its way north. The craft, which was piloted by-Mr. George Bolt, who was accompanied by a passenger, left the water at 3.50 a.m. Conditions for the flight were exceptionally favourable, there being only a gentle breeze, with fair Risibility. Dawn was outlining the contour of the islands of the Gulf and the coastline of coves and capes as the 'plane cleared the North Head straight as a bird for Whancaparoa. Thence to Mullet Point-, over Leiph and Pakiri, past Bream Tail, and over Marsden Point to the shimmering waters of Onerahi, while away to tho west, in the flush of a beautiful summer dawn, the panorama of Kaipara Harbour caught the vision of the aviators. On the way the pilot, with a fine thoughtfulness for the isolated settlers on the coastal farms, flew low in passing" and dropped the Herald to the delighted folks, who, rising early, secured a rare and a very welcome gift from the sky at dawn The journey of 85 miles was accomplished in lh. 14m. From Onerahi to Whangarei the papers were conveyed by motor launch, and the residents had an ample topic for breakfast. The seaplane left Onerahi at 5.27 a.m. and reached Kohimarama at.6.45 a.m. The Trip to Thames. A- snack for the pilot and his companion, and the replenishment of the seaplane's oil-tank occupied about 23 minutes. At 7.8 a.m. the flyer with another full load, representing a record for aerial transport in New Zealand, if not in Australasia, rose gracefully from the Waitemata and flew with swift strength past Howick, Maraetai and many a sleepy hollow along the coast, thence turned south by east through the Ponui Channel and onwaird across the firth, alighting near the Thames wharf at 7.49 a.m.-—a fast trip of 45 .miles in 41 minutes. The journey by steamer takes four hours, while the trip by train is a kind of expedition in slow progress for 148 miles. The seaplane left Thames at 8.19 a.m., and arrived at Kohimarama at 9.3 a.m., after having since daybreak conveyed to thousands of country residents the news that simultaneously was stirring the city. Throughout the double journeys the Walsh Bros*, fine flying-boat maintained the reputation gained by its type_ in a recent international aerial contest in the Old World. The outstanding feature of the Herald's enterprise was the pleasure it afforded distant communities north ang§ south. Everywhere the amazingly early delivery of the Herald promptly discussion of the prospect of a great development in the future of aerial transport between Auckland and the inland and coastal towns of the great province. The route of the Herald's distribution bv air is adm'ltedly one of the most beautiful in the world—a rare panorama of verdant hills and meadows, Veacbes and bays, and the fair islands of the Hauraki Gulf. The appreciated advantages oL aeri&l delivery of the Herald at Onerahi and Thames did not end at these .points of flight. Indeed, these wore but the becinning of an excellent service of distribution across country, and also northward and southward of the seaplane's landingstages. Sheafs of congratulatory telegrams have been received from many delighted communities. Photographs recording this interesting event appear on page 11.