AIR TRAGEDY

SAD SENSATION AT CHRISTCHURCH. THE SOCKBUHX INSTRUCTOR KILLED,. . GIVING EXHIBITION AT • RACE MEETING. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 1 In the view of the thousands assembled this 1 afternoon for the Canterbury Jockey Club's Summer .Meeting, Mr C. M. Hill, the Chief Instructor for the Canterbury Aviation Company, lost his life. He had come ""over from Sockbur.il Aerodrome to the Course just before four- o'clock, iii a new biplane, Avith an eighty horse power engine, and his advfnt was greeted with cheers. Almost immediately he was lost to view in the clouds, but he" emerged with a beautiful nosedive. Mr Hill then proceeded to give a fine exhibition of flying.' He did nose dives, and aroused the admiration of the crowd by diving at the entrance to the entrance to the straight, and skimming up the course at a level with the stands. He then mounted high, and looped the loop.

He then descended a little lower and proceeded to execute- the same feat, but,, in * turning, first

one wing of the plane, and then the other, broke.' The machine then crashed down, tail first, 'to the ground. It landed, in a pad: dock at the back of *the racecourse. The biplane was smashed to pieces. Mr Hill's body was' found badly broken. Death was instantaneous.

Tlie deceased aviator leaves a widow and fine child. *