GIFT AEROPLANE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 52, 2 March 1929, Page 10

GIFT AEROPLANE.

"HERALD" DIRECTORS PRESENT. AERO CLUB ACCEPTS THE MOTH. FINE ACHIEVEMENT MARKED. '"it is both a pleasure and a privilege to baud over the Moth which the directors of the New Zealand "Herald'' and Auckland "Weekly News" have presented to your club to mark, in a substantial way, the development in aviation caused by Kingstord Smith's hist night across the Tasnian," said Mr denry Horton, managing director/ in making the presentation of a De Haviluiud Uipsy iioth light aeroplane to the Auckland Aero Llub yesteidav. The tunction took place at the club's aerodrome at lhumatao. There was a lar-e H,r"H P 1 I " t i' ludhl = r the directors of IvR w a , ' Me f srs - Edwin Horton. it-' ; V 1 * 011 ' and Liston Wilson His Loidship, Bishop Clearv, Koman Catholic Bishop of Auckland. * a member or the Aero Club, and for years aTI . ton enthusiast, was also present. D r C'eaiy was the first bishop in New Zealand to fly about his diocese The secretary of the club," Mr L W Swan in welcoming the directors of the Herald. taid tll , „ ilt M(>lh 1l \ : i" ini l >ol 'tant factor in the immediate development of the club. Aviation — USL& ,ht

Mr Horton said the pioneer fl ier « of the Dominion were enterprising ? Aucklanders, .Messrs L \ WaH v"' ian Walsh and R. A. Dexter wlm • """ rated the New Zealand' Flvin J Scho'T't Kohimarama. They trained s!fel v minv who subsequently did ereat nnri ■ ?' Great War, a numbef ot themV* distinguished records \\ £ avin ? trusted that the gift would a <?° r , ton means of training safely tho~» rfl a ;p?» had i Capt. J. Seabrook, A.F.C a m n u the Aero Club committee"iidT' 7 01 f>n equal terms with other '' would be necessary U full the commercial utility of t0 the The flights of Hinkler tTtiri vL ai [ c ratt • Kmgsford Smith had demonst^ g i and [aviation had advanced to a\ f t t * state ot

efficiency which qualified it as a vital necessity in modern life. Tlie gift Moth would help in a very practical way to ci-eate and foster an air sen-e in the rising generation of New Zea landers. The Mayor, Mr. George BaiMon. and Mr. H. R. Mackenzie, chairman of the Auckland Harliour Board, and Mr. \ ivian \\ alsh, who lir-t tie\\ in New Zealand in a macliine which he made himself, also spoke. Mrs. K. M. Hacket. w ite of the editor of the "Herald. 7 ' then christened the Moth with the customary bottle of champagne. Afterwards tlie club's instructor. Major (J. A. i. owper went aloft and gave a fine demonstration of aerobatics. The Air Survey and Transport Company s two machines, one piloted by Mr. Douglas Mill, and the other by Mr. Smith, as well as the Southern Cross Company s new Blackburn Bluebird, piloted by Lieut. Lan Keith, took the a ir. join ill it "Major Cnwpor in a «!?inonstrat ion oi formation flvin^r.