AERIAL MAIL.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17058, 1 February 1921, Page 6

AERIAL MAIL.

INAUGURATION OP OHBIST-CHTJEOH-TIMARtr SERVICE.

Despite weather conditions y«terday that were far frotn favourable, the aerial mail service between Christohurch . and Ashburton and Timaru wa« successfully inaugurated. The gale experienced, the velocity of ' which was 30 miles an hour, was a fairly sever® test, yet the Avro machine of tiw Canterbury Aviation Company proved equal -: to it, and established the fact tttafcA" stormy \fceather conditions, unless ottr-... exceptional severity, are not likely tp ■ interrupt the aerial mail service. The net timo occupied between Christ church and 'limaru was V 5 minutes, and ~v the return journey took 05 minutes net. The machine carrying the mail, witn Captain Euan DicKsou as pilot, started . on time,. 8 a.m., and was seen off by . ; Mr 11. 1). Kelly, chief postmaster, ilr - H. F. \Vigram, chairman of the Canterbury Aviation Company, and Mr C. H. Hewlett, tho dcputy-chairman of the company. In addition to the mail, and parcels of "The Press" for AshburtoA and Timaru, the machine carried two , passengers. Tho mail matter taken from Christchuroh was: Tor Ashburton, 63 letters, including two express tera; for Timaru, 168 letters, including Eevon express letters. Ashburton wa# reached at 9 a.m., and the machine landed at Washdyke, just out or Timaru, at 9.50. Washdyke was on the return journey at 12.20 ' Ashburton was reached 30 minutes later, and the machine reached Sockburn a» 1.30 p.m. tho mail matter being in the Chief Post Office at 1.4(5 p.m. From Timaru 85 letters, including 28 express letters, were received, and from Asn* burton 09 letters, including three ex-, press letters, came to hand.