SPECIAL FLIGHT TO CHATHAMS

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28154, 18 December 1956, Page 14

SPECIAL FLIGHT TO CHATHAMS

Official Party To Prepare For Visit To reach the Chatham Islands in time to prepare for the Duke of Edinburgh’s visit tomorrow, New Zealand Government officials had to fly there by way of Wigram, Paraparaumu, and Evans Bay. Early this morning, they left Christchurch in a Royal New Zealand Air Force Dakota, and at 6 a.m. the party was due to leave Evans Bay for the Chatham Islands in a chartered Ansett Airways Sandringham flying-boat. After the Britannia sailed from Lyttelton last evening, the party drove to Wigram. The Dakota took off at 1.45 a.m. and was expected to land at Paraparaumu shortly after 3 a.m. With an hour’s drive into Wellington, the party would not have any time for sleep as they had to be at’ Evans Bay at 5 a.m. Last evening, it was thought that the weather at the Chatham Islands might prevent the Sandringham from making the flight today. But the New Zealand manager of Ansett Travel Service (Mr E. J. T. Gwatkin) said in Wellington that no reports received so far would indicate that the weather was unsuitable for a landing. “There has been mention of 3ft waves, but the captain of the flyingboat says his aircraft can land in 6ft wave conditions without danger,” said Mr Gwatkin. “Cloud and mist conditions are not considered unfavourable.”