N.Z.’s FIRST AIRMAIL

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30369, 19 February 1964, Page 21

N.Z.’s FIRST AIRMAIL

Relics For Museum “The Press" Special Service WELLINGTON, Feb. 18. Photographs, letters, newspaper cuttings and other relics relative to the first long-distance flight and the first air-mail in New Zealand 50 years ago are to be placed on permanent record at the Dominion Museum.

Not long back from England with a 45 h.p. Caudron biplane, young J, W. H. Scotland flew at Otaki in January, 1914, then shipped ■ his machine to Invercargill and, in an evening calm flew to Gore on the first long distance flight of 48 minutes. From Gore, where the Caudron struck a shed on take-off, the machine was railed to Dunedin, and after an evening demonstration there was railed to Timaru, which had been chosen as the starting point, for Christchurch in March. He made the flight in 2hr smin., The proposal that letters and other material be assembled came from a recent meeting of persons who had been interested in these earliest long distance flights, including the families of the late Mr H. R. Turner, who wag Mr Scotland’s mechanic, and the late Mr J. B. Andrews, who was closely associated with Mr Scotland.

The suggestion has also been made that members of the public may possess matterial Which could add to the interest and Completeness of the record.