AUCKLAND SEAPLANE SMASHED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 84, 2 January 1918, Page 4

AUCKLAND SEAPLANE SMASHED

UNLUCKY ACCIDENT AT NAPIER,

(B.v TclegraDh-Speclnl CorrcsnondenU Napier, January 1. Early this morning the Auckland seaplane, which has been making demonstratjon flights at Napier during the Christmas holidays, was wrecked, all the rigging, planes, etc. being smashed to smithereens, white tho hull holed in several places. Only the hull, engine, and propeller _ were saved. The accident occurred in a strong nor'-wosterly, when the plane was being removed from the buoy to which it was moored, and was duo to tho principal tow line carrying away. Forced by a choppy sea and gale ot wind, tho machine was thrown against tho breakwater wharf where tho bumping quickly reduced the wmgS to matchwood. , . , .. , By strenuous efforts tho pilot and another assistant, with numerous onlookers, succeeded in saving the hull and engine, biifc not before the former was severely damaged. Genuine sympathy is felt for Mr. Walsh (chief pilot) who, whenever possible, flew along the town to enable tho residents to witness the flight. This is the second flying machine that has flown at Napier, and on both occasions the visits ended disastrously. The first machine was brought to Napier some years ago by Wizard Stone. Tt fell during a flight at the Napier Pnrk Racecourse, and was badly damaged, while the aviator sustained a broken collar-bone.