MAILS BY AIR

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 72, 18 December 1919, Page 12

MAILS BY AIR

SUCCESSFUL TEST FLIGHT. * The lest flight by seaplane carrying mails, which took place between Auckland mid Dargaville, may ho said to bo the genesis of commercial aviation in New Zealand, and in' view of the rapid progress that form of tiansport is making in the Northern Hemisphere the future holds almost boundless possibilities in New Zealand, particularly to those places which are not at present served by railways. Indesd, it would not ho at nil surprising to hear of such places instituting proper aerodromes in order to encourage flying services, which are naturally much more easily established than railway communication ovor more or less irregular country. For example, it would !>• a comuarativcly simple maltor to establish Mi'cii a service between Auckland and Gislwrn'e 'by way of Tniirangn, and Opotiki, and between Gisbovno and xNapier, and what appears to be a modern marvel b-day may in a few years bocome tin ordinary everyday business. A report received % the Postal author'ties states that, the seaplane which, cairicd Mr. LA. Walsh (of the, Rohi-n-arama Flying School), a mechanic, and <Soll> \vHit of mail, matter, occupied 1 hour wild 25 minutes on the jwr" 10 ™ IliMit. A direct ooiuve was not foHowM. • hi order to mako an over-sea flight rather I han over-land, a ' course wag «lc«red along the. frin.ee of _ the. East 'frost, and 'then a sharp right angle course was falcon .-across the land to Dorfavillo The plane was received by the Jinvor ami citizens of Dargaville, who wcVuncd the airmen with great enthu-«-ism, and cnlorlaincd them at a luncheon «t wllich „„ congratulatory .■Civile'- were made. The return flight was made in 1 hour 25 minutes, which was considered excellent timo. In every respect the test was considered an unr.inlilio'l -wees*, and Ihe Postmasterfieneral' (Hon. J. 0. Contes) is satisfied that there is a. future for aerial mail services in New Zealand.