FLYING RECORD

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 59, 2 December 1933, Page 8

FLYING RECORD

1168 Miles in a Day LENGTH OF DOMINION Trip Takes Over 16 Hours By Telegraph.—Press Association. Invercargill, December 1. An aviation record for New Zealand was established to-day by Mr. E. F. Harvie, Auckland, a member of the Western Federated (N. 1. Flying Club, who was accompanied by Miss Trevor Hunter, Wanganui, on a flight from Cape Maria Van Diemen to Bluff in a De Haviland Gipsy Moth aeroplane. The distance covered ou the flight totalled 1168 miles, and the actual flying time was 16 hours 10 minutes. Mr. Harvie, who arrived here at 7.57 p.m., left Kaitaia in darkness at 2 o’clock this morning for the Cape, and, after circling over the lighthouse, headed south. on his long flight. Stops were made at Ruawai, Auckland, Hawera, Wellington, Kaikoura, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill. Conditions generally were good throughout the flight, but the flyers found it much colder coming down the South Island. The flight was the longest yet made in New Zealand in a day. the previous best lieing a journey by Squadron-Leader McGregor from Invercargill to Auckland on November 12, 1931. Sir. Harvie said that the success of the flight was mainly due to the machine and ground organisation. He commented on the celerity with which he was attended to at different landing grounds. The pair were very tired on their arrival here, but were delighted with their outstanding achievement, for Mr. Harvie the realisation of a longcherished ambition. Mr. Harvie, who was wearing no helmet, and using the Western Federated Club’s Moth ZK-A.BP, arrived at Rongotai Airport at 11.40 a.in., and departed for Christchurch at 12.10 p.m. He said that he had encountered bad conditions from Wanganui southward. It was especially bumpy in the neighbourhood of Wellington and over the harbour. There was a strong south-easterly wind blowing and Mr. Harvie seriously , considered abandoning his attempt. On telephoning Christchurch, however, he found that the weather there was clear, and decided to continue his flight. Mr. Harvie is the son of the Rev. F. G. Harvie, of Auckland, and a former student of Auckland University College. He toured New Zealand as a member of Air Commodore Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s party at the beginning of the year, and qualified for his pilot’s A endorsed license at New Plymouth, and recently made an attempt on the altitude record. He intends adopting aviation as his career. Miss Hunter was trained at Wanganui. She holds a pilot's A license and has done about 20 hours’ solo flying. OBITUARY Captain H. C. Parker The death of Paymaster-Captain H. C. Parker, R.N. (retired) occurred ou Tuesday at Remuera, Auckland. Captain Parker, who was 68, was president of the Auckland branch of the Navy League, and was well known in Auckland', although he had resided in the city only during the past five years. A son of the late Captain W. H. Parker, R.N., he was born at Plymouth, Devon, and saw service as a clerk, now called a paymaster-cadet, in H.M.S. Duke of Wellington in ISB2, being present at the bombardment of Alexandria in that year. After service on Indian troopships and’at Malta and Gibraltar, Captain Parker was Fleet-Paymaster in the cruiser St. George when it took part in the Dardanelles canipaign in 1915. After service with the fleet at Gallipoli he was transferred to the South Shields minesweeping base on the Tyne, and in 1918 was appointed to the staff of an Edinburgh coastguard base. He retired with the rank of paymastercantain in 1921. Captain Parker was married at Malta, in 1908, to Mrs. Stafford Copland, widow of Captain Stafford Copland. of the Leicestershire Regiment, and daughter of Colonel E. P. Gambier. of the Royal Engineers. On Captain Parker’s retirement they lived for a time in Hampshire and came to Auckland in 1925. Captain Parker took a keen interest in badminton and was one of the prime movers in forming the Remuera Badminton Club, one of the first in tlie Dominion. He was also a member of the Remuera Bowling Club. He is survived by his wife, a son, Mr. Christopher G. Parker, and a daughter. Miss Althea Parker. Mr. Peter Reid According to a “Dominion” Special Service message, the death occurred at Pahiatua this week of Mr. Peter Reid, of Cambridge Street, at the age of 74 years. Born at Wellington in 1559. the late Mr. Reid received his education at a private school, and afterward worked for a firm of brewers. He severed bis connection with the firm at an early age. however, and spent most of bis life farming in the Wairarapa, Feilding, and Bush districts. He had been forty years iu the Bush district, the first 26 years of which he spent at Mangamaire. There he took up a 90-acre block of land, carved out a home for himself, and started to work with clearing the land. He retired 26 years ago and came to live in Pahiatua, where he had resided ever since. The late Mr. Reid is survived by a widow, three sons, and one daughter. Mr. W. B. Lawrie The death occurred on Wednesday night of Mr. W. B. Lawrie, a wellknown Wanganui resident, at the age of 76 years, states a “Dominion” Special Service message. He was born at East Linton, Scotland, and came to New Zealand 55 years ago. He joined the firm of John Duthie and Co., and was later a partner and retail manager of the firm of Thain and Co. Of later years he was with the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-op. Mr. Lawrie was a life member of the Oddfellows’ Lodge, and was the first secretary of the Wanganui Highland Rifles. His passing will be regretted by a wide circle of friends. The funeral, which took place yesterday, was largely attended. Mrs. Alice Laura McCrea The death occurred yesterday at her residence, 15 Overtoun Terrace, Ilataitai, of Mrs. Alice Laura McCrea, wife of Mr. J. C. McCrea, formerly Chief Postmaster of Wellington and secretary of the Hataitai Bowling Club. Mrs. McCrea, who was 61 years of age. contracted pneumonia as late as Sun-d.-iv last, so that her illness was very brief. The funeral at 11 a.m. to-day .will be a private one.