25 YEARS AGO

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 150, 20 March 1936, Page 10

25 YEARS AGO

Flight at Auckland (from “The Dominion,” Marell 23, 1911.) Aviation is making rapid strides in New Zealand, and at no distant date Auckland will have the opportunity of seeing the flying men at work. The pioneers in Auckland are the Auckland Aeroplane Syndicate. A reporter visited Papakura yesterday morning to witness the syndicate’s biplane in flight. Every wive was strained, making the “tone” in accord throughout, and the pilot. Mr. V. Walsh, then took his seat. The huge flying bird was then started rolling up and down the field, giving the pilot time to get accustomed to his wo k. Up and down went the machine, gaining momentum, and hopping off the ground at intervals, 'taking leaps that.made her cover distances varying from 20ft. to 30ft. This was not flying, however, but of a sudden the gentle hum of the engine seemed to cease and up and up rose the white mass until it was poised 40ft. in the air. It was magnificent, but the 1 acclamations of wonder soon ceased. A pocket of wind had caught and tilted the plane until the machine was nearly vertical. The tail was downi and the aeroplane rapidly fell, striking the ground with an incline to tiie left. Everything stopped suddenly, but fortunately the shock was taken in a degree by the skids. The fall hud caused some damage, but the pilot had not been dislodged.

The formation of a combination of tiie moderate thinking members of the community who are opposed to the irrational ideas of those who desire to impose unreasonable restrictions on the people is the programme of the National League, and about 300 members rallied in the Concert Chamber of the Wellington Town Hall lust evening in response to the call of the league. The chair was occupied by Mr. 11. Rawson, who explained that the object was to put a stop to the fanatical legislation which had been the order of the day for some time past.