25 YEARS AGO

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 159, 2 April 1937, Page 10

25 YEARS AGO

Aeroplane Imported (From “The Dominion,’’ April 1, 1912.) Very shortly the people of Wellington may expect to see a huge black object floating gracefully above their heads. It will be the first really practicable aeroplane to rise from Now Zealand soil. This particular machine has flown before in the United States, so it is reasonable to suppose that it can be made to fly again. The aeroplane arrived from San Francisco by the Aorangi on Saturday, and was landed on the wharf boxed up and in parts. The machine, one of the Bieriot type, is owned by Messrs. J. D. Walsh and Alfred M. Vershuren, who arrived by the same steamer. Each of them has his certificates entitling him to claim the title of “professional aviator.” Mr. Walsh is a New Zealander. It is his opinion that when the public is educated up to the possibilities of flying they will take up the sport, or whatever one likes to call it, with enthusiasm. It is intended that the first big flight shall be across Cook Strait to the South Island.

The Oxford-Cambridge boat raee. rowed on the Thames, resulted in an extraordinary fiasco. A strong westerly wind was blowing, and the water was choppy. Cambridge had the outer position, and felt the heavy weather earlier than Oxford. They shipped water shortly after the start, and after a mile dropped the race as their boat was gradually sinking. On rounding Harrod’s Corner, the boat was awash, and the crew went overboard. Oxford hugged the shore, and on their boat gradually filling they pulled ashore nt Chiswick, emptied it, and resumed. They were again waterlogged at the finish. The crew had a severe gruelling. They finished in 29 minutes, the slowest time since 1842. The event was declared no race owing to the fact that other persons than the crew had helped Oxford to bale out at Chiswick. The race will be rowed again on Monday.