FIRST IN THE FIELD.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 77, 30 March 1912, Page 6

FIRST IN THE FIELD.

«*» AEROPLANE BY THE AORANGI AMERICAN AVIATORS ARRIVE. - WILL FLY COOK STRAIT. . At last it has come — the first aeroplane to be landed in New Zealand. While men have, been flying all over the world for the last live years, New Zealand, bo far, has been left out in the dark. They have flown in China, Japan, in Mexico, and Argentina in South Africa and Australia, but with the exception of brief long hops from the ground by home-made maeaine^ there has been no, flying at all worthy the name ia New Zealand. 1 • EYES ON NEW ZEALAND. ' It could iiot be expected that this state of affairs could last' much longer, as' it has been known that seveial aviators ihave; had their eyes on New Zealand for some little time past. Hammond, who was here last year on a vieifc to his people, declared, when he left for the Old Country in December last, ho would return with a mai^liiw somewhere about the middle of this year. It was even stated quite recently Ihat he was under engagement to a firm of Australian impresarios to appear here at no 'distant date. He is now said to be in China building flyiug machines for tho new republic. But he has been forestalled, and so have the other aspirants for the first honours in New Zealand ' by tho men who landed by the Aorangi to-day. These are Messrs. J. D. Walsh and Alfred M. Vevshuren, professional aviators from America, who have brought with them a Bleriot- / type monoplane, with the intention of giving, exhibition flights in this country as soon as they have had tim« to make arrange' ments. ' * AN OLD NEW ZEALANDER. j ' Mr. Walsh is an old N^w Zealander, | hailing from the Taieri. He has been j in the States for the last ten years pushing inventions of his own, one of the most notable of which is an electric wire strainer. For the last few years he has devoted himself to the study and practice of aviation, ,with headquarters at New York, where he has been designing and superintending the manufacture! of aeroplanes. The art of flying has been so popularised in America that, according to Mr. Walsh," it "has almost lost* its /loyelty. Aviation carnivals are ' held in different places all over the country, and considerable inducements are offered to Aviators by the promoters ,of State and country fairs and exhibitions to fly before the public. 'There is, therefore, a good deal of money in flying in America, and the professional aviator does well. THE POSSIBILITIES. It has been Mr. Walsh'e idea foV the last couple of years to try Neyw Zealand as a fair field for the flying man, and he, with Mr. Vershuren, are the first in that field. When the public are educated to the possibilities of flight by % actually witnessing aeroplanes in the air, he considers that New Zealanders will take up 'flying with enthusiasm-,' just as they. do Id America." -Then he' thinks the Government should bts interested in 1 aviation, ■as an essential part of every defence scheme nowadays. The example of tho Federal <Government in Australia was quoted. Altogether, Mr. Walsh thinks New Zealand* one of the best pTaces fox* aviation in tho world. THE\MACHINE. The machine has already carried fchfc flying men ;throu°;h the air in America. Mr. Vershuren himself has executed many flights. The' motor is a Roberts' 50-h.p., four-cylinder, engine of the car type, water-cooled, weighing about 170 pounds. The propeller is about Bft in diameter, fit is the intention of thtaviators to .exhibit the machine in town as soon as they can get a convenient stand. It will then be tuned "up, and the first big flight to be attempted will be across Cook Strait, probably to Blenheim. On a day like to-day, Mr. Vershuren, who would pilot the monoplane, 3ays it^ would be easy, /provided there was suitable landing-ground across tho water. The ma-chine is capable of a speed of sixty-five miles an hour^ "*md could get across to the .South Island easily under the hour., The start might be made from Miramar. A NOVEL IMPORT. At present tHero it some difficulty about the Customs duty, as it was expected, the machine might be landed free, but it is not thought the Customs authorities will put any serious 'obstacle in the way . of landing the first flying machine to'be imported into New Zealand. The tariff^ apparently, doee not make any provision for' lymg machines. The tmblic will no .doubt bo interested to know that the fiist -fullfledged'flying machine seen hero is built up of the late John B. Moisant's monoplane, which fell at New Orleans through the fainting of the aviator in mid-flight. ' • A. meeting of persons interested in the formation of a Public Speaking Club was held last" night at Brooklyn. v It vine decided by those present to form the club, and to hold the meetings on every Thursday from 11th April to -the end of September. The Rev. W. H. Hinton was elected president and Mi*. G. Mairs, secretary. A welcome is extended to all men who are desirous of joining the club. The first of a series of winter evening "fiocials"' was' held in the Church of England schoolroom at Lower Hutt on Friday. Advantage was taken of tho occasion to say farewell to the Rev. W. A. Cross, who has b.een acting as assistant in St. James's Parish for over two years. During thie time Mr. Cross has made many friends in the district, as is evidenced by the fact that he has been invited to three farewell gatherings, with presentations, viz., at Belmont, Taita, and the above, at which he was presented with 'a purse of sovereigns subscribed by the members of tho congregation. At the" same, meeting, the new assistant, Mr. T. Gardiner, was welcomed V> the parish. Miss Buswell, who is leaving the district, was also presented by the other lady members of the choir with a pretty bracelet, as a small token of 'their regard. An attempt is yet to be made at this late stage to send Malrolm Champion, Now Zealand's foremost swimmer, to the Stockholm Olympiad as a member of tha Australasian team. Mr. G. S. Hill, a member of thy New Zealand body, received a letter this morning from a prominent member of the council at Christ* church intimating thai, the co-oporation of Auckland should be sought in the matter. The various swimming centres J in the Dominion will also be aeked as to what help they can give .towards this end. The Tramways Band will play in Newtown Park to-morrow afternoon" in 'aid of the fluid for puvchaeing another leopard for the Wellington Zoo. * The steam 1 trawler Energy is due to arrive at the Queen's Wliarl on Moiidaj and Thursday morning* of next week. The public are reque-ted lo note the change in the duv o£ arrivul for that week only. Thereafter she ' will urrive vi uaaa[ an Tuesdays uad Fridays.