AEROPLANE ACCIDENT MR. SCOTLAND'S LOSS. TO THI EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 72, 26 March 1914, Page 8

AEROPLANE ACCIDENT MR. SCOTLAND'S LOSS. TO THI EDITOR.

Sir, — The misfortune to Mr. Scotland will, I trust, be educative to the public, and we, rather than lie, I think, ought to bear the cost of the lesson. Men in the crowd on Saturday, apparently thinking they had been " had " or that the aviator was simply afraid, showed very keen resentment at their disappointment, and there was at one time considerable danger to his aeroplane. I once saw a balloon ripped to pieces by a mob, and am thankful this city was not so disgraced. Nothing apparently would have pleased the^e people more than to see a brave young fellow risk his life and court almost certain death. The wind yesterday afternoon, as reported to Mr. Scotland fiom our anemometer at Mount Wakeffeld, was particularly unsteady, and he knew the danger. 1 also told him a storm was raging in the North, and that the upper currents were all in commotion. I think he showed his courage under trying circumstances on Saturday in the face of cruel ignorance, and yesterday made a brave attempt to satisfy the public. He has undoubted skill and enterprise, and is a young New Zealander of whom the country may be proud. Dr. H. R. Mill, the Director of the British Rainfall Organisation, now visiting this country, told me he has frequently on a favourable day counted over thirty aeroplanes, flying together at one time, and though we may not expect to see this here, yet we all want to see a flight. He could have fl^wn on Snnday, but respected the day, and this will, I tmst, appeal to many. I enclose a small donation towards a fund which I feel sure others will be ready to supplement and show their sympathy and appreciation, if you will be so good as to open a list in your columns. — I am, etc., D. C. BATES. TO THE EDITOK. Sir, — Most people, present or otherwise, will sincerely regret the accident which happened to the New Zealand-born aviator, Mr. Scotland, and his machine. But few will probably have thought of, dr clearly understood, the extent of the disaster to the man himself. The value of the conquest of the air, to the world at large, is generally recognised, but it is doubtful whether the public has given that share of credit which is the due of these intrepid exploiters of the air. Here we have the case of a young New Zealander, practically no more than a boy when he set out on his career, placing his all in the venture, only to meet with disaster in giving his own countrymen the benefit of his experience so dearly bought. As an earnest of my sympathy, and in the hope that others may be induced to do some little towards assisting and encouraging our countryman to renewed efforts, I beg to enclose the sum of £1, and trust you will lend your columns to the furtherance of what I believe to be a laudable object. — I am, etc., NEW ZEALANDER. 26th March, 1914. We acknowledge the receipt of £1 from "New Zealaijder" and 10s from Mr. D. C. Bates. As explained in an article published on page 3 of this issue, the loss caused by the damage to the aeroplane falls entirely on Mr. Scotland.