"ALMOST MOBBED"

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 131, 1 December 1930, Page 7

"ALMOST MOBBED"

GARDEN AT CHRISTCHURCH

A TUMULTUOUS WELCOME

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) . CHRISTCHUECH, 20th Nov. Mr. Oscar Garden received a tumultuous welcome on his arrival at Wigram Aereilromo this afternoon. Mr. Garden, who flew his own machine from "Wellington, was accompanied by Caplain ll.'iig, ilyi"S officer for Vacuum Oil Company. The two visiting aeroplanes were- met sit Kaiapoi by 'planes from the Canter-1 bury Aero Club, and at about 3.20 p.m. black specs in the northern sky were visible from the city. At the aerodrome 2000 people surrounded the roped enclosure and ■\vhen Mr. Garden landed, the crowd attempted to rush the'niachine, but the police held all back but two young -women who dashed up to the 'plane and. embraced the laughing young airman. His car was almost mobbed while- he was driven 1-ouud the ground. • Speeches of welcome and congratulation were made by Mr. James Leslie, chairman of the Paparua County Coun- , cil, on tv-hoso territory the aerodrome as situated, Mr. J. K. Archer, Mayor of Christchurch, and Sir Francis Boys on behalf of the Canterbury and New Zealand Aero Clubs. Mr. Garden briefly acknowledged the welcome. lii an interview he said he would certainly not attempt to fly the Tasman in a Gypsy Moth, which had not enough petrol capacity. Ho would not say whether ho intended to make- tho attempt in some other machino'. Mr. Garden will be at Christchurch until Tuesday, when he will leave for Ashburton. From thero he will go to Oamaru, Dunedin, and Invercargill, returning to Dunedin and Timaru.