ENORMOUS CROWD

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 119, 16 November 1936, Page 10

ENORMOUS CROWD

WELCOME AT WIGRAM

SHOUTING AND CHEERING

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, November 15.

An excited and enthusiastic crowd of between 20,000 and 30,000 people gave the North Canterbury farmerflyer one of the most tumultuous welcomes anyone has ever received here when he arrived at Wigram Aerodrome, the scene being reminiscent of the tumultuous rejoicing at the landing of the Southern Cross in 1928. Thousands broke the barriers and rushed madly across the flying field in the dark,, shouting and cheering. ' They surrounded the machine until the engine had to be stopped.

Only a brief but firm appeal from the flyer induced the surging crowd to part to, let his aeroplane through. For a moment the crowd was undoubtedly out of hand. Thousands tried to shake the pilot's hand as officials ushered him with difficulty .to the clubhouse for the official welcome.

The landing was made in the dark. Flares had been lighted along the landing way, and lights from hundreds of motor-cars sent long beams of light across the ground. Mr. Clark circled the aerodrome twice before coming down. So dark was it. that the machine could not be seen when it touched ground, but as the waiting crowd heard the dying drone of the engine, hundreds broke past the barriers and burst past the police and rushed across to the aeroplane.

Because of • the press of people all round the club hangars, the aeroplane was taken into one of the Royal New Zealand Air Force hangars. Mr.