IN HIS HOME TOWN

Evening Star, Issue 20655, 1 December 1930, Page 13

IN HIS HOME TOWN

TUMULTUOUS WELCOME TO OSCAR GARDEN [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, November 29. Mr Oscar Garden received a tumultuous welcome on his arrival at the Wigram Aerodrome this afternoon. Mr Garden, who flew his own machine from Wellington, was accompanied by Captain F. W. Haig. The two visiting aeroplanes wore met at Kaiapoi by pianos from Wigram and the Canterbury Aero Club, and about 3.20 black specks on tho northern sky were visible from tho city, and then were seen by the crowd at‘ the aerodrome. Two thousand people surrounded the .roped enclosure. When Mr Garden landed the crowd atteriipted to rush tho machine, but the police held all back except two youug who dashed up to tho plane and embraced the laughing young airman. His car was almost mobbed while ho was driven round the ground. Speeches of welcome .and congratulation were made by Mr James Leslie (chairman of the Paparua County Coun. cil, on whose territory the ,aerodrome is situated), tho Rev. J. K. Archer (Mayor of Christchurch), and Sir Francis Boys (on behalf of tho Canterbury and New Zealand Aero Club). Mr Garden briefly acknowledged the welcome. In an interview after landing he said he would certainly not attempt to fly the Tasman in his Gipsy Moth, which had not enough petrol capacity. Ho would not say whether he intended to make tho attempt in some other machine. Mr Garden will bo in Christchurch till Tuesday, when he loaves for Ashburton. From there ho will go to Oamaru, Dunedin, and Invercargill, returning to Dunedin and Timaru,