KARORO AIRPORT

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 February 1937, Page 4

KARORO AIRPORT

OPENING CEREMONY. SERVICE PLANES’ VISIT . Another page in the history of transport on the West Coast was written on Saturday afternoon, with the opening of the Karoro Airport at Greymouth, coupled with the official opening of the GreymoUth Aero Club’s buildings on the aerodrome, and the arrival of the first service aeroplanes. The significance of the event was not lost upon the people of Greymouth, as evidenced by the fact the function was attend* cd by close on two thousand people. The spectacle of five aeroplanes, leaving the aerodrome and flying thipugh the blue sky above was a unique one for Greymouth and was a sight that affected even the) most blase of those present. It reflected a new era in the transport system of New Zealand, and the completion of the Greymouth airport has brought this part of the Dominion within a few hours of the capital city. Weather conditions for the ceremony were perfect, a. cloudless sky and only a slight breeze making for ideal flying conditions. Many of those present availed themselves of ah opportunity to sample air travel during the afternoon, and there can be no doubt but that no previous single event has done so much ’to make the people of Greymouth airminded.

Early in the afternoon three aeroplanes took the sky, the club training plane, ZK-ADZ and the two planes of Air Travel Ltd., flown by Captain J. C. Mercer and Flying Officer J. G. Hewett. They circled above to welcome the two service planes of Cook Strait ’ Airways, Ltd., which were timed to arrive on return from Hokitika at 2.30 p.m. Punctually at 2.30 the two big planes appeared in the southern sky, and were escorted into the aerodrome by the smaller craft. The first to laud and taxi up to the new hangar was the new plane, ZK-AEW (Mars), piloted by Captain G. B. Bolt, and it was followed' within a few minutes by its sister plane, ZK-AEC (Mercury), piloted by Flying Officer A. T. Orchard. Apart from Captain Bolt and Flying Officer Orchard, who are the technical adviser and - senior pilot respectively of the Company, the planes brought the following official party:—Messrs H. C. Cock (Chairman of Directors), E. H. Thompson (Managing Director), C. G. White, J. Newman, H. P. Duncan (Directors) of the Cook Strait Airways Company. Also included in the passengers were Messrs W. Temple and Kelvin Jones, chief ground engineer and traffic clerk respectively, and P. Renton (Secretary of the Hokitika Aero Club). On .alighting from the planes, the party was met by the Mayor (Mr W. Meldrum), Mr H. T. Parry (President of the West Coast United Aero Clup), Mr F. A. Kitchingham (President of the Grey mouth Aero Club), Mr A. J. McDowall (Club Captain), Mr. L. Wicks (Secretary), and representatives of all district local bodies and escorted to a temporary dais in front of the Aero Club’s hangar, where the opening ceremony took place, and a welcome extended to the visitors.

OPENING CEREMONY. The Mayor (Mr W. Mcldrum) said that they were assembled that afternoon to officially open the Karoro Airport, as it would be officially called, and at the same time to welcome, to the port the officials and stall' of Cook Strait Airways Ltd., who were taking' up the service from Greymouth. It was a red letter day in the history of Greymouth. It had; taken some years, and a fight against some opposition to bring the airport, but now it was there they wanted to say how pleased tlihy were to hear from those who had to do the flying from it that it was in excellent order. The work had been done by the air-minded citizens, with the assistance of the Aero Club, and, most of all, the Government. The Public Works Department had carried out the work, and the Government, with contributions from local bodies, had found the money. He thought that it was right at that time to give a mead of praise to those who had carried on the early flights on the West Coast, under the greatest difficulties. Captain Buckley, Captain Mercer and Squ'adron-Leader McGregor were three of the men who had been the first to bring flying to the West Coast.

Flying was first a matter of imagination among the youth of the nations, continued the Mayor. Through the ages they had been interested in the flight of birds and dreamed of being able to fly like them. During the last generation the ingenuity of man had resulted in the building of planes which literally competed with the flight of the birds. It was l only about thirty years since the Wright Brothers made their first short hop, and that was followed shortly after by Bleriot’s flight across the English Channel —a feat which was received with astonishment and wonderment throughout the world. There was. a long list of air pioneers, Hinkler, Ulm, Lindbergh, Kingsford Smith and our own Jean Batten. Unfortunately, many of them had lost their lives, but they had blazed the trail for others to follow. As a consequence they had on the ground that day two planes which showed how absolutely safe flying was. having cost the Company thousands of pounds. In fact, it seemed that it was now infinitely safer to fly in the air than to run about the roads in a car. There were three purposes for which the aerodrome would be used. The first was commercial traffic, which included the carriage of passengers, goods and mail. The second was instructional flying, under the direction of the Aero Club, and the third purpose was that of defence. There was no doubt that as far as New Zealand was concerned their main lino of defence would be the air. It was open now for the youth of the district to become fliers. In conclusion, the Mayor extended a welcome to representatives of Cook Strait Airways and declared the Airport open. RED LETTER DAY. Mr F. A. Kitchingham, as President of the Greymouth Aero Club, joined in extending a welcome, to the Compuiy. and read a telegram from Dr Jamieson, President of the Nelson Aero Club, extending congratulations t.o the Grey Club. He also stated that invitations to be present at the function bad been extended to the Prime

Minister, the Minister of Public Works, and the Minister of Defence, none of ■whom had been able to be present, owing to having prior engagements. Mr J. O’Brien, M.P. for the district, was also unablei to be present, for the same reason. It was indeed a red letter day, continued Mr Kitchingham, as it marked the fruition of ten years’ labour, not only by himself, but the others who had been associated to get an airport for Greymouth. Well he remembered the night in the Council Chamber when Mr R. J. Williams mentioned that the time was'ripe to set apart a piece of ground for an aerodrome'. That was ten years ago, and .the proposal met with smiles round the Council table. Nevertheless, the seed bore fruit, and it was decided that an investigation of possible sites should be made. Mr Williams, Mr Pairmaid' and Mr Greenslade went heart and soul into it, and took up the investigation- of all land within eight miles of Greymouth. Even then the proposal was received very coldly until the larger scheme of making the drome on its present site was conceived. He asked those present to cast their minds back to the day when, in 1846 the first white man left Nelson for the West Coast, on Maroh 17. He walked practically on the same piece of ground as they were standing on that day, on May 25, exactly 70 days after leaving Nelson. That day‘they had two planes on the ground which had done the journey in as many minutes—such was the! progress of science, research and experience. The Aero Club was formed in August 1933, mainly through the efforts of Mr H. W. de Castro, who was Government Auditor at Greymouth. At the time, they thought that they were going to get a ground suitable for club purposes within a few months, but it was. three and ahalf years before the ground actually materialised. It had been, a difficult task to keep the club going in the meantime, but the public had geneiously supported them to such an extent that they now had the hangar and club rooms which were very adequate for the purpose for which, they were built, as the Club existed wholly and solely for the purpose of enabling pilots to be trained. Like all such bodies, the Club had , a substantial overdraft, and it would be pleased to have all the assistance that the public could give. They had also made certain arrangements with Cook Strait Airways for the use of the rooms and he wanted to say publicly that the Company had met them in what they (the Club) thought was a very handsome manner. The Cook Strait Airways deserved every congratulation on their courage and foresight in putting the planes, into the service. Each plane had cost £7OOO and he (Mr Kitchingham) hoped, that they would get the monetary and'other rewards that they deserved.

LOCAL BODIES. Mr J- Mulcare, who, apologised for the unavoidable absence of the County Chairman, Mr J. Ryall, joined, on behalf of the County Council, in congratulating Cook Strait Airways in inaugurating.a service to Greymouth. He felt that it would be a. wonderful benefit to the district. As a member of the Power Board he took a keen interest in the aerodrome, as he felt that the Board and its staff had taken a big part in its establishment. He hoped that the Company would meet success, which would mean that everyone could participate. By that he meant that he would like to see the Company in the position to halve the present schedule of fares. He sincerely trusted that within a few years a trip to Wellington by air would be within the reach of eveiy man and woman in the district. In conclusion, Mr Mulcare expressed' the satisfaction of the residents outside of the town at that day’s events. On behalf of the Grey Electric Power Board Mr W. H. Parfitt (Chairman) congratulated all those responsible for the scheme of establishing the aerodrome, and the air service. He referred to the pioneering flights on the West Coast and also to the fact that both Captain Buckley and Kingsford Smith had suggested that the drome should be in its, present location. He felt that it was a great day for the West Coast and Greymouth, and that something had been accomplished. Mr A. H. McKane apologised for the absence of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Greymouth Harbour Board. He said that he would like to associate the Board with the remarks of the other speakers in congratulating Cook Strait Airways on their enterprise in commencing the service, which would be suteh a convenience for people wanting to travel. The ground, they hoped, would be sufficient for requirements for many years to come, but plans had already been jnade for an extension. The Mayor, in his reference had overlooked 1 those men who had lost much sweat and much energy in bringing the ground into order, in what he thought was something like record time, eighteen months. He wished to thank those men. They also did not want to forget their pioneer West Coast Aviation Company, Air Travel Limited. They evidently had not been big enough to carry on the service now commencing, but they had blazed the trail to the Glaciers. He congratulated Cook Strait Airways on their enterprise and hoped that they would get sufficient support to justify it. Mr H. T. Parry. President of the West Coast Aero Club, congratulated the Cook Strait Airways Company on the wonderful progress they had made and on their achievements. Ou behalf of the Aero Club he wished them every success and’expressed the hope that, the beautiful day would be symbolical of the success of the Karoro Airport.

COMPANY’S THANKS. Mr H. C. Cock, as Chairman of Directors, responded on behalf of Cook Strait Airways. Ltd. He said that he wished to express the Company’s grateful thanks to those who had extended the welcome, and particularly to those who had done so much to. make it possible for the Company to come to Greymouth. He was sure that they must have pul a tremendous amount of work and energy into it. The Company was grateful to the local Aero Club and thought that their association would be to their mutual benefit, also to the Borough Council for allowing them to use the ground for three months without landing fees, and possibly after at a reduced rate. He thought that the Council had acted generously. but wisely, as far as the interests of the district were concerned. The service was largely experimental, aud in the early stages would be run at a loss. Perhaps it would be a big loss, but in any ease they knew there

would be a loss, as far as the Company was concerned, until it worked up to a position where it would be able to bear a reasonable) overhead. He would like to say, continued Mr Cock, what a disappointment it was to them that Westpor- was not available as one of the. ports of call on the service. It would have helped the Company and the public. It would have given the Company additional earnings, and also provided them with the intermediate traffic between Westport and Greymouth. The ground at Westport had been* eroded by the’ sea, so that it was not possible to use it on a. regular timetable, although it was possible to land there in an emergency. The Company was also grateful for what the various Government Departments’ had done for them. A service such as their’s depends to a great extent upon ground communication which must ultimately be provided by some Public Service. When the Company ( started operations it had to provide everything, but now the position was. improving. The present Government had been very helpful, through the various Departments, Post and Telegraph. Meteorological and Public Works. The Company’s service, as far as the planes and pilots were concerned, was of a very high standard. They had endeavoured to have the best. The planes were of the latest and best British make and the pilots were qualified for, and would be in demand for any similar service anywhere in the world. At the present time the Company could not provide all the facilities and any time the service was not run owing to the weather they would have no apologies to make. Safety first was their motto, and if the service was not run, then it would be in public interest. Ono speaker had referred to the l fact that Air Travel Ltd. had not been able, to conduct the service. He (Mr Cock) wished to say that his Company’s relations with Air Travel were of the happiest, and it was a pleasure to them to have Captain Mercer as their agent in Hokitika. The two companies were working in unison. His Company was a new one in the sense that it was only two years since it was registered, but in another sense it was not new. It was a combination of those interests which for generations had carried on transport across Cook Strait and in the vicinity—the Union Steam Ship Company; the Anchor Shipping Company, Newman’s, and a small block of the general public. The Anchor Company’s connection would be strengthened by the fact that Nancarrow and Co., through Mr P. C. Heaphy, was to be local'agent for the Company. Like other officers in the Company, Mr Heaphy’s family had been connected with the district for many years. The Company was a strong one. with sufficient capital available to cope with whatever developments might arise. Fourteen months ago they had got the first two planes, and now there were two more, and they had over £40.000 invested in the venture. They were running 1000 miles a day and had carried 16,000 passengers, besides a fair quantity of mail and freight. Whether this latest leg of the service developed depended upon the people of the West Coast. It would be developed according to their needs —the Company must have revenue to keep it going. “1 join with the other speakers in wishing the Club and the Borough Council every success in the development of this ground,” concluded Mr Cock, “and I appeal for your support, not only by occasional trips to Wellington, but by using the service for urgent freight, and by using the air mail service. In no other place can it. so easily and so cheaply be used.” At the call of the Mayor cheers were given for the Company and’ the Aero Club rooms were thrown open for the inspection of the public. Complimentary flights in the service planes were tendered by the Company to the members of the local bodies, most of whom were viewing Greymouth from the air for the first time.

and they were enthusiastic over then .experiences of air travel. The Company’s planes are six passenger De Havilland 89 Rapides, with a wing span of 48ft, a length of 34s feet and a height of 104 feet, and. fitted with two Gipsy Six engines. The interiors are luxuriously fitted and flying in them is only comparable to riding in a de luxe motor car on a perfect surface. There is no unpleasant sensation when they take the ail at 60 miles per hour, no feeling of excessive speed in the air, at 150 miles per hour, or more, and no noticeable bump on landing. They are constantly in radio communication with the ground. The trip on Saturday from Nelson, ( to Hokitika 1 and return, via Greymoutn was entirely uneventful, ' the Planes keeping to .an exact schedule without difficulty. Keen interest was manifested in the planes by the public, but only a limited number of flights could be given. Many availed themselves" of the opportunity of inspecting the interiors while they were on the ground, however. , After being the guests of the Aero Club at afternoon tea, the official party boarded the planes at 4.30 p.m.,, and within a. few minutes were lost to sight, on their return trip to Nelson. One of the planes will return to-mor-row morning, on the first flight of the new service. During the afternoon the Club plane and the two planes of Air Travel Ltd., were almost constantly in the air, making many passenger flights. The public were also entertained with sideshows conducted by Mr A. M. Jamieson ’and assistants. Afternoon tea was supplied in the Club’s hangar by a ladies’ committee consisting of Mesdames F. A. Kitchingham (Convener), A. J. McDowall, F. Shallcrass, A. Smith, J. W. Hannan, A. Lane and Miss J. Hambleton. In charge of an ico cream stall were Misses P. Fairhall and F. White (conveners) and assistants. ______