DOMINION NEWS MINOR DAMAGE TO METEOR AIRCRAFT

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 March 1946, Page 2

DOMINION NEWS MINOR DAMAGE TO METEOR AIRCRAFT

Minor' damage in the shockabsorber part, of the landing gear of the Gloster Meteor caused the aircraft to be declared unserviceable after completing the first part of its scheduled flights over North Auckland yesterday. It was necessary to cancel further flying. Replacement oi a small part, an essential rubber ring, is necessary before the aircraft can be flown again. Every effort is being made to secure a suitable spare. It was stated, however, that the planned flight had merely been postponed. Flown by Squadron Leader McKay, the Meteor left Ardmore at 10 o’clock yesterday. morning and landed at Waipapakauri, where it drew a large crowd. The visitors took a keen interest in the jet aircraft, which is totally unlike any aeroplane seen in the area previously. After passing over towns included in the morning itinerary, the Meteor returned to Auckland and landed at Ardmore at 1.5 p.m. It was then that an examination showed that the defective shock absorber, which had previously been noted as deteriorating, was unlit for further use until a part had been replaced.

Infantile Paralysis. Dr. G. O. Dempster, Medical Officer of Health for Otago, said that the infantile paralysis epidemic in his district had been subdued, and the majority of the patients had made a good recovery. He added that, from previous experience in New Zealand, epidemics of this disease were to be expected at intervals.

Telephone Cali to Ireland. To have a conversation with her two sisters in Belfast, Northern Ireland, after a break of 25 years, was the experience of Mrs. J. Rainey, of Hastings, yesterday morning. Radio telephono reception was particularly clear. Mr. Rainey and his 14-year-old daughter also spoke to their relatives in Ireland. Mrs. Rainey was disappointed at not being able to speak to her mother, who was visiting friends at the time of the call. —(P.A.)

No Disease Brought In. Discussing health matters yesterday, Dr. G. O. Dempster, Medical Offirer of Health in the Otago district, commented that, in spite of reports in some quarters, there was no evidence at all that returning troops had brought disease back with them. This, he said, could be regarded as a tribute to the work of the N.Z.M.C. overseas, and to the careful examination given the men when “boarding” them on their return —(P.A.)