A SECOND PLANE LANDS ON NEW COAST AERODROME

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 February 1950, Page 4

A SECOND PLANE LANDS ON NEW COAST AERODROME

The almost- completed Hokitika aerodrome had its second “unscheduled christening” this week when a Miles Gemini plane, operated by the Ministry of Works, touched down on one of the runways. -The twin-engined plane brought two Ministry of Works officers from Wellington to Greymouth on Tuesday, to examine the now idle hydro generating plant at Kaimata, and, before returning, the aircraft, which was piloted by Mr W. Pritchard, travelled south to Hokitika to observe progress on the new aerodrome. The plane landed on the aerodrome, picked up the first passenger to make a flight from there, and departed again shortly afterwards. It was stated that no trouble whatever was experienced duripg the test. The..first plane to use the new drome was a private aircraft flown by Mr D. Nolan, of South Westland, who made an unofficial landing last month. . The Hokitika correspondent of the Evening Star reports that the Borough Council last night had before it a proposal by Mr- D. A. Walker, of Christchurch, that the council should mark the. opening of the new aerodrome with the issue of special commemorative envelopes, which could be flown at the official opening and posted. at Hokitika or, should the opening coincide with the commencement of the trans-alpine air service, they could be posted at the Hokitika Post Office. The council decided to thank Mr Walker for his suggestion and to seek further details from the postmaster at Hokitika.