PLANE, HORSE, CAR

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11495, 24 November 1931, Page 5

PLANE, HORSE, CAR

ELECTIONEERING IN THE NORTH. AIR CO A TEE’ ADVENTUROUS TRIP. MACHINE LANDS IN PADDOCK IN HEAVY RAIN. ( Special To The Times). AUCKLAND, Nov. 23. An adventurous journey by aeroplane, horseback and motor car,- uas undertaken at the week-end by Air Coates m connection with the election campaign. He flow from Auckland to the Bay of Islands on Saturday and returned by aeroplane yesterday. Tho machine, jfilotod by Captain J. DHewett, took off from Orakei aerodrome on Saturday morning, the destination being tlio Broadwood settlement. about mid-way between Hokianga and Kaitaia. The West Coast route was followed and when Alata. kohe was reached the machine descended to a low altitude, and circled round the Coates homestead. Air. Coates waved to the people below, and dropped a packet of letters to his daughters, who were standing in the garden. Tho packet fell right at tho feet of one of them. Flying conditions continued good until just north of Dargaville, when clouds of rain and a strong head wind were encountered. As the landing ground at Broadwood was - not suitable in those circumstances, Capt. Hewett decided to land at Ilerekino, and brought the machine down in a small paddock beside a- house about a mile south of the township. “It was a wonderful landing,” said Air. Coates. The rain was still falling heavily, and Air. Coates telephoned to Broadwood for a motor-oar. A motorist set out in a car to meet Air. Coates but it was known that owing to the state of the road the car would be held up at the end of th© metal six miles from. Ilerekino. Mr. Coates thereupon borrowed a pony, oilskins and gumboots, and started out through the storm and mud to meet the car. After an unpleasant ride he reached the motor-car and was driven to Broad, wood, where an enthusiastic meeting was addressed. ”

From Broadwood Mir. Coates went by ear to Ohaeawai, where in the evening, ho addressed another, meeting.

In The meantime, Captain Hewett, z ° to % to Ohaeawa! m readiness for the return flight yesterday waited at Herekino for the t r b^T>n^ m ? ae7 ; Ho took off Dom ta Ah i d Z Ck at S p -*!” nnd flew’north P i a i . wher % he refuelled, the machine taking off again about 6:30 ft 7 ”' / 0 , r , the tnp to Ohaeawai. For Jl ° ur fcho P lJot had an anxious an i l/ I c ° rnmence<l to fall' again, and fc C ? ' ldR man tled the hilltops and the airman was obliged to fly r* U ?y\ T He reached AViaimate North, four miles from Ohaeawai, and landed on the Hndin^ r °^ nCi li' St Bt , dusk > w’hen the Air. Coates who had left his shoes -nxpSpT the in?e^T^iS re'SrdaA to Auckland i esterday was uneventful: