AERIAL DERBY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18599, 29 December 1920, Page 7

AERIAL DERBY.

WON BY PAE®R‘.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. MELBOURNE, December 28.

The Aerial Derby at Epsom was won by Lieutenant Barer. Lieutenant Briggs was second and Captain Matthews third. AVIATION IN AUSTRALIA. Aerial races are becoming common in Australia, and. the contest mentioned above is the sequel a race conducted in New South Wales for a trophy donated by the Sydney “ Evening News” a few weeks ago. Mr George Fitzpatrick, who is at present in Chris {church, was one of the reporters who recorded the first aerial race in Australia, which took place between Sydney and Parramatta about ten years ago. In. this race only one competitor actually took the air and arrived in Parramatta. This was a native of the town, Mr W. E. Hart., who was a schoolmate of tho scribe. Jh© achievement was considered a remarkable one, and the strides aviation has made may be gauged by the fact that after the race the machine was' dismantled and removed back .to the aerodrome bv cart. Subsequently, Mr Hart, crashed from a great height, and for three, weeks was unconscious. _ Un the outbreak of war Mr Hart enlisted, and was sent to England, where his old injuries caused an early return. Captain Matthews, and Lieutenants Briggs and Parer have hare all distinguished themselves in the air. Parer was one of the aviators who _ accomplished .the seemingly' impossible by flying from England in an inferior machine, after being officially > prohibited from so doing by the Imperial authorities. When the machine arrived at Mascot (Sydney) it appeared incredible that it could rise in the air. It was patched and repatched, even kerosene tins having been flattened out . and used.

Lieutenant Briggs is the first aviator to fly jacross the Commonwealth from Perth (Western Australia) to Sydney (New South Wales). _ He lias just completed this trip, being accompanied by Mr C. J'. Do Garris, of Sunraysia, who is a co-dircctor of Mr Fitzpatrick’s. When the Prince of Wales was leaving Australia he was particularly anxious to obtain his mail, which arrived at South Australia twenty-four hours before the Renown was to leave. The Han Hugh M’lntosh. M.L.0., knew of the difficulty, and through the instrumentality of his staff the position was put to Mr De Garris, after the Defence Department and tho Postal Department had said that the mails could not ho delivered in time. Mr Do Garris said it could he done, arid ho was appointed King’s Messenger. Then the Defence Department sent a machine -with, him, and although Mr De Garris, with Lieutenant Briggs, did not personally deliver tho mail, they made tho delivery possible, and were personally thanked by the Prince.