Air Service to the North

Northland Age, Volume XVI, Issue 17, 26 November 1946, Page 1

Air Service to the North

Council members, met the visiting ' officials on their arrival at the Awat nui Aerodrome last evening, and they l were given complimentary flights i over Kaitaia. Included in the pa>- | sengers were Mrs. A. W. Bird and , Mrs. W\ Geard, as members of the , W.W.S.A. Everybody enjoyed their • flights, intimating that, if possible, their future mode of travelling would be by plane. They were impressed by the plane and its comfortable appointments. Each of the two flights with 10 passengers on each trip, was far too short for the passengers. 1 The Electra which has a top speed of 210 m.p.h. but which cruises at a scheduled speed of 150 m.p.h., took only about one-qparter of the available runway to become airborne. The plane, which was housed at Waipap for the night left at about 9 a.m. this ; morning for Palmerston North via Whangarei, Mangere and Rotorua. In addition to Mr. Maurice Clarke and Colonel Mothes, the trip to Northland was made by Capt. A. G. Gerrard, operational manager, Commanders J. J. Busch and Neville Jackson (senior commanders), Second Officers Boyes and Thomas, Mr. L. Mangham (chief engineer), Mr. J. McClymont | (engineer), Mr. Smart of the P.W’.D., Fit. Lieut. F. L. Robertson of the Meteorological Dept, and Mr. E. Sharp of the Civil Aviation Department. The main object of the survey flight was to survey the route, train pilots .test' aerodromes and to arrange ground facilities. FAREWELL PARTY About twenty friends gathered at i the home of Mr. and Mrs. Pat King, j Fairburns Road, last evening to bid ! farewell to Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Stringer. I Community singing and musical and impromptu items were included j in the programme for the evening. Musical highlights were piano items by Mrs. E. M. King and Mrs. G. F. ; Gaudin on two pianos. During the evening Mr. H. N. Freeban expressed the regret of all present at Mr. Stringer’s departure; pay- ] ing a tribute to the interest he had taken in many activities, in the district. Mr. Stringer replied, j After a delicious supper Mr. and Mrs. Stringer were accorded musical honours. Mr. Stringer leaves for Thames on Thursday morning, white Mrs. String- ; er and family will be remaining in j Kaitaia until a house becomes available at Thames. Girls Marching Members of the Kaitaia Girls’ B marching team travelled to Waimatc North on Saturday to march in the Bay of Islands Show. ! The girls, under the leadership of Miss June Wilson, gave a display of the movements they have been practicing recently to a large and apprei ciative crowd.

May Start the Middle of January If ..he necessary arrangements are completed satisfactorily it is expected that the air service to the North will commence on or about January 15, stated Mr. L. G. Thompson, official agent of the National Airways Corporation, this morning. This indication was given after the visit yesterday of the Lockheed Electra 10-passenger plane, Kahu, carrying Mr. F. Maurice Clarke, actingGeneral Manager of National Airways, and Colonel F. W. Mothes, one of the Directors of the Corporation. The plane which was on a special survey flight over the proposed northern route also carried other Corporation officials besides the crew. A group of representative citizens including members of the Chamber of Commerce Executive and Borough