OSCAR GARDEN'S FLIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20716, 8 November 1930, Page 11

OSCAR GARDEN'S FLIGHT.

ARRIVAL AT SYDNEY. ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION. RANKED WITH BERT HINKLER. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received November 7, 10.15 p.m.) SYDNEY. Nov. 7. Mr. Oscar Garden, tho young Now Zealand airman, who completed a flight from England to Australia when lie landed at Wyndham on Tuesday evening, has since flown across tho country to Sydney, where he arrived from Broken Hill at 2.56 p.m. to-day. Ho received an enthusiastic welconio from the officials of tho Aero Club and about 200 people at Mascot aerodrome. Mr. Garden was carried in a chair to the club house where he was heartily congratulated. Ho told interviewers he had averaged 80 miles an hour from England. Ilis solo flying experience before the trip was only 20 hours and his navigation instruction consisted of two weeks' training.

After hearing Mr. Garden's story local airmen readily conceded that ho is a born aviator and ranks with Mr. Bert Kinkier

Among those who were at Mascot wore representatives of the New Zealand Association and New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, but tho first woman to shake hands with tho gallant and bronzed young airman was Miss Whyte. a friend from Auckland.

An illuminated address was presented to Mr. Garden by the Mascot civic authorities, who described him as a " dark horse." Captain Hughes, president of the Aero Club, congratulated him on tho completion of a hazardous and remarkablo (light devoid entirely of ostentation.

Mr. Garden's littlo blue aeroplane is named " Kia Ora." Ho said he was grateful for the kindness and hospitality he had received since his return to Australia. Tho people at Broken Hill had given him a very acceptable cheque. A group of leading Sydney airmen, Mr. L. J. Schmitt, New Zealand Trade and Tourist Commissioner, Messrs. A. Crockett and W. Beattie, representing the New Zealand Association, and a number of returned soldiers attended a dinner given in honour of Mr. Garden in a city hotel this evening.