ADVENTUROUS JOURNEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21037, 23 November 1931, Page 8

ADVENTUROUS JOURNEY.

AEROPLANE AND HORSE. MR. COATES' ELECTION TOUR, STORMY FLIGHT TO NORTH. PONY RIDE THROUGH THE MUD. An adventurous journey by aeroplane, horseback and motor-car was undertaken at the week-end by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Public Works, and Leader of tho Reform Party, in the course of tho election campaign. Mr. Coates flew from Auckland to the Bay of Islands on Saturday and returned by aeroplane yesterday. The machine, piloted by Captain J. D. Hewett, took off from the Orakei aerodrome at 10.50 a.m. on Saturday, the destination being Broad wood, a settlement about mid-way between Kohukohu and Kaitaia. The West Coast route was followed, and when Matakohe was reached the machine descended to a low altitude and circled round Mr. Coates' homestead. Mr. Coates waved to the people below and dropped a packet of letters to his daughters, who were standing in the garden. The packet fell right at tho feet of one of them.

Flying conditions continued to be good until the machine was just north of Dargaville, when low clouds, rain and a strong head wind were encountered. The pilot subsequently turned the machine inland, the cloudy, bumpy conditions and rainstorms continuing. Mr. Coates in Gumboots. As the landing ground at.Broadwood was not suitable in those circumstances, Captain Hewett decided to land at Herekino, and brought the machine down at 1.50 p.m. in a small paddock beside a house about a mile south of the township. "It was a wonderful landing," said Mr. Coates, whftn discussing the flight. Rain was still falling heavily, and Mr. Coates went to the house by thenlanding place and telephoned to Broadwood for a motor-car. Mr. A. Bell, Coalition Reform candidate for Bay of Islands, set out in a car to meet Mr. Coates, but it was known that, owing to the muddy state of the road, the ear would be held up at the end of the metal, about six miles from Ilerdkino. Mr. Coates thereupon borrowed a pony, j oilskins and gumboots, and started out through the storm and mud to meet the car. After an unpleasant ride undertaken in the most cheerful spirit he reached the motor-car and was driven to Broadwood, where a crowded arid enthusiastic public meeting was addressed. From Broadwood Mr. Coates went by car to Ohaeawai, where, in the evening, he addressed another enthusiastic meeting of settlers,In the meantime Captain Hewett, who had arranged to fly to Ohaeawai in readiness for the return flight yesterday, waited at Iferekino for the rain to moderate. He took off from tho paddock at 5 p.m. and flew north to Ahipara, where he refuelled the machine, taking off again about 6.30 p.m. for the trip back to Ohaeawai. \

Machine Lands in Dusk. For the next, hour, the pilot had an anxious time. Rain commenced to fall again and low clouds mantled tlie hilltops, and tho airman was obliged to fly along the valleys. He eventually reached Waimate North, four miles from Ohaeawai, and landed on the show ground about 7.45 p.m. It was then, almost dark, and the landing ground could be seen only with great difficulty. Mr. Coates, who had left his shoes and overcoat in the aeroplane, was compelled in (he interval of waiting to walk about Ohaeawai in his borrowed gumboots and oilskins. He and Captain Hewctfc spent the night at Ohaeawai. At 10.30 a.m. yesterday the machine took off from the Waimate North Show Ground for the return journey. A stop was made afc Captain Hewett's farm at Taronui Bay, after which the journey to Auckland was resumed. Bumpy conditions were experienced again until the machine climbed to 6000 ft., a good trip being experienced thence to Auckland. The machine landed at Orakei at 12.15 p.m. "I found a very good spirit evident during my tour," said Mr. Coates. "All are out for a stable Government. The halls at Broadwood and Ohaeawai were packed for my meetings, the settlers attending in spite of the severe weather. As regards tho flight itself, it demonstrated what can be done by a skilled pilot. Had the weather been fine it would not have been so marked, but the Stormy conditions emphasised the reliability of air travel." • Mr. Coates left by the limited express last evening for the South, in continuation of his tour of tho Dominion.