AIRPORT IN NORTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22355, 28 February 1936, Page 13

AIRPORT IN NORTH

WAIPAPAKAUBI GBOUND OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY FURTHER EXTENSION PLANNED [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] f KAITAIA. Thursday I nvoured with fine weather, the official opening of thg Waipapakauri aerodrome was held to-day, and was attended by about 3000 people. Five aeroplanes from the Auckland Aero Club, a "Flying Flea" type of machine, and a Vickers Vildcbeeste bombqj; from the Hobsonville Air Base attended. Sir. Spencer Mason, president of the Auckland Aero Club, and other club officials arrived in the Auckland Club's tiiachines, which throughout the day were engaged with joy fides. A stunt flying demonstration was given by Flight-Lieutenant D. M. Allan, and after tho opening " ceremony the Vickers V ildebeeste machine gave a flying demonstration. In declaring the aerodrome open Mr. W. Vickers, chairman of the Mangonui County Council, said the event was a milestone in the progress of the district. A few years ago it took about a week to reach Auckland from the far north, but now with the advent of an j air service it would be a matter of an | hour or so. and as soon as other ! grounds had been prepared this service | should lie established, j Mr. L. Peace, deputy-chairman of the | Kaitaia Town Board, spoke of the I satisfaction the board felt at the estab- | lishment of an aerodrome in the disI trict, and congratulated Mr. P. Thode I on his public-spirited attitude in regard j to the leasing of the ground. | Messrs. A. C. Yarborough, chairman ! of the Hokianga County Council, H. IC. Cbapell, clerk of the Whangaroa ! County Council, P. Thode, Spencer I Mason and Honi Wi , Kaitaia, reprej senting the Maori race, also spoke. The district Public Works engineer, I Mr. It. H. P. Ronavne, / said this I j ground would bo the terminal point of jan air service operating north from | Auckland, but this service could not be i inaugurated until other grounds were j ready, and it behoved other local ' authorities, especially Whangarei, to push forward with the preparation of landing grounds in their areas. The ground as it now stands gives a runway of 550 yds. any -way for aeroplanes to take off, and this is sufficient for any machine now operating in New Zealand.. Authority will shortly be issued for extending the ground so that a runway of 1000 yds. can be obtained. It is understood that the aviation authorities consider that „the Waipapakauri aerodrome will become the taking-off ground for any land machine leaving New Zealand,. and it is with this idea in view that,, the extensions are to be undertaken. PROPOSAL AT TAUKANGA SUPPORT FOR PURCHASE [by telegraph —OWN correspondent] TAURANGA. Thursday j Representatives of local bodies at a j meeting adopted a motion heartily supj porting the proposal for the acquisition i of an aerodrome area of 99 acres ar ! Whareroa, near Mount Maunganui, and j the setting-up of a committee represeuti ing local bodies to consider means of | purchasing the land, i The preliminaries have been carried I out by the Aero Club and considerable work on portion of the land has been ; done by the Public Works Department. ; The department's estimate for the com- ! pletion of the scheme is £15,500, of | which the department is prepared to ■ recommend that the Government finds j £13,300. provided that the local authori ! ties find thp balance