AERIAL MAIL SERVICES

Otago Witness, Issue 3489, 25 January 1921, Page 28

AERIAL MAIL SERVICES

TWO CONTRACTS APPROVED. WELLINGTON, January 18. Contracts have been approved by Cabinet for the aerial mail services between Auckland and Whangarei and between Christchurch, Ashburton, and Timara. The northern contract has been let to the Nevv Zealand Flying School Co., Auckland (Walsh Bros.), and the southern service will be carried out by the Canterbury Aviation Co. Both services will start in about a week s time. The service between Auckland and Whangarei will be maintained by a flyingboat, which will leave Auckland daily in the morning and return to Auckland in the afternoon. The southern run from Christchurch will be made in the morning, and the machine D.H. 9 will return from Timara in the afternoon in time for the afternoon delivery. The Christchurch, Ashburton, and Timaru service may be regarded as a test, and it will remain in operation only until the Blenheim route is mapped out. In this connection it is interesting to learn that in the course of investigations in search of landing places 1200 acres of flat have been found at the mouth of the Conway River in the midst of rough country. Provision is being made for the carriage of passengers in conjunction with the mails. The D.H. 9 has accommodation for four people altogether, so that two passengers can be taken on a trip, or three should no mechanic be on board. The flying boat will also be able to carry two passengers. The mails will be confined to letters, the charge being sixpence per letter in addition to the usual rate, with a, further sixpence should the sender desire express delivery. Messrs Walsh Bros, are expecting a super-marine flying boat to arrive to their order shortly, and with that machine they will be prepared to undertake the mail services from Auckland to Gisborne, and from Gisborne to Napier. The super-marine boat can make a landing on land or on sea, and is a good sea boat.