FAMOUS AVIATOR FINED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19138, 6 October 1936, Page 5

FAMOUS AVIATOR FINED

LOW FLYING CHARGE DEATH OF MARE SYDNEY, Sept, 26. David Edmond Stodart, major in the Royal Air Force, who finished third in the England-Australia Melbourne centenary air race, was ordered to pay Charles Frederick Gray, grazier, of Kialla road, Crookwell, £ll as compensation for the deatli of a mare which became frightened by tile aeroplane piloted by Stodart flying low, and died in consequence. The claim was for £SO. Plaintiff said the aeroplane was flying at a height of about 100 ft. over one of his paddocks. Sheep fell over one another, and ran into a fence. The mare bolted and struck a fence. Barbs on the wire were pushed together and the wire was broken, and there were a but and other marks on the mare, which died that night. The mare was a prizewinner at the show and was in foal.

Stodart denied flying at 100 ft. The very lowest lie was flying at was 500 ft., he said. He had to fly at an altitude of 3500 ft. because of the nature of the country. He was not over Gray’s paddock.

Judge Covle, in giving judgment, said that lie thought t-lmt Stodart had a very quaint idea of how high he was flying.

There appears lo he a growing demand for pumice from Australian markets, and at Sydney, it is- stated, pieces which may be picked up anywhere along the Castlecliff beach, sell for sixpence each, states a Wanganui newspaper. Ship'ments from Wanganui have increased during the past few months to both Australian and South Island ports.