A TRAGIC HAPPENING.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 February 1919, Page 5

A TRAGIC HAPPENING.

WELL-KNOWN AVIATOR'S DEAI ! S? By Telegraph.—Press AssociattM. . , Christchurch, Lost Nigbi In the view of thousands assembled this afternoon for the Canterbury Jockey Club's summer meeting, Mr. G. M. BiU> chief instructor for the Canterbury Avia* tion Company, lost his life. He had C4BP over from Sockburn to the course, jtlflt before four o'clock, in a new biplane with aa 80-h.p. engine, and his advent wa» greeted with, cheers. Almost immediate' ly he was lost to view in the clouds, but emerged with a beautiful nose dive. M*: Hill then proceeded to give a fine exhibition of flying. He did nose dives Md aroused the admiration of the crowd by diving at the entrance to the straight, skimming up the course at a level nith the stands. He then mounted high and looped the loop. He descended a little lower and proceeded to execute the tame feat, but in turning, one wing, and then the other, broke, and he crashed taU first to ground in a paddock at the back of the courae. The machine was smashed to pieces, unit Mr. Hill's body badly broken. Death was instantaneous. The deceased leaves a widow and one child. '