DEVELOPMENT OF AIR SENSE

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1929, Page 6

DEVELOPMENT OF AIR SENSE

THRILLING STUNTS AT HAWERA.

MOTOR SPEEDSTER GIVEN A SPIN. Airmen—and air-women —of the future are having their appetite for the air sharpened in Hawera at present. With each succeeding flight of Captain D. C. MacGregor’s Gipsy-Moth longings have been gratified. Some have been more than satisfied; others have landed with requirements still incomplete. Crowds have watched perfect landings, perfect take-offs from Mr. R. Brewer’s paddock, while further numbers have i rushed to streets and windows when the [drone has been heard overhead. Plain flights have little appeal now; it has been only the search for the unexpected stunts that have prompted prolonged scrutiny of the skies. The personal characteristics or experience of the passengers has determined the pro-stunt and anti-stunt natures of the flights. The hardest gruelling, perhaps, was that given Air. Henry Moller over the town on (Saturday morning l at Air. Moller’s request. Every street and footpath was lined as the ’plane ducked and dived, rolled and glided dangerously, it seemed, near to house tops. To cap all the stunts, the pilot performed a spinning nose-dive. The apparent closeness to earth and the silence of the engine caused screams and excited breathless interest. Air. Moller felt sickly for some time after he had landed, he told a News representative. He would go anywhere in the air, however, and someday, he indicated, he would enter the air as a pilot. The fact that Mr. Moller, well-known a.' the motor cycle track-rider, had raced neck and neck with Capt. MacGregor on the cycle track may have led to the full supply of stunts requested by Air. Moller. MR. AND MRS. F. GAWITH DEPART FAREWELLED BY RESIDENTS. After a residence of 16 years at their homestead on the Ketemarae Road, near Hawera, Air. and Aire. Gawith left last week to occupy their new home at Eltham. They were farewelled by 70 residents and friends at Turuturu school last week-end, Air. R. 0. Wilson presiding. Mr. Gawith was a member of the first committee of the Turuturu school, and with Mrs. Gawith has taken a prominent part in the community affairs of the district', and evidence of the popular esteem they have earned was given in the freely expressed wishes for their future welfare which were extended. Tribute to Mr. Gawith’s integrity was paid by Air. P. O’Dea in saying that in whatever he was engaged Air. Gawith was always straightforward and acted according to his fine standards of truth and honour. The speaker knew that Mr. Gawith had in Mrs. Gawith a helpmate whose worth could not be too highly, praised. Those who had been privileged to really know Mr. and Mrs. Gawith would regret keenly their departure from the district, and it would be the wfeh of all of their many friends that the future life of Mr. and Mrs. Gawith would be long, happy and prosperous. On behalf of those present and other friends, Air. W. (Standish presented Air. and Airs. Gawith with a handsomely fashioned clock. Speaking from his knowledge of Mr. Gawith as a neighbour for nearly 17 years, Air. Standish said Mr. Gawith had proved a “jolly good fellow.” He was a successfur farmer, and by his wide general knowledge further commanded the confidence of those who knew him. He had been actively associated with the Tokaora Sunday School for many years, and had also given valued service on the Tokaora (School Committee, while he had been one of the first committeemen of the Turuturu School when the latter was established. The presentation was made to the accompaniment of “For They Are Jolly Good Fellows,” followed by cheers. Thanks for the handsome gift, but more particularly for the kindly thoughts which had prompted the presentation and the honour conferred by the gathering we’re expressed by Air. Gawith in reply. In a cards tournament the first, second and third prizes among the lady players were secured respectively by Miss P. Bollard, Airs. R. Meharry and Airs. P. Ward, while the corresponding awards among the men players went to Messrs. E. AV. Johns, W. Whelan and Sargent. Music for dances was provided by Air. T. Pickering, who also contributed vocal items. A small charge was made for participation in the function, the proceeds being devoted to the earthquake relief fund, which benefited to the extent of £3 5s 6d. EAST HAWERA CALF POOL. A bobby calf pool on the same lines as that operating last year was decided upon yesterday at a meeting representative" of the Ararata, Tawhiti and Fraser Road dairy factory suppliers, Air. T. A. Winks presiding over a good attendance. Mr. H. G. Dickie addressed the meeting, while Air. Pettigrew supplied particulars concerning the working of last year’s pool.