FLIGHT FROM HASTINGS

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1929, Page 6

FLIGHT FROM HASTINGS

HAWERA PILOT’S LONG JOURNEY. FIRST AERO CLUB TRAINEE. Piloting an aeroplane Mr.'G. L. Nicholas, of Alangatoki, passed over Hawera yesterday afternoon, en route from Hastings to the residence of his parents at Hastings Road. With him, as a passenger, was Captain White, instructor to the Hastings Aero Chib, who for the past two weeks has been instructing Air. Nicholas. On Friday Captain White informed his pupil that he could control the plane in a flight from Hastings to Mangatoki. The fliers left Hastings at 8.15 a.m., encountering heavy head winds which compelled them to land at Feilding to refuel. Another stop for refuelling was made at Hawera, and the fliers landed on the property of. Air. W. W. Clarke, Hunter Road, Alangatoki, at 2.20 p.m. The journey occupied/-the total time of 5| hours. Only a short stay was made, the machine taking the air on the return journey at 3 p.m., with Air. Nicholas again at the controls. A member of the Hawera Aero Club, which numbers several experienced pilots among its members, Air. Nicholas is the first, inexperienced ’ prior to the formation of. the club, to have charge of an aeroplane in flight. PATEA DEFENCE RIFLE CLUB. REPORT OF A SUCCESSFUL YEAR. The annual meeting of the Patea Defence Rifle Club was held on Saturday evening, Air. P. Palmer presiding. The annual report congratulated the club on the state of the finances, the balance-sheet disclosing a balance of £2B 19s 9d and assets exceeding liabilities by £43 3s 3d,' which was very satisfactory. . Eight competitions had been decided this year, and these were keenly contested with good musters. The club championship had gone to Deputy-Pre-sident C. Carey, with President P. Palmer second and Rifleman R. Willis third. The club was represented at the N.R.A. meeting at Trentham by Riflemen J. Huston, D. Roots' and C. Carey, each of whom figured frequently in the prize-lists, while D. Roots and C. Carey reached the King’s Fifty. Rifleman D. Roots was a member of the New Zealand team which competed at the Victorian Rifle Association’s meeting at Melbourne, where he was very successful. He won one match at 700 yards. One inter-club match was held with Waverley and was won by Patea by 27 points. Twelve men journeyed to Wanganui to compete in the union matches, but owing to the bad weather the shooting was postponed. At the Patea Rifle Association meeting held on June 3, nine members of the club competed and all were successful in getting into the prizelists. The club’s team gained third place in the teams’ match. The club acknowledged the many favours received and the outside help it had had. Thanks were due to the donors of trophies, the Press, the Defence Department and the Patea Rifle Association, all of whom had been instrumental in making the season a good one. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the president congratulated members on the highly satisfactory state of the club’s finances, as disclosed by the balance-sheet. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The Mayor (Mr. F. Ramsbottom) congratulated the club on its progress and wished them success in the coming year. The election of officers resulted: Patron, Mr. A. T. Christensen; vice-patron, Air.’ F. R. Ramsbottom; president, Air. P. Palmer; deputy-presidents, Messrs W. White and C. Carey; honorary secretary, Air. G. AV. King; honorary auditor, Air. J. H. Cronin; committee, Alessrs A. Baldwin, J. Huston, R. Willis and D. Roots; shooting committee, Al. and C. Carey and D. Roots. It was decided to adhere to the old system of handicapping, a motion .to introduce the automatic system being defeated. The price of ammunition was fixed at 6d per packet, the secretary stating that the reduction of 3d per packet would deplete the credit balance by £4 for the season.

Notice of motion was given by the deputy-president to alter the rules of the club to provide for four deputypresidents. The opening day was fixed for Saturday, September 21. The secretary was voted an honorarium of three guineas. Votes of thanks were accorded the donors of trophies, the Press, Mr. J. H. Conin, the Patea Rifle Association, the marker (Mr. White), the president, and all who had assisted the club during the past season. . Appreciation was expressed of Captam Fitzwater's action in placing the brigade’s hall at the club’s disposal . The Mayor presented the following trophies won during the year;—Club trophy, R. Willis 1, C. Carey and W. White equal 2; Finlayson trophy, C. Carey 1, W. White 2; Winchester trophy, C. Carey 1, P. Palmer and A. Baldwin equal 2; Hamer ton cup, E, C. Gilbert 1, J. Huston 2; Roots trophy, J. Huston 1, H. Mercer 2; Neilson trophy, J. Huston 1, H. Mercer 2; .Palmer cup, A. Baldwin 1, C. Carey 2; club championship, C. Carey 1, P. Palmer 2, R. Willis 3. „