FROM ENGLAND TO MOTUEKA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20930, 8 January 1938, Page 11

FROM ENGLAND TO MOTUEKA

PLANS OF AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER v

NEW ZEALAND AIRMAN TO PARTICIPATE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, January 7. “The Daily Telegraph" announces that it and the New South Wales 150th Anniversary Celebrations Committee have arranged for a flight by FlyingOfficer A. E. Clouston, from England to Australia. Flying-Officer Clouston will fly the Comet machine in which C. W. A. Scott and the late Campbell Black won the Melbourne Centenary air race. He aims to complete the whole trip in 10 days. Victor Ricketts, one of England’s foremost aviation experts and journalists, will be co-pilot. The “Daily Telegraph" states that its object in sponsoring the flight is to publicise the New South Wales 150th anniversary. When Flying-Officer Clouston has broken the record to Darwin and Sydney, he will fly on to Wellington and back to England via Sydney. Reference to the proposed flight is made in a message from London which merely reports that Flying-Officer Clouston is investigating the possibility of an attempt on the England-Australia record planning to arrive in the 150th Anniversary celebrations period. Motueka’s Invitation. A Press Association message states that the Mayor of Motueka (Mr R. J. L. York) has received the following cable from Flying-Officer Clouston expressing thanks for a cable of congratulation: “Accept your offer to terminate Comet flight at Motueka. Will require dimensions of aerodrome. Will arrive from England before February.” Mr York had sent a congratulatory telegram in December after FlyingOfficer Clouston’s Cape record flight, and extended an invitation to him to make Motueka the terminus of his proposed England-New Zealand flight.

The Town Clerk (Mr A. L. Kirk), who has arrangements in hand, is forwarding plans of the aerodrome to Flying-Officer Clouston, if possible by the Centaurus. Local opinion is that the Motueka aerodrome will be suitable for the Comet’s landing. Flying Officer Clouston, who occupies the position of test pilot to the Air Ministry, is tihrty years of age, and is the son of Mr and Mrs R. E. Clouston, of Neudorf, Nelson. Born at Motueka, he went to school at Collingwood. At the age of fourteen he went to sea, and he followed this calling for some time, until he suffered an illness. Returning to land, he became engaged in the motor business at Nelson and on the West Coast. He later took up flying at Blenheim, training under Mr N. Chandler, and after a few months, at the age of twenty-one, he sailed for England, where I/: was with the Faiery Aviation Company for some months until he joined the Royal Air Force. On his recent return flight to the Cape with Mrs Betty Kirby-Green, Flying Officer Clouston broke three records, those for the outward flight to Cape Town, the homeward flight, and the round flight.