VISIBILITY NOT GOOD

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21558, 22 January 1940, Page 6

VISIBILITY NOT GOOD

Aotearoa Lands On Manukau Now Back At Base By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, January 21. The suitability of Auckland as a flying-boat base in all weathers was demonstrated on Saturday afternoon when the Aotearoa, on her way back to her base from Wellington, landed on Manukau Harbour at Cornwallis as visibility on the Waitemata was reduced to 300 yards. The passengers on the Aotearoa included the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. w. Lee Martin and Mrs Martin, th: Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, the Hon. E. R. Davis, M.L.C., Mr I. J. Goldstine, Mayor of One Tree Hill, Mrs J. W. Heenan and Mrs C. A. Furlong, wives of senior officials of the Internal Affairs Department. Approaching Auckland after a little more than two hours’ flying, a report was received that visibility on the Waitemata was down to 300 yards, and in the interests of absolute safety, Captain Burgess decider to alight temporarily on Manukau Harbour at Cornwallis, one of the two places on the west coast surveyed in advance against precisely such an eventuality. The other alternative landing place is on Kaipara Harbour, not far from Helensville. A landing was made near Cornwallis without difficulty. After a wait of about an hour, an improvement in vicibility on the Waitemata was reported, and the Aotearoa flew over the narrow isthmus to land on the Waitemata. Including the ..elay caused in making the extra landing and the wait at Cornwallis, the passengers reachea Auckland about four hours after leaving Wellington.

When the Tasman service is inaugurated it is possible that occasional landings will be made either on Manukau Harbour or on Kaipara Harbour, if conditions are unsuitable on the Waitemata.