AERIAL MAILS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16327, 17 January 1921, Page 3

AERIAL MAILS.

BLENHEIM ROTTE SURVEYED The ground survey of the Christ-church-Blenheim air route, over which an. aerial mail service is to be started soon, was completed on Friday night by Captain Euan Dickson and Captain L. M- laitt, who will prepare a joint report for the Air Board. They in eluded the„M est Coast in. their tour, tor the purpose of inspecting the country from a flying man's point of view, hut their principal object was to survey the East Coast route. Captain Dickson stated on Saturday that as Captain Isitt and he were to prepare a joint report, he could not anything except that the Eai* Coast was better than it appeared -to be from the air and landing grounds had been, selected at a minimum distance of ten miles. Th© station owners throughout th© trip bad been most hospitable, aud had ©repressed -v very sportsmanlike enthusiasm which was a. good augury for the opening up of the aerial service. At Blenheim a meeting ■ rep*xsentat ; .ve of the Chamber of Commerce, Progress League and other bodies had urged the council to provide for a municipal aerodrome on th© Omaka Domain, and to erect hangars, and it was almost certain rhat if the council could not see its wav to erect hangars, local citizens would provide guarantees. Discussing tfi*> (’h rist church-Blenheim service, Captain Dickson said that the flying time would probably be two and a half hours-. If the service was a success, an extension might; be made to Wellington by flyingboats, and this would provide an. aerial from Christchurch u> Wellington. Captain Isitt, in view of his official position, would not comment on -be survey, except to indicate that there was a great deal cf flat lan<l on the East (oast route. He was unable co say when the mail service would b© commenced.