WESTPORT TO HAVE A LANDING GROUND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18900, 26 October 1929, Page 8

WESTPORT TO HAVE A LANDING GROUND.

GREAT INTEREST IS TAKEN IN AVIATION. (Special to the “ Star.**) WESTPORT, October 26. The great assistance rendered by the aeroplanes which arrived in Westport the day after the big earthquake on June 17 has prompted the people of the Buller district to take a Jkeen interest in the progress of aviation in New Zealand, and the preliminary steps have now been taken to establish a landing ground just outside the town. About a month after the earthquake the “Westport Times’’ opened a subscription list to raise the sum of £25 for the purpose of having a preliminary survey made. Although money was very scarce owing to the enormous amount of damage done, this sum was quickly raised, and a joint committee from the Buller Progress League, the Westport Borough Council, and the Buller County Council was set up to take the matter in hand.

While Captain M. Buckley and Captain G. H. Burrell were over here they inspected several sites suitable for landing purposes. Of these they picked out one on Mr Beck’s farm on the south side of the Buller River which they considered was the finest site on the West Coast. A certain amount of levelling will be required, but when completed two runways of 600yds in length will be provided. Mr Beck, in order to assist as much as possible, has promised to loan the land free of rent, provided he has the grazing rights. Mr H. R. Young, a member of the joint committee, and also a surveyor, has promised to carry out the surveying work freQ of charge, with the result that the money raised will be available solely for the preparation of the ground. It was generally realised that when the aeroplane from Christchurch was here, it was unduly hampered in its operations owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the beach as a landing ground. On several occasions when perfect flying weather prevailed the 'plane could not be used owing to the tide being in. If the ’plane could have taken the air, a more thorough survey of the Mokihinui and Little Wanganui Rivers could have been carried out, with the result that the damage done by the two disastrous floods in these rivers through the bursting of earthquake dams, could have been lessened. As it was, the dams had not received any attention and the settlers in the valleys had no warning of the approach of the flood waters. The establishment of a landing ground in the town would be of inestimable value in facilitating the handling of aeroplanes should a similar disaster overtake the district.