OSCAR GARDEN ARRIVES AT WIGRAM AERODROME TO-DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19240, 29 November 1930, Page 10

OSCAR GARDEN ARRIVES AT WIGRAM AERODROME TO-DAY.

Youthful Figure Gains Admiration Of Crowd; “Glad To Be Home,” He Says.

ALL SMILES, Mr Oscar Garden, the youthful aviator who accomplished the solo flight from England to Australia in eighteen days, stepped from his Gipsy Moth ’plane at the Wigram Aerodrome this afternoon, to the accompaniment of cheers from the crowd who had travelled out to welcome him on his flight from Wellington. “ I’m glad to be home again in New Zealand,” was his verdict.

The young aviator, who undertook the England to Australia flight apparently* so nonchalantly, is surprisingly boyish and short and spare of figure. He is an unpretentious blue-eyed young man, fair, and with a rosy complexion. He was welcomed by the Mayor of Christchurch (the Rev J. K. Archer), the chairman of the Paparua County Council (Mr James Leslie), and the president of the Canterbury Aero Club (Sir Francis Boys). They were the official speakers at the reception after Mr Garden had been driven round the fringe of the crowd in a me tor-car. Mr Garden, who flew his own machine, the Kia Ora, from Wellington, was accompanied by Captain F. W. Haig, flying officer for New Zealand and Australia for the Vacuum Oil Company. Captain Haig, who is an ex-officer of the Australian Air Force, and had an eventful time in Palestine during the Great War, flew the ’plane named Plump. The two visiting machines were met at Kaiapoi by ’planes from the Wigram Aerodrome and from the Canterbury Aero Club. There was great interest evident among the crowd as the group of 'planes, with an easterly breeze blowing across their aerial path, hove into sight, circled the ground, and came to rest in the open space provided for them. CROWD BESIEGE AVIATOR'S CAR. ROUSING CHEERS GREET HIM ON HIS ARRIVAL. Seven black specks in the murky sky over the city. “There they are!” A crowd of some 2000 lined the ropedoft ground at Sockburn, ard all eyes were searching the northern horizon. It was 3.20 before the black specks emerged and finally there was no doubt. Garden was home again. Three Defence ’planes and two from the Aero Club had gene out to give Garden and Haig an air welcome and escort them to the aerodrome, and it was difficult to say which was which when the squadron circled over the city, made a wide sweep round the Cashmere Hills, and then finally manoeuvred over the up-turned faces of the crowd at the aerodrome. “ One By One.” At last one could pick out the-dis-tinguished machine. Painted a royal blue and with “ Kai Ora ” across the bow, it was distinct from anything else in the fleet which dropped to earth one by one. “That’s him,” cried a score of voices, as Garden’s boyish face, smiling all over, looked over the side of his cabin. Immediately,- his machine came to a stop the crowd made a rush. “Steady there! Have some sense!” The stewards and police pushed the front row of “gate crashers” back, but two women were too quick and, dashing up to the step of the ’plane, eagerly embraced the laughing young airman. The waiting motor-car with the Mayor and other welcomers, rushed up, rescued Garden, and a move was made towards the corner where the microphone was set up. The crowd swarmed all over the car, but it was all in good nature. Photographers on ladders shouted to Garden to “look up, please! ” but so many people tried to capture him that he did not know which way to turn. Slowly the car pushed its way through the crowd—just like the way they mobbed the Prince of Wales—and shouts and cheers welcomed Garden to his home town. Speeches of Welcome. In extending a welcome to Mr Garden, Mr James Leslie (chairman of the Paparua County Council) said that the crowd appreciated the fact that Mr Garden had done a long flight. It was a fine performance and something of which he and New Zealanders could be proud. “We must always think people here as good as those in other parts of the world,” he concluded. “On behalf of the city of Christchurch I would like to. join in the welcome to Mr Garden,” said the Mayor of Christchurch (the Rev J. K. Archer). “ It must be a proud day for him and his sisters. When I first saw him I was surprised to see that he was so young. I hope that in the days to come he will distinguish himself still further.” Mr Archer then read a letter of welcome from the Spreydon Burgesses’ Association, at the conclusion of which the crowd join- ! in singing “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” Aero Club’s Welcome. Sir Francis Boys, who endorsed the welcome on behalf of the Canterbury Aero Club and the New Zealand Aero Club, said that it was just seven months ago since Mr Garden had left Christchurch without a knowledge of flying. On. the completion of his ordinary pupil’s flying time of 40 hours, Mr Garden set out from England. Although it was not generally known, Mr Garden’s flying time of just on 100 hours at the end of his flight entitled him to his B pilot’s certificate. Mr C. H. Clibborn, a member of the executive of the Canterbury Progress League, said that Christchurch always had some of the most' beautiful gardens in the Dominion, but to-day it had the best Garden. He wished to welcome Mr Garden home to Canterbury. Airman’s Reply. “Mr Mayor, Sir Francis Boy T s and citizens of Christchurch,” began Mr Garden, “I might say that there was always one object behind my flight— Christchurch. In regard to the flight, the man responsible for that is in front of me now. When I left for Australia I had not even considered learning to fly, but I met a young Auckland man and we got talking of flying, and I thought it might be a good plan to iearn. I do not wish to say anything about the flight itself, except to mention the large number of New Zealanders I met with during the journey to Australia. They were all doing well, too, which just goes to prove that a New Zealander can get on anywhere. Before I close I would like to say how \ much I appreciate the welcome you have given me, but I hope you have not come here to see me, but because you are interested in flying.” Captain F. W. Haig, who is accompanying Mr Garden on his flight throughout the Dominion, expressed his pleasure at being able to make his first visit to New Zealand “in company with Oscar”,

WANTED TO FLY TO NEW ZEALAND. COULD NOT DO IT IN MOTH, SAYS MR GARDEN. “I had one goal to make for, and that was New Zealand, which was always at the back of my mind,” declared Mr Garden, in a short interview at the Wigram Aerodrome this afternoon. The trips from England to Australia have shown that a light ’plane is suitable for the flight. My job was a hard one, with one or two tough parts, particularly the long hop of 500 miles from Atamboea to Australia.” Mr Garden would not state whether he intended flying across the Tasman, but said that the Kia Ora could not do it, as that ’plane had a capacity for only 60 gallons, whereas 100 gallons’ capacity was needed. He would not like to attempt such a flight in a Gipsy Moth. The speaker was very pleased at the interest taken in New Zealand in aviation, and expressed surprise that his own flight should have aroused such public enthusiasm. IN CITY TILL TUESDAY; THENCE ASHBURTON. Mr Garden will remain in Christchurch until Tuesday, when he will fly to Ashburton. From there he will go on to Oamaru', Dunedin, Invercargill, returning north via Dunedin and Timaru. He will spend a week-end lat Timaru, and on his subsequent journey to Nelson will land at Christchurch for fuel supplies. From Nelson he will fly to Wellington, and will then undertake an aerial tour of the North Island. The young airman will appear at the broadsiding at Monica Park this evening. To-morrow he will be free to visit relatives and friends. Relatives in Christchurch are two sisters, Mrs Lloyd Hindle, of Riccarton, and Miss Rose Garden. The functions on Monday will include a luncheon tendered to him by the Canterbury Aero Club, and attendance at the Regent Theatre in the evening. During the evening session of 3YA he will give a talk over the wireless. Suitable arrangements have been made for Mr Garden’s reception at Ashburton. He will land on the Aero Club ground there and will be welcomed outside the Somerset Hotel, where a platform has been erected. Speakers will be the Mayor of Ashburton, the president of the Ashburton Chamber of Commerce, and the president of the Advance Ashburton Association. CAPTAIN HAIG INTERNED AFTER CAPTURE IN WAR. Captain Haig, who is travelling with Mr Garden on the latter’s aerial tour of the Dominion, is an ex-officer of the Australian Air Force. He saw much flying in Palestine during the war, and was responsible for several rescues of

men. On one occasion he landed to rescue two men. Each of them climbed on to a wing of the ’plane, but the machine could not be started before the three were seized by the enemy. Captain Ilaig was interned in Turkey until the end of the war. RECEPTION GIVEN AIRMAN ON LANDING AT BLENHEIM Per Press Association. BLENHEIM, November 29. Oscar Garden, in the Kia Ora, accompanied by Captain Haig in the Plume, and Squadron-Leader J. L. Findlay in a service Moth, arrived this morning. Following a reception at the aerodrome by Aero Club officials, Mr Garden was accorded a civic welcome and a public reception in the Square. Mr Garden briefly replied, thanking the people for their warm reception.

GARDEN MADE BEST AMATEUR RECORD

KNOWS CHRISTCHURCH, WHERE HE KEPT SHOP. Oscar Garden established in the arduous journey from England to Australia the fastest time put up by an amateur flyer. His time was third fastest, being beaten only by Kingsford-Smith and Bert Hinkler, both of whom were experienced airmen. Mr Garden was born in Scotland 23 years ago, and came to New Zealand with his family at the end of the war. He set.tled at Timaru, where his father had a cordial factory. Later he came to Christchurch, opening a cycle shop at Spreydon, and later a garage at Southbridge. He then decided he would go to Australia, and purchased a garage at Double Bay, Sydney. Early this year he returned to New Zealand, and told his family he was going to England to learn to fly. He received his instruction in flying at the Norwich Aero Club, and had only 20 hours’ solo flying experience, and 14 days’ ground engineering and navigation instruction, when he decided to fly to Australia. He made few preparations for the long journey to Australia. The following table shows the route taken and the days occupied on the journey:— October 17: Left Lympne Aerodrome (Kent), 6.17 a.m. October 22: Left Aleppo for Bagdad. October 24: Left Bushire for Jask. October 28: At Calcutta. October 30: At Rangoon. November 2: In Java. November 3: At Bima. November 4: At Koepang. November 4: Arrived at Wyndham (Australia). Total flight, England to Australia— l IS days. Garden had decided to make a motor tour of the United Kingdom, but suddenly changed his mind, purchased a ’plane, and decided to fly to Australia, a distance of approximately 12,000 miles. At the commencement of his journey he stated that he was not out to break records, but would fly in leisurely stages to the Commonwealth. On landing in Australia, 18 days after the commencement of his journey, he attained third fastest time for the whole journey. Garden landed at Wyndham, a spot which is considered by experienced aviators as a very difficult landing point. The following tables show the stages covered and? the days occupied by Hinkler land Kingsford-Smith:— Hinkler. First Day: London to Rome. Second Day: Rome to Malth. Third Day: Malta to Benghazi. Fourth Day: Benghazi to Tebruk. Fifth Day: Tebruk to Ramleh. Sixth Day: Ramleh to Basra. Seventh Day: Basra to Jask. Eighth Day: Jask to Karachi. Ninth Day: Karachi to Cawnpore. Tenth Day: Cawnpore* to Calcutta. Eleventh Day: Calcutta to Rangoon. Twelfth Day: Rangoon to Victoria Point. Thirteenth Day: Victoria Point to Singapore. Fourteenth Day: Singapore to Bandoeng. Fifteenth Day: Bandoeng to Bima. Sixteenth Day: Bima to Darwin. Kingsford-Smith. First Day: London to Rome. Second Day: Rome to Athens. Third Day: Athens to Aleppo. Fourth Day: Aleppo to Bushire. Fifth Day: Bushire to Karachi. Sixth Day: Karachi to Allahabad. Seventh Day: Allahabad to Rangoon. Eighth Day: Ffangoon to Singapore. Ninth Day: Singapore to Surabaya. Tenth Day: Surabaya to Atamboea. Eleventh Day: Atamboea to Darwin.