AVIATION SCHOLARSHIP

Waipa Post, Volume 48, Issue 3468, 19 May 1934, Page 6

AVIATION SCHOLARSHIP

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED. MANY PROMISING CANDIDATES. A total of 391 candidates competed for the two aviation scholarships offered by the Auckland Aero Club, 186 receiving examination from Flight Lieutenant D. M. Allan,_ of Auckland, and the other 205 from Flight Lieutenant W. H. Lett, of Hamilton. The Auckland scholarship has been decided and was won by a pupil of the Auckland Grammar School, Noel Ellis Taylor, aged 17 years, of Mount Eden. The Te Rapa scholarship has been held up for some time, but the six finalists were announced by Flight Lieutenant Lett on Thursday. The successful candidates are:— Mr K. E. Forsyth, Taumarunui, 345 points. Miss Belle Turner, Tauranga, 340 points. Mr W. J. Horton, Hamilton, 320 points. M!r W. S. Lee, Hamilton, 315 points. Mr J. A. Carruthers, Matamata, 305 points. Mr P. R. Lee, Hamilton, 300 points. Definite arrangements for the final testing of the six candidates have not |yet been made, though Mr Lett hopes to assemble them at Te Rapa on June 3, and test them under equal conditions. It will be noted that none of the Te Awamutu district candidates was successful, but a hint dropped by a gentleman prominent in aviation Circles gives the impression that two or three of the local candidates must have been close up in the aggregate points and thus only missed inclusion in the final six by a very narrow margin. THE CANDIDATES.

Of those selected Miss Turner is a well known Tauranga young lady who has devoted a very great ideal of time and enthusiasm to aviation, and has availed herself of the many opportunities presented there of making flights, though, of course, only as a passenger. Mr Forsyth is engaged in the motor business at Taumarunui, and has a splendid knowledge of mechanics that he had applied to some purpose. Messrs W. S. and P. R. Lee are brothers, aged 29 and 27 years respectively, sons of Mr and Mrs S. J. Lee, Waipiro Bay, East Coast. They are employed by Peter Pan Motors, Ltd.

Mr W. J. Morton, aged 26, motor mechanic, has a garage in Hamilton East.

Mr 'Carruthers is a son of a well known Turanga-o-moana farmer, and he had planned to proceed to England to join the Royal Air Force. He is only 18 years of age. MANY AREAS VISITED.

The 205 entries were received from all parts of the South Auckland district, Mr Lett visiting Taumarunui, Te Kuiti, Te Awamutu, Tauranga, Whakatane, Te Aroha and Opotiki to carpy out the tests. A large number of entrants also travelled to Te Rapa to be examined. Each was shown the functions of the various controls and instruments, and then taken for a short' flight, during which the candidate, who occupied the rear or pilot’s cockpit, was required to take over the controls for a spell. Marks were allotted on the ability and aptitude shown. Mr Lett said that between 30 and 40 candidates did exceptionally well, and, although the six selected scored the highest points, there were at least a dozen others who were very close to them.

WINNER OP SCHOLARSHIP. _ The winner of the scholarship will receive free instruction up to A license standard and free pilot membership of the Auckland Aero Club for one year. In addition, Sir Charles Kjngsford Smith has promised to give the successful candidate a lesson in flying, and has also presented a trophy. The remaining five finalists will become associate members of the club for one year.