Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 11, 14 January 1937, Page 6

Town Talk

The Flying; Farmer “Mr Ernie Clark has followed Miss Jean Batten from England to New Zealand. He took nearly twice as long as Miss Batten but there is an impressive air about his seemingly cs.sual amble from Lampne to New Zealand,” states a bulletin of the Society of British Aircraft Construction. “Much as some of us regret the urge which sends ‘lone’ flyers across the 1200 miles of the Tasman Sea in single-engined aircraft, we admire their courage and their navigation skill.” Homeboat to Load. Originally due in the Wanganui roadstead early next month, the Port Line freighter Port Bowen has been diverted to load at Wanganui this week. The steamer left New Plymouth at 7.30 o’clock last evening and is due h?re early this morning. She will load quantities of frozen meat, dairy produce and other cargo, after which she completes at Gisborne and Napier. The Port Bowen arrived at New Plymouth last Sunday from Australia and commenced her Homeward loading at the Taranaki port.

Coal Cargo Arrives. With about 250 tons of coal which she loaded at Westport and Greymouth last week, the Anchor Shipping and Foundry Company’s coastal steamer Rata arrived late on Tuesday night. The vessel discharged a portion of her coal cargo at the gas wharf yesterday morning, completing at the Town Wharf in the afternoon. She also brought 5000 feet of timber and 95 tons of cement. The Rata cleared Wanganui at 10.26 p.m. last night for Wellington and West Coast ports. She is scheduled to load at Westport and Greymouth early next week for Nelson and Wanganui.

Wanganui Wool Sale. With the approach of the VVanganui wool sale, the first which will tie held here for the 1936-37 season, many bales of the golden fleece are arriving daily by road and rail. Even the small river boats which ply between Wanganui an:’, up-river outposts are being kept busy, and it is anticipated that the sale will be in keeping with other New Zealand oiferings. Wool stores in the city and elsewhere are experiencing a particularly busy period and the railway yards present an animated scene eao-i day. The first Wanganui sale of the new season will oe held on Thursday, January 21.

Pipe Band Activities. Several engagements are impending | for the Wanganui Highland Pipe Band before it leaves for Chri.tchurch to participate in the Ne»v Zealand championsnip congest, to be held on February 20. Besides playing at the Caledonian Games at Cook’s Gardens on Friday of next week, the band will play at the Marton A. and P. Show and also at the Turakina Caledonian sports. A visit to New Plymouth is likely to be paid early in February, the band playing at Pukckura Park. Also “in the air” are visits to Palmerston North and Taihape and a return visit to Taumarunui, the last-named by special request, as the December concert at the King Country centre was a huge success.

Big Bay Aeroplane Crash. The date of the’inquiry into the accident to the Fox Moth aeroplane at Big Bay, in which one passenger was killed and three others and the pilot Injured, has not yet been fixed. The three injured passengers are still in hospital. Mr. W. E. Hunt’s condition is improving, and Sister Catherine Buckingham and Mr. George Ross are both reported to be making satisfactory progress. An X-ray examination of Mr. A. J. Bradsnaw. pilot of the aeroplane, has revealed that, in addition to the severe scalp wound he suffered, he is suffering from a fractured spine. The doctor who is attending him states that, considering his injuries, his successful efforts to remove the passengers from the aeroplane immediately after the crash were most commendable. Versatile Lecturer.

After spending five interesting years in the South Island, Mr. Alan G. Browne, F.R.C.S., A.R.C.A., returned to his Homeland and made a lecture tour of Great Britain. His stories of New Zealand life and the beauty of the Southern Alps made an impression on his many listeners and were responsible for a number of retired English people visiting New Zealand. One of these lectures was delivered under the auspices of the Lord Armistead’s Trust, when the Caird Hall, in Dundee, had an audience of over 300 Q people. This was the largest number of people Mr. Browne had ever lectured to, and his lantern slides of New Zealand scenery was well received. Mr. Browne lectured also at the City Temple, London, with Dr. Norwood presiding, at the South Parade Pier, Portsmouth, and at the Bournemouth Pavilion. These, however, are only a few of the many places where he has told of New Zealand's charm. Sir Thomas Wilford, formerly High Commissioner in London, said of him: “I do not think there is any individual man who has done more to make New Zealand known in England during the past three years than Mr. Browne.”

Risk of Engine Failure Although aeroplane motors occasionally cut out in flight, the actual risk of engine failure is considerably lower than that of a motor-car. All aeroplane engines are fitted with dual ignition and the machines, under Government regulations, are required to be maintained in first-class order. However, no matter in how good a condition a motor of any sort is kept some small fault can develop. The Mofh in which Messrs W. Potaka and T. Potaka were obliged to make a forced landing in the National Park region last week is fitted with a Gipsy aero engine of which almost 6000 have been sold since designed in 1927 by Major F. B. Halford. The extent to which British air routes depend on Gipsy engines is apparent from the fact that of more than 60,000 miles of air route, 16,000 miles are worked by Gipsy engines in D.H. 86 or D.H. 86A four-engine ’planes. Of the remaining miles, several thousand are operated by Gipsy engines in smaller aircraft. The Percival Gull machines flown by Mr E. Clark and Miss Jean Batten on their flights from England to New Zealand were powered by Gipsy engines, two of these engines being used in the Comet in which Scott and Black won the Centenary Air Race.