“PICKED A DOUBLE” AT WANGANUI, THEN FLEW OVER TO SYDNEY
SYDNEY, Nov. 8 (Rec. 12.30 pm).— A 79-year-old retired farmer from Otahuhu, near Auckland, who waited a lifetime to get enough money to come by air to Australia, arrived in Sydney today by Tasman flying-boat, only to find he had left the name and address of his sole Sydney relative on his dressing table is New Zealand. He is Mr. Tommy Pile, whose only relative in Sydney is a grand niece. Mr. Pile was stranded in Sydney with only eight pounds, so Qantas officials took him to a Y.M.C.A. hostel and arranged a week’s accommodation for him.
Mr. Pile said: “I love racehorses and aeroplanes. I can pick doubles and trebles in New Zealand without any trouble, but I can’t remember names and addresses. I picked a double at Wanganui last week which enabled me to make this trip. I was all for returning home on the next plane, but the Qantas people induced me to stay a week and see Sydney, but I don’t think I’ll stay long. Your city is too big, and I’ll get lost. If I don’t find my grand niece I’ll go home, pick another double and come back with the right address.”
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Wanganui Chronicle, 9 November 1949, Page 5
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208“PICKED A DOUBLE” AT WANGANUI, THEN FLEW OVER TO SYDNEY Wanganui Chronicle, 9 November 1949, Page 5
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