REV ZEALAND AVIATOR'S FATE

West Coast Times, 18 June 1912, Page 1

REV ZEALAND AVIATOR'S FATE

MISSING IN THE IRISH SEA. In April last the cable messages described bow a Mr. Alien, in attempting to make a flight in an aeroplane from Hendon (London) to Dublin, had set out from Chester to cross the Irish Channel, and had not been seen after passing Holyhead on April 18th. It now appears that Mr. Allen was a New Zealander—Mr. Darner Leslie Allen, a son of the late Dr. Allen, of Napier. He was born at Limerick in 1875, imd was educated at the Bluecoat school. He came to New Zealand in 1894, going to a Hawke’s Bay sheep run as a cadet, and afterwards to the mines at Waihi. While there his engineering abilities procured him a good appointment in Messrs Fraser’s workshops in Auckland. He was fond of cycling, and became fourth amateur rider for New Zealand. Ho left Auckland as third engineer, travelling to I.ondon, and stayed at sea five years until he had obtained his chief's certificate, and also the Board of Trade’s certificate. He made an engineering, tour through the East with the object of reducing refrigerating machinery into the navies there, and in- this he was most successful. He was entertained by the Chinese Admirals, also by Admiral Togo in Japan, and obtained access into dockyards by their courtesy.

On returning to Europe, Mr. Allen met relatives in Rangoon, and won the polo cup and other steeplechases there. Being,fond of horseracing, he was-afterwards nominated as a gentleman rider in Ireland by the Marquis of Waterford. In 1909 ho married a daughter of Mr. James Croomes Allen, a London Banker, and entered' into partnership with Mr. A. ,J. Maginnis, as consulting engineer. In December, 1911, he obtained his pilot certificate fi onx the .Royal Aero Club. Hig greatest wish was to fly the Irish Channel to his native land. He left Hendon on April 17th., reaching Chester that evening, accomplishing 170 miles in under three hours. On the next morning he left Chester, and was last seen by Captain Vincent, of the Donald Currie liner New Zealand, flyhmover his steamer from ■ Holyhead to Ireland.

His little daughter survives, him in London, and in Near Zealand are his mother and two unmarried sisters in Hawke s - Bay, besides three married sisters, Mrs H. L. Shield, Mrs Kinross White and Mrs. E. D. Holt (Cape Runaway)! and his only brother, Mr. J. H.. Allen, who was for some years a well-known gentleman rider in Hew Zealand.