POWERED FLIGHT IN NEW ZEALAND - 1914-1919
J.W.H. SCOTLAND
CAPT. EUAN DICKSON: Canterbury (N.Z.) Aviation Company Ltd.
MR. GEORGE BOLT: Walsh Bros. & Dexter Ltd.
1914, March 6
J.W.H. SCOTLAND: FIRST FLIGHT TIMARU - CHRISTCHURCH:
N.Z. LONG DISTANCE RECORD
It wasn't until 6 March 1914 that
aircraft were used to deliver the first mail in New
Zealand.
In 1914 the aviator J.W.H. Scotland, who had been making
flights in the Invercargill and Gore areas, railed his
45hp. Caudron biplane to Timaru for an attempt on the New
Zealand long distance flying record.
Scotland would attempt to fly from Timaru to Christchurch - 160kms to the
north.
Scotland took off from Fraser Park, Timaru, on the
morning of 6th March at 8.30am. and it is
recorded that he dropped an "air mail" near the Temuka
Railway Station - approximately 20kms north of
Timaru.
One letter is known to exist, being written by Mr. Turner
of Wellington and addressed to Mr. J.G. Andrews of
Temuka.
Scotland made a request to Mr. Andrews to send to
Wellington his book on the Zenith engine that powered
Scotland's plane.
Mr. Turner went on to say: - "I am sending this letter by
Mr. Scotland to be dropped at Temuka from his aeroplane
on his flight from Timaru to Christchurch. This will be
the first letter by aero post in New Zealand".
The letter also contained the signature of Mr. Scotland.
This "mail" was of course entirely unofficial but is
nevertheless of historical importance.
The aviator was forced to make an emergency landing at
Orari, approximately 15 kms north of Temuka. And Mr.
Andrews was called there to make repairs before the
Caudron proceeded to Christchurch where Mr. Scotland
arrived before an enthusiastic crowd at the Addington
Showgrounds at 5 pm.
The distance of approximately 160 kms was flown in 2
hours, 5 minutes, actual flying time - an average speed
of 78 kms per hour!

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J.W.H. Scotland's historic Timaru-Temuka air drop -
N.Z. long distance record to Christchurch.
1919, 6 December
CANTERBURY (N.Z.) AVIATION COMPANY LTD: SPECIAL FLIGHT
SOCKBURN-CHRISTCHURCH
Although the first New Zealand air
mail flight arranged by the Post & Telegraph
Department and therefore officially recognised, took
place on 16th December, 1919, letters were
actually carried by air ten days earlier. For on Saturday
6th December, 1919, an aeroplane belonging to
the Canterbury Aviation Company and piloted by Capt. Euan
Dickson (who later carried official mails for the Postal
Department), left Sockburn Aerodrome at 11.45am. and
after attracting considerable attention by stunting over
Christchurch, eventually circled above Cathedral Square
during the mid-day rush period, and dropped a number of
envelopes which were addressed "To the Citizens of
Christchurch", each containing a printed letter.
The flight had been arranged by the advertising manager
of the Theatre Royal, Christchurch, and was intended to
advertise the film "Sporting Life" which was to be
screened at the theatre the following week. Mr. H. Lane
of the theatre staff was carried as a passenger and he
distributed the "mail".
The envelopes, in addition to the address, bore a picture
of an aeroplane in the top right-hand corner and the
inscription "FIRST AERIAL MAIL DELIVERY IN NEW ZEALAND",
in the top left-hand corner.
At the top of the letter the inscription "AERIAL MAIL"
appeared, with the picture of an aeroplane, and at the
foot of the sheet was the advice:- "SAVE THIS as a
souvenir of the First Aerial Mail delivered in
Christchurch."
Officially of course, this mail had no standing, as no
postage was paid, but envelopes are undoubtedly of
interest to the collector, and to the extent that they
were genuinely flown from Sockburn to Christchurch before
delivery warrants mention.
1919, December 16
WALSH BROS. & DEXTER LTD: PIONEER EXPERIMENTAL
FLIGHT FROM AUCKLAND TO DARGAVILLE & RETURN,
CONSTITUTING THE FIRST OFFICIAL AIR MAIL FLIGHT IN NEW
ZEALAND
In December, 1919, the Post &
Telegraph Department recommended the Government authorise
a trial flight:- "In order to investigate the practical
utility of the conveyance of mail matter by air in New
Zealand."

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map)
Auckland - Dargaville & Return
As soon as the necessary authority had
been granted by Cabinet, the Department completed
arrangements with Messrs. Walsh Bros. & Dexter Ltd.,
the proprietors of the New Zealand Flying School at
Auckland, and it was decided that the pioneer flight
should be between Auckland and Dargaville.
The project was advertised and special functions were
arranged at both Auckland and Dargaville to mark the
occasion.
The machine selected for the flight was a Boeing
twin-float seaplane fitted with a 125hp. Hall-Scott
engine. Mr. George Bolt was chosen as the pilot and, in
accordance with the postal regulations, was sworn in at
the Chief Post Office, Auckland, as an official mail
carrier.
Mr. Leo Walsh, principal of the firm of Walsh Bros. &
Dexter Ltd., accompanied the pilot as the passenger. The
seaplane left the base at Kohimarama on the morning of
the 16th December and arrived off the Launch
Landing at Queen Street, Auckland, at 10.00am. Speeches
were made and the loading of the mail bags was witnessed
by a crowd of over 2,000 people.
At 10.15am. the plane took off and eventually reached
Dargaville at 11.50am. Nearly all the residents of
Dargaville turned out to welcome the airmen and as soon
as the mail had been delivered to the postmaster, they
were entertained at an official luncheon. The plane left
again for Auckland at 3pm., alighting at the Launch
Landing at 4.23pm.
No air mail fee was charged on letters carried and no
special cachets were used, but senders were requested to
endorse letters with the words "Per Aerial Mail," "By Air
Mail" or similar inscription and where this had been
omitted it was written on in manuscript by the postal
officials. The mail from Auckland weighed 50 lbs. and was
contained in three bags comprising 825 letters and 28lbs.
of newspapers, whilst the mail from Dargaville weighed 54
lbs. and was also contained in three bags, being made up
by 1,220 letters, 17 packets, and 9 newspapers.

Walsh Brothers' Boeing
Seaplane |
Walsh Brothers |
Walsh Brothers |
Walsh Brothers
George Bolt |
George Bolt |
George Bolt |
George Bolt
Richard Pearse |
Richard Pearse |
Richard Pearse
Captain Musick |
Captain Musick |
Captain Musick
Jean Batten |
Jean Batten |
Jean Batten |
Jean Batten |
Jean Batten
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