Pictures From The Past

Many Gisborne people had their introduction to aeroplanes and flying in the summer of 1921-22, when an Avro 'plane, piloted by Captain L. H. Brake, made passenger flights from Waikanae Beach. The present Mayor of Gisborne, Mr H. H. Barker, acting on behalf of the Waikanae Beach Society, booked no less than 1200 flights in six weeks.

The first aerial pictures of Gisborne were taken by Mr Barker towards the end of 1921. One

In April 1922, Captain (later Wing Commander) M. W. Buckley, Captain Brake, and Mr Barker made the first direct Gisborne-Auckland flight in 3½ hrs, then the longest nonstop trip to be made in N. Z.

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Shows the plane on the beach, the centre of a curious throng.

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Shows gaol and beach area at that time.

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A newspaper is handed into plane before take-off. Trip demonstrated possibilities of regular commercial service between the two centres —a dream which took 18 years to come true.

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Waikanae Beach as it was in those days.