Harbour Board Conference

Delegates from Harbour Boards from all over New Zealand gathered in Gisborne last month for their annual conference. They met in the War Memorial Hall, were entertained at a number of functions, and on the Thursday before the big storm and flood, they were taken on a bus tour of the district.

First of all the delegates were taken to the Takipu Maori meeting house at Te Karaka, where they were welcomed by Mr George Brown and conducted over the meeting house by Miss Lena Ruru. After a tour of the district, they were then taken up Gentle Annie and on to Enfield Station, Mr R. C. Parker's property at Pehiri, for lunch. There they were treated to a spectacular demonstration of aerial topdressing by Fieldair.

×

 

• 

The guests at the welcome at Takipu

×

 

• 

Inspecting the interior of the meeting house.

×

 

• 

At Takipu: Messrs A. Riddell (Bay of Islands), R. A. Adams (Patea), G. M. Newman (Gis.)

As the afternoon progressed, the weather began to produce occasional sowers, but still gave no hint that in 36 hours torrential rain would be falling and all the country inspected would be in the grip of the worst flood since 1948.

×

 

• 

At Enfield, guests chat on the verandah and lawn of the station homestead.

×

 

• 

Mr Parker greeting guests on their arrival.

×

 

• 

The President of the New Zealand Harbour Board Association, Mr B. E. Keiller, chatting at Takipu with Mr George Brown.

The aerial top-dressing demonstration at Enfield was a new experience for many of the delegates and their wives. While the weather in some respects restricted the display, the sight of Fieldair's big Lodestar sweeping up the valley at high speed, discharging the smoke-like clouds of fertiliser on the pastures beneath, was one they are not likely to forget for many years.

×

 

• 

Almost level with the heads of the delegates, the Lodestar sweeps past discharging its load.

×

 

• 

Another dramatic picture of the Lodestar in action.

×

 

• 

Delegates on knoll watch as plane completes mission. One of the company's other planes, a Beaver, also took part.