"Mr H. J. Pither, of Invercargill, who has recently made a successful aeroplane flight —the first in New Zealand", Timaru Herald, 16 August 1910
I have found that a certain H. J. Pither made the first flight in New Zealand.
1)
"The Southland News, referring to the first aeroplane flight made in New Zealand, says:—Mr Pither's machine does not require rails to start upon, and as soon as he had gained sufficient momentum he applied the elevator, and before he knew where he was he found himself gracefully
rising at a greatly accelerated speed. It being a well-known fact that aeroplanes move nearly twice as fast in the air as when driven on terra firma, it took him a few seconds to accustom himself to the novel experience of actually flying through the air. The engine went perfectly, and the planes (or wings) were accomplishing their part of the business famously. The height was from 25 to 30ft, and Mr Pither felt that he could keep going all day. After a flight of nearly a mile, however, the contour of the vicinity brought about his undoing.
On his left was the surf and breakers of the sea, and on his right were innumerable sand hillocks and lagoons, while the stretch of beach had
a width of only about 150 yards. It can readily be understood, therefore, that a deviation either way would result in trouble. If he got to the left he would be above the sea, and a stoppage of his engine would result in his "finish," while if he came down amongst the uneven sandhills he would have perhaps a day's delay in having the machine dragged back to the beach; consequently, when he found himself driven by a head wind until he was at a tangent with the sandhills, he shut off the engine and alighted successfully. The momentum of the monoplane was sufficient to make the drop a graceful one, and the shock on landing was successfully taken by the springs specially provided. Mr Pither thus had the satisfaction of being the first New Zealander to succeed in making an actual flight."
Source: Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10504, 12 July 1910, Page 3
Papers Past ? Oamaru Mail ? 12 July 1910 ? Untitled
2) "
Mr H. J. Pither, of Invercargill, who has recently made a successful aeroplane flight —the first in New Zealand— arrived in Timaru yesterday, and intends giving an exhibition with his machine in Timaru on Saturday next, in a place to be advertised later. His machine, constructed by himself, is of the monoplane type, made in steel, spans 28 feet, length 25 feet, propeller 6 1/2 feet diameter, engine 40-h.p. weight 480 pounds. The Bleriot machine which crossed the channel weighed 605 pounds."
Source: Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14275, 16 August 1910, Page 5,
Papers Past ? Timaru Herald ? 16 August 1910 ? Untitled