TRANSCRIPTION:
Dear Ed,
I’ve been too mean about writing I let myself go too much imagining that people talk, but that won’t excuse me for not writing to you You would like to hear naturally of anything doing. I will try to give a brief description of the day of the test. We woke at half past four in the morning & I scrambled out of my bed [[illeg.] wooden mattress). It was an ideal morning clear & quiet and not a ripple of the water At half past five the Govt. Observers arrived & after tossing for places for order of flying we got at it. Sharland was first man & went through alright. Going was next (used to Captain Hetricks boats on the river) but he missed the mark badly in landing after making a distance flight in figures of 8. Cook was next he did alright – the wind was rising now and it didn’t look too bright for me. I found it jolly rough the air seemed to be [illeg.] & gusty on the figures of eight. I had to work like a [illeg.] to steer – I dived 30 & 40 ft at a time – once at 200ft in the air the machine sank to 50 ft of the water in a pocket in the air. Somehow all control puling of force under the control left her & down we went then when pressure came again I sailed up again to 200ft & made a good landing on to the mark. We discovered after I came in that the controls had worked through a poor [illeg.] After it was fixed I finished the test – On climbing for the [illeg.] I went up a 1000ft and had a nice view around the harbour, City, Onehunga, & both oceans. I felt something akin to a [illeg.] I chose a suitable landing spot – shut off the engine & came down – it took 63 seconds to come down.
It is a month now since passing I expect to be leaving early next month – we have to await orders to sail - from the Imperial Authorities – it is too late to wish you a merry Xmas. More important is I read you werent feeling well – “take” care of yourself Ed perhaps N Zealand would be a healthy spot for you to [illeg.] soon – with lots of love
Your affectionate brother
Harry X