AN OPPORTUNITY LOST.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 214, 10 September 1928, Page 8

AN OPPORTUNITY LOST.

CONDITIONS LAST NIGHT. TEMPORARILY FAVOURABLE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. With forecasts of improving weather, <?\| tatinns ran righ that the flight would take place during the week-end, but the airmen apparently thought it advisable to wait a little longer. Tlio Manuka and Makura, which arrived yesterday and this morning, respectively, each reported strong southwesterly winds, with high seas in the Tasman. The conditions, however, were improving. Yesterday evening there was a south easterly gale and rain at Greymouth, and similar conditions prevailed off Cape Farewell. Had the airmen started last nJgM, conditions better than those which have prevailed in the Tasm tn for some days past would have greeted them on their arrival. '"If the airmen had started last night," said Dr. Kidson to-day, "they would have experienced conditions which, although not ideiil, would have been better than any experienced for many days past, and better than those likely to be experienced for a few days to come." He thought the airmen had been put off by reports of weather actually prevailing in New Zealand and that they did not like to take the risk of a chance of improvement before their arrival. Adverse conditions were now making themselves evident on the Australian side of the Tasman, and he doubted whether the start would be made just yet. In his cable to Sydney, Dr. Kidson forecasted: ''Westerly winds, veering to northerlic3, and freshening by to-morrow over the eastern part of the Tasman sea and New Zealand. Cloudy and J howery weather might be expected over the east Tasman and the west New Zealand, remaining fair for the present in Cook Strait and on the east coast."