ENTRIES DWINDLE

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 241, 11 October 1934, Page 7

ENTRIES DWINDLE

CENTENARY AIR RACE. Not More Than 25 Starters Expected. COMET UNDERGOES TEST. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, October 10. Of the original 64 entries for the England to Australia air race, it is now regarded as improbable that more than 25 competitors will start. The Royal Aero Club, which is organising the race, is, however, still without definite information regarding several of the entrants.

Only 14 official cancellations have been received, but information from other sources indicates that at least 20 others will not start. England will be represented by six machines.

The first of the three De Havilland Comet aeroplanes which will be flown in the Melbourne Centenary air race lias passed the official tests and been granted a certificate of airworthiness. The Comet has a maximum speed of 235 miles an hour in level flight at a height of 1000 feet. At the suggested racing height of 10,000 feet the speed is 225 miles an hour.

The machine tested will be flown by Mr. and Mrs. J. Mollison. They took it over from the test pilots and, during a short flight, tested it for control at high and low speeds. They were impressed with the performance under conditions which give the best combination of speed and fuel economy and involve flying at a height of 10,000 ft. The Comet is said to have a range of 2500 miles in still air.

TRAVELLING- BY AIR. LORD BLEDISLOE'S TRIP. MELBOURNE, October 10. The Governor-General of New Zealand, Lord Bledisloe, will leave for Canberra to-morrow. He will arrive back in Sydney on Sunday and then fly to Brisbane oil Monday. On Wednesday he will return to Newcastle bv air.

His Excellency will be the guest of Sir Frederick McMaster, at Dalkeith, for a day. He will discuss sheep research problems with Sir Frederick. Lord and Lady Bledisloe are staying at present with Lord Huntingfield, Governor of Victoria, and Lady Huntingfield.

"SMITHY'S" PROJECT. BACKER DECLINES ANY HELP. MELBOURNE, October 10. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith to-day had a discussion with his chief financial backer and the promoter of the Centenary air race, Sir Macplierson Robertson, who declined to be associated directly or indirectly with the airman's proposed flight across the Pacific to America.

GREAT ASSEMBLY.

CHALLENGE AGAIN

THE SAVING HABIT.

FOR N.Z. MEAT TRADE.

Eucharistic Congress Opens In Buenos Ayres. PAPAL LEGATE PRESENT. (Received 2 p.m.) BUENOS AYRES, October 10. The 32nd International Eucharistic Congress was opened to-day by Cardinal Pacelli before the continent's greatest assemblage. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from all parts of the world gathered about a cross 100 feet high at Palermo Park. Four other cardinals and hundreds of bishops and priests, diplomats and Cabinet members, participated. A choir of 500 sang as the Cardinal Legate arrived.

One million pilgrims paid a visit last evening to Cardinal Pacelli, who, accompanied by Papal court dignitaries, reached the port on board the steamer Conte Grande, receiving a salute of 21 guns from the shore battery. He entered the cathcdrAl for a brief service after being welcomed and then was escorted by grenadiers to a residence prepared for him.

MR, SOPWITH'S CONDITIONS. LONDON, October 10. "Unfortunately we were unable to agree with the New York Yacht Club about certain technicalities in the rules, but I think an agreement is possible in the near future," said Mr. T. O. M. Sopwith, who has returned from America after competing for the America Cup with his yacht Endeavour.

"I would be delighted to challenge again," he said, "but it would be useless without an agreement."

BRITONS' BANK MILLIONS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 10. The extent to which the national saving habit has developed during the year was revealed by the PostmasterGeneral, Sir Kingsley Wood, when he inspected the headquarters of the Post Oflice Savings Bank, Kensington. During the current year deposits totalled £09,200,060, an increase of 10 per cent on last year. The balanep due to depositors increased by £22,000,000. The number of open accounts rose by 500,000.

There have been 1,500,000 more individual deposits than in the corresponding period of last year. The amount due to depositors now stands at £347,750,000, and by the end of the year it is estimated that more than 1,250,000 bank books will have been issued, an increase of 25 per cent over 1933.

LAUNCHING OF NEW SHIP. LONDON, October 10. The Shaw, Savill and Albion Company's 10,700-ton steamer Wairangi was launched to-day at Glasgow. She is designed for the New Zealand refrigerator trade.