CROSSING HAZARDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 3, 5 January 1938, Page 8

CROSSING HAZARDS.

TRIALS OF EARLY FLIGHTS. « SaPXHTS » FHIETD "RtTW lUH tßy Tftegrapa.—Own Cffm;spomT<rnit.> BCTSEEMS*. Tnesdav. | Among tße Dnnedin residents at tT><» i offieEai reception to; Captain Bargees, of . | tße Centaurns, was Mr. R. ML Mackav. '! an intimate friend of tße late Sir | CBaries. Kmgsford Smifß* with whom Be made a Tasman crossing in tße Soatßern Cross in Marufi. I9:j;S. | lir. Mackay was impressed witß tße ; splendid organisation w&icß h-.tA made ' | tfie ffigßt of tße. Centanraa stkeß a., con- : spictions success- It reminded T-tfm | forcibly of tße difficulties eixgerienced | by "Sinxtßy"' Bea«. t&aai five years ago, | and particularly of tfie. crude fuellingi arrangements witß wßic& that intrepid ' airman Bad to. contend. I TBe only suitable spot available for . | tfie take-off of tfie Sout&ern Cross on | tfiat occasion was at ISrnety-mSe i Beacfiv s"ort& Anckland. There was no, ! settlement in tfie immediate vicinity. ! and petrol Bad to Be carried in 45-gaJ2on i drum» and pumped in t&e various tanks on t&e mac&me by Band pumps. | T&e ffrgbty t&e correct duration of i w&icfi,. said Mr. 3Eickay* was 13 kours 1 4 minutes,, and not 13: Boors 40: minutes ;as usually stated* begun, tfie trip across : t&e Tasman wa.> uneventful. Indeed* | Mr. Jfackay considers t&at tfie Bazaxds ;of tfie crossing fiave always been ova - - l estimated. . ; "Wxfcfi t&e facilrties now arvazCabre.* ifie added, "t&is journey by air s&ottld ;be perfectly safe and reliable- 7 * T&ts morning's event alsoi broug&t to | Mr. Mackays mind tfiat in February--119.74* fie conferred -witfi Mr- S. A Bisi more* secretary of Bicpertail Airways- at , | and t&e diwnwsiore wbicb itfien took plnce revealed t&e fact tfiat 11 tfie company's proposals included comj pletirnr of arrangsniients for a Tasman i service by 19-38.