SURVEY ENDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 4, 6 January 1938, Page 8

SURVEY ENDS.

NORTHERN FLIGHT.

TOUR BY CENTAURUS.

JOURNEY OVER NORTH CAPE.

TO SYDNEY OK MONDAY. Under flying conditions in which her passengers revelled. Imperial Airways" flying boat Centaurus to-day made the last survey tour of her New Zealand visit, following a course which almost completely enclosed the northern arm of the North Island.

Travelling up the eastern coast as far as North Cape, the Centaurus journeyed about 500 miles in three and threequarter hours. She left Auckland at eight o'clock as clouds were clearing from the sky. and landed again at 11.45 in a day of crystal clearness. No stops were made in the course of the tour.

Returning from her Southern tour, the Centaurus dropped quickly out of rainy skies at 4.30 yesterday afternoon, and as quickly turned into the westerly breeze to make a smooth landing on the harbour. Leaving Wellington two hours and a half before. Captain Burgess had climbed through low clouds on a direct compass course for Cape Egmont. Australian Minister Carried, It was an uneventful journey. The ikying boat broke through rain squalls as she neared the Manukau Harbour, and in Auckland it was dark and threatening overhead. Hundreds of onlookers, however, had gathered at the

waterfront to experience again the thrill of the landing.

Coming ashore by launch, the Centaurus' passengers paid tribute to the smoothness of her flight. Among them wag the Australian Minister, Mr. White, who is to establish a precedent on Monday next by being the first- Minister of the Crown to fly the Tasman. Mr. White, to whom, flying is no novelty— he had war air service, and to-day is a vice-president and life member of the Australian Aero Club—does not regard the flight, to Sydney as a "stunt." He looks upon it simply as a practical method of returning to his country. Other passengers from Wellington were Mr. C. G. White, a director of Union Airways; Mr. F. B. Dwver, of the Department of Internal Affairs: Mr. F. Maurice Clarke, manager of Union Airways; Flight-Lieutenant L. Crocker, Captain J. W. Burgess, sen.. Mr. A. F. Castle, Commander B. A. Blvthe, Mr. H. Mangliam, Mr. M. McLeod, Mr. A. A. Hardcastle and Mr. L. L. White. Maori Mascot. Also on board was "Hori," the Centaurus" new Maori mascot. Sent to Captain Burgess by an anonymous Wellington admirer, it is a miniature bronze bust of a tattooed Maori chief, engraved with the following words: '•Hori Xgakapa te Whanaunga. This warrior chief was one of the leaders in the attack on the British escort at Martyn's Farm, Great South Road, July 17, 1803. His brave wife, Hera Puna, accompanied him on the warpath.'' Captain Burgess projioses to take "Ilori" with him on the return flight to England.

"We have Lad a very successful tour round New Zealand, with wonderful receptions at each of the centres \ir»ited," said Captain Burgess. He regretted deeply that it had not been possible, because of the vagaries of the weather, to adhere to the complete schedule, which had made provision for the Centaurus to circle over a number of additional towns.

Almost as soon as the flying-boat had taxied to her luooriugs at Mechanics' Bay, work was begun in preparing her for the return flight to Sydney on Monday. It was planned to take aboard about 1400 gallons of petrol this afternoon. There will be much to do in the way of checking motors and equipment between to-day and-Sunday evening, and it is not proposed to make any further local flights. Early Morning Start. The commander, Captain J. IV. Burgess. ho[K-s to take off from the harbour shortly after dawn on Monday. A great deal, of course, depends on the weather, but it is likely that the Centaurus will be ready for flight about 4 a.m.. and she will get away soon after that hour as the meteorological "0.K." is given.

With an early start, the living-boat may reach Sydney in time for lunch, since she will gain two hours on the trip. There will be one passenger—the Australian Minister of Trade and Customs, the Hon. T. W. White. To allow for this it is proposed that a member of the crew, Mr. H. J. Gingham, will travel to Sydney on the Wanganella on Monday, flying to Melbourne to rejoin the Centaurus.

The flight to-day gave a number of New Zealanders a further oj>por:uniTy of experiencing a new thrill, find at the same time a study was ':lJde of two northern harbours. Rus -eil .and Parengarenga. as possible emergency landing bases. The Centaurus earned the Hon. T. Bloodworth. M.L.I'.. o-i.-iirman of the Auckland Harbour Baud, and Mr. D. Holderness. superinten lent ; Mr. -T. Melling. town clerk; Flight-Lieutenant A. G. Lester, officer co -minding Ilob&on*ille air base; Mr. F Maurice Clarke, manager of Union Air.v?.\s. and a number of Union Airways officers. Flying High. On her way up the East Coast, the flying-boat circled over Russell and went on to P&rengarenga. where she circled several times. She travelled northwards again to Spirits Bay. at the tip of the island, passing pbove North Ca]>e, which was hidden In cloud, and returned to Auckland by the western coast. She travelled high at times, on one occasion reaching 9500 ft. "It was a perfect trip all the way," said one of the passengers enthusiast icall v.

Appearing over the city from the west, the Centaurus turned northwards and made a wide sweep above Kanjritotn. Then she passed low over Devon port, turned again and landed perfectly down harbour in brilliant, sunshine.