SIR KEITH SMITH.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16962, 11 October 1920, Page 10

SIR KEITH SMITH.

CIVIC !WEIiCOME,

There iras a. largo gathering of Chrisfcclnareh people at -the City Council Chamber on Saturday morning, when a civic reception vras accorded the famous aviator, .Sir Keith Smith, who, with his brother, Sir Boss Smith, mado the first nir ro'yago from to Australia. TJie Mayor (i>. Thackor, SLP.) preMtlcd at tho gathering, and extended ;i licurty wflfomt' to tho distinguished visitor. " Among those present were Messrs G'eo-. Humphreys and R. Allon (representing tho Canterbury Aviation Company, in tho absence of the Hon. H. J- , . Wigrain), A. G. Henderson (president), and P. R. Cliinio, repreM'nting the Canterrjury Progress T.oaguo, W. J. Jenkin (Industrial As=o<i:ition), W T. Lester (Mayor of Lyttollon), A, l>. Ford (Mayor of Kiccartoii), and 11. B. Sorensen (chairman l.yttolton Harbour Board). 'The Mayor said the oxploifc of Sir Keith Smith and the other members of tho crew was a great one, and was so recognised by tho King. Mr Geo. Humphreys voiced Mr \Yig-

ram's regret at being unable to be present. Mr Wigram, out of pure patriotism, had encouraged the deyetop-■ment-of aviation in New Zealand. The visit oi' Sir Keith Smith would do much to stimulate interest in aviation, and have, a great educational effect on tho rising generation. Captain Euan Dickson joined witb tho speakers in -\voicominp; Sir Keith, and in expressing the hope that »he would have a- successful timo in Now Zealand. . Sir Keith Smith, who was received with prolonged applause, returned sincere thanks for the welcome and hospitiiJity showered upon him. He would, ho said, pnsß on tho kind greetings to his brother, and the two mechanics who accompanied them on the flight to Australia. The iciea of the night ongm-,-ited more as a joke than anything else utter a dinner in England, at Tvbich Mr Hushes, Prime Minister of Australia, was present, together with one or jtwo Australian flying officers. .Conversation drifted on to the topic of coming homo after the war, and ono of tho flying men saul it. would bo a good idea to fly homo. The party imnped at the idea, and someone suggested that Mr Hughes should put up ii prize to cover tho expenses. Later, towards the end of 1918, or beginning of 1-919, tho Commonwealth Government offered a prizo of £10,000 for the first flight from England to Australia within thirty days in a Bntish-built machine, manned by an Australian crow Tho machine used on the flight fultmed those conditions entirely. Sho was built by Vickcrs, and the party owed a tremendous amount to Vickers for the splendid machine provided. Everything about the machine was British, including the raw materials used. There was no other country in the world that oould build a machine of that typo. Their principal trouble before the flight started was procuring; a sufficient supi>lv of proper maps tor such countries a*" Siam, but finally all the maps reouired were obtained. The people on the route were wonderfully good, and waro every help-in their power. The Thirty days' limit was designed to show lhat'a. flying service could be made a commercial proposition, and one faster

thntt the steamship service. Tho flight proved that the journey could be, accomplished in the thirty days, but with a proper relay system laid out, the time could be cut down by half. The flight had undoubtedly opened up aa air route between Englalw and Australia, nud had helped to bind Empire closer together in contrast to the forces of disunity involved in the revolution-' ary and Bolshevik propaganda. He wae . a 'Britisher all the time, and was glad to have been of some in promoting the unity of the Empire. He Jiad often been asked what had beeome of "the machine- Tho machine had been handed over io the Commonwealth vernment as a present from Vickers. It waa now in Melbourne, and he boiieved was' to be placed in a Museum, for Vickers wanted the machine kept j as a permanent record of the flight. In conclusion, he paid a tribute to tho splendid work of tho. mechanics on the great flight.

Arrangements have been made to take Sir Keith Smith to-day to Kaiapoi to look over tho woollen mills, and also -to pay a visit of inspection to Borth■wiek's freezing works, at BelfastSir Keith. Smith accompanSedCaptain Dickson in a flight over Christohurch and Lyttelton yesterday afternoon. An Avro machino was used, and nvhen over Lyttelton a height of 4000 foet was reached. The oviator took several photographs during x -the flight. Before descending at tho Sock'b«Th aerodrome Captain Kckson, who sicted as pilot, _ treated Kγ Keitfii to fewral stunts, including loops, a long spin, nnd side-slips.