SOUTHERN CROSS FLYERS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 300, 19 September 1928, Page 12

SOUTHERN CROSS FLYERS

NORTHERN JOURNEY CONTINUED WELCOMED BY 10,000 PEOPLE AT HAWERA , ARRIVAL AT AUCKLAND THIS MORNING Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and other members of the Southern Cross party, together with Captains Findlay and Bucklev, of the New Zealand Air Force, left Wellington shortly after 10 o’clock yesterday morning in continuation of their journey to Auckland. The three aeroplanes arrived at Hawera at 12.20, where the party received a welcome that by now has become characteristic since their arrival in the Dominion. The journey to Auckland will be resumed this morning. Amid cheering and the waving of handkerchiefs from a gathering of seme two hundred people, composed largely of children from the local school and Territorials from the near-by military camp, Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith, Flight-Lieutenant Ulin, and Messrs. H. A. Litchfield and T. H. McWilliams, accompanied by Captains Findlay and Buckley, of the New Zea-’ land Air Force, set off from the Trentham racecourse yesterday morning in three Bristol fighters for Hawera, the first stage of their journey to Auckland. The flyers travelled to Hawera in the same order that they made the journey from Christchurch to Wellington. Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and Flight-Lieutenant Ulm were in one machine, Captain Findlay and Mr. Litchfield in another, and Captain Buckley and Mr. McWilliams in the third. Throughout Monday night mechanics were at work tuning up the machines in readiness for their northern journey, and early yesterday morning they were refuelled, and when the party reached Trentham at about 10 a.m. the engines were already running. All they required to do was to don their flying equipment, take their seats in the cockpit, and prepare for the takeoff. No time was lost in doing this, and a few minutes after arriving at the course the three machines soared into the air, Captain Findlay taking off first, followed by Captain Buckley, and then the commander of the Southern Cross. The Bristol fighters circled around the course, worked themselves into file, and then headed northward to Hawera. TREAT FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN By Telegraph.—Press Association. Foxton, September 18. In response to a request from the chairman of the School Committee, the Tasman flyers passed over Foxton in their overland flight to Auckland. They came low down over the school and responded to the cheers from the assern-

bled children by waving their hands. AT WANGANUI ’PLANES FLY LOW OVER CITY Dominion Special Service. Wanganui, September 18. At 11.30 this morning hundreds of Wanganui residents were thrilled by the appearance on the horizon of three black specks which looked like rapidly moving birds. The crowds who gazed upwards knew better, however, for they had been waiting for an hour for the arrival of the three Bristol Fighters carrying the Tasman air heroes. The clanging of the firebell in Cook’s Gardens proclaimed to the people of Wanganui that the aeroplanes were in sight. All eyes were on a bank of clouds on the horizon, whence the machines were expected to emerge. They saw what looked like three dragonflies gliding slowly at first in the distance, but seemingly increasing in speed as they approached the city. Then the outline of the ’planes could be discerned and soon they were wheeling over Durie Hill. Steamers and railway engines hooted greetings, factory buzzers sounded and the fire siren shrieked out its appreciation of the airmen’s courtesy call. The noise brought back memories of Armistice Day. Men, women and children cried out their welcome, and if Kingsford Smith and his comrades could have heard the cheers above the roar of the engines they would have been immensely pleased. On reaching the city the ’planes broke their flying formation, one ’plane heading for Aramoho, another for Wanganui East, while a third climbed high over the city itself. The ’plane which flew lowest was that occupied by Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and Flight-Lieutenant Ulm. This, returning from Aramoho, flew low down over the river and thence over the racecourse to Gonville and Castlecliffi. The others continued to circle over the city, making for St. John’s Hill and Westmere. While Kingsford Smith was giving the Gonville School children a thrill the other two ’planes circled several times over St. John’s Hill. When the ’planes were over Westmere they resumed their formation and headed for Hawera. The flyers had come, and were gone in little more than five minutes, and at twenty minutes to twelve they were out of sight. Several hundred people went to Durie Hill, where an excellent view was obtained from the heights and also from the lift and memorial towers. MAORILANDERS’ GREETINGS The Maorilanders’ Association addressed the following letter to the aviators soon after their arrival:— “This is to greet and welcome you on the memorable occasion of your successful flight to New Zealand in the good airship Southern Cross. Your courtesy flight over Wellington, the Empire City of New Zealand, on your first arrival was greatly appreciated. You have ‘blazed the trail’ in the air as did the first people to these shores in the first sailing ships. Wishing you all a very happy time onward.” The letter is signed on behalf of the association by Messrs. M. .7. Forde president; W. H. Stevens, lion. secre tary; F. H. C. Smith, hon. treasurer and M. Hyland, organiser.

On account of illness, Mr. R. McKeen (Wellington South) has been granted three days’ leave of absence from the House of Representatives.

Mr. and Mrs. Tom Heeney, accompanied by Mr. W. D. Lysnar, M.P. for Gisborne, visited Parliament House yesterday, and were conducted over the building.