ARRIVAL AT HAWERA

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

ARRIVAL AT HAWERA

INSPIRING SCENES

A MAORI WELCOME

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

Hawera, September 18. A concourse of spectators estimated at 10,000, drawn from all parts ol Taranaki, accorded an inspiring ovation to the famous crew of the Southern Cross when they landed at Hawera racecourse at 12.20 this afterThe landing marked the completion of the third stage of the air journey from Christchurch to Auckland in three Bristol fighters, to-day’s trip from Wellington having taken two hours ten minutes against a stilt' northwest wind. The flight was to have been resumed at 2 o'clock, but owing to a threat of bad weather, which later materialised in a thunder and rain-storm from the north, the departure was postponed until to-morrow morning. Captain Findlay, of the New Zealand Air Force, with Mr. Litchfield as a passenger, led the other ’planes to the landing ground. SquadronLeader Kingsford Smith, with FlightLieutenant Ulm in the rear cockpit, planed down a minute later, followed at a similar interval by Captain Buckley, of the New Zealand Force, witli Mr. McWilliams as passenger, the successful landing of all three aeroplanes being completed within two minutes.

As the machines taxied to the refilling point a big portion of the crowd rushed across the enclosure, yelling greetings to “Smithy!” Tumultuous cheering marked the passage of the aviators in cars along the straight to the grandstand, where a civic reception was accorded. In welcoming the airmen, the .Mayor (Mr. E. A. Pacey) expressed the pride and admiration felt by Taranaki people, in common with the rest of New Zealand, in the great achievements of the Southern Cross and her crew. Deafening crescendos from the crowd greeted Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith, who smilingly flung compliments during his reply, and expressed thanks for the overwhelming reception, which he said accorded with the cordial spirit experienced in other centres since their arrival in New Zealand. Flight-Lieutenant Ulm and Mr. Litchfield also voiced their acknowledgments, while Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith apologised for the absence of Mr. McWilliams, who had “been lost in the crowd” and had failed to reach the dais.

A spectacular feature of the recep-

tion was q haka rendered by twenty Maori braves, naked to the waist and wearing little else than head adornments of liax, painted with designs, and piu pins dangling from the waist to the knees. The haka was followed by a welcome, voiced fluently, on behalf of the Maori people by the Rev. R. T. Haddon, a direct descendant .of Turi, captain of the canoe Aotea. “You are men who have blazed the trail across the chartless skies; we are the children of men who blazed a trail across the chartless ocean over a thousand years ago. Therefore, we welcome you, and wish that you may be always prosperous,” said Mr. Haddon. He concluded by draping a presentation piu piu over the shoulders of Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith. Fifty representatives of local bodies

throughout the province assembled at a luncheon given the aviators, when the toasts of “Our Guests” and “The Air Force,” sponsored respectively by the Mayor and Mr. E. Dixon, president of the Chamber of Commerce.

Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and Mr. Litchfield replied, the former commending Hawera on its possession of a good landing ground for aeroplanes. Earlier in the ceremony Mrs. A. Illingworth, of Alton, a sister of the late Captain Hood, was presented to the party. Interviewed to-night, Captain Findlay said that, weather permitting, the aeroplanes would leave at 6 o’clock in the morning. It was expected they would reach Auckland about 8.30.