SOUTHERN CROSS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 1, 3 January 1933, Page 8

SOUTHERN CROSS

TRANS-TASMAN FLIGHT

LANDING FACILITIES

INSPECTION OF FIELDSx

A tour of inspection of landing grounds in the North Island suitable for the accommodation of the" Southern Cross was undertaken, last week by Mr. Wilfrid Smith, brother of Sir Charlel Kingsford Smith. ''

Accompanied by Mr, B. Shiel, aviation officer or the Vacuum Oil Company and Mr. A. AW Nisbet, secretary of the Wellington Aero Club, Mr." Smith travelled over 1300 miles and visited fifteen towns. He. completed arrangements for the visit of the Southern Cross to towns where the 'aerodromes are suitable for tho landing and taking off of the huge monoplane, and at other places ho arranged for alterations to the existing landing grounds. Although ho made a thorough inspection of the districts, he was unable to find suitable landing grounds at Hawera, Te Kuitf, and Te Awamutu. At Palmerston North, Dannevirke, and; Masterton alterations to the aerodromes ■will, bo necessary before the- machine can take off or land with safety, and officials of the aero clubs ij these,towns have expressed their v.:llingness to< undertake the work. Excellent landing grounds are available at Hamilton^Eotorua, and Napier.. Mr; Smith said he wished to congratulate the aero clubs at Hastings, New Plymouth, and Wanganui on the vast amount of work they had.done to their aerodromes in. view of the visit of the Southern Gross. He was unable to find suitable landing grounds at Gisborne or ,Tauranga, but at low -water the machine will b& able to .fly from the beach at these two towns.

As Mr. Smith is pressed for time, ha will be unable to make a tour of inspection of the South Island, but ha has been assured that tie landing grounds in .the south are suitable for th.c handling of a machine of the Southern Cross's type. . ; •'-.■-.

Mr. Smith said that the statement published recently that Sir. Charles intended to CQiumence the flight next Tuesday afternoon was incorrect. He had received from his brother a cablegram which stated that, weather . permitting, the Southern Cross would tak« oft' from Gerringong Beach early on Wednesday morning, 11th Januaxy. If weather conditions were unfavourablt he would leave the^f ollowing morning.