TASMAN FLYER

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 120, 17 November 1936, Page 13

TASMAN FLYER

MR. CLARK'S MAIL

A FORMIDABLE TASK

(By Telegraph—Puoss Association.l

CHRISTCHURCH, November 16.

Unprepared for the fame which has descended upon him after his transTasman flight, Mr. Ernie Clark found himself surrounded today by formidable piles of correspondence consisting chiefly of congratulatory letters and telegrams. So great was the task of dealing with the messages received that Mr. Clark was obliged to abandon his earlier plan to fly home to Waikari today. He noAv proposes to deal Avith further correspondence tomorrow morning and to fly to his farm tomorrow afternoon.

Mr. Clark said he had made no plans for the immediate future. He did not intend to lose touch with flying, but he Avas not contemplating anything in the nature of a tour of the Dominion. During his visit to Britain he had interested himself in the commercial side of aviation, and it Avas possible he would make business visits to the chief centres of the Dominion during the coming month.

Referring to a statement cabled from Sydney that he carried on his flight a tomahawk and hacksaw for cutting away the engine if he should be forced dOAvn at sea, Mr. Clark said he doubted his ability to perform this task. His main idea in carrying -tools Avas to cut a hole in the fuselage if this should be necessary if he was forced down. He also intended to cut the petrol line above the tap. Without petrol the aeroplane ought to have floated for a long time on a calm sea. Mr. Clark also carried flares, emergency rations, and a quantity of fresh water.