THE SOUTHERN GROSS

Feilding Star, Volume 7, Issue 2243, 26 June 1929, Page 7

THE SOUTHERN GROSS

departs Foil derby TAKES 2000-MILE HOP BOYS AND GIRLS AT AERODROME, i• • ' TIIE FINAL INTERVIEWS (Aust. and N.Z. Cable) Sydney, June 25. Tho Southern Cross,, with 775 gallons of petrol on board, took off from Richmond for Derby on the first stago of Its flight to England at 2.25 this afternoon, by which time the wind had greatly moderated. The big Fokker monoplane ran for half ft. mile before it lifted into the air and soon bocurhe a mere speck away in the north-western sky, which was cloudless. REASSURING WEATTIEII The Commonwealth weather bureau has issued a reassuring weather report as fololws: ‘The weather is quite favourable ever llie inland slopes of New South Wales, very light nor’-west winds ini Central Australia, then following to about 20 miles per hortr to Kimberley. The skies nr 0 clear throughout.” Among thos e present at. the aerodrome was tlic group of the young Australian League boys and college girls, who presented Kingsfovd Smith with a sprig of lavender. Th e crowd was otherwise not large, owing to the uncertainty of the fliers’ departure. A letter of introduction is being taken from General Lloyd to ,tlie Prince of Wales, also to the Secretary of tli 0 Dominion!?. IN THE AIR 22 HOURS. Ivingsford Smith expressed the opinion they vjould covet the distance to Derby, 2000 miles, in about 22 hours. In an interview, Smith, said the committee’s report was a - complete, ■vindication of the crew, but be regretted that human faults had beeu overlooked.