HINKLER MISSING

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 February 1928, Page 7

HINKLER MISSING

IN AUSTRALIAN WILDS t ARRIVAL OVERDUE (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) (By Cable—Press Assn—Copyright.) DARWIN, February 24. Hinkler resumed his journey to Bundaberg at 7 o’clock this morning. He will stay at Cloncurry to-night, and finish his flight to-morrow via Canberra. Subsequently he will fly to Melbourne. Negotiations are proceeding for a visit to Sydney, en route to Melbourne. Interviewed, Hinkler stated that he may take up commercial flying in Australia if an opening offers. HAS THERE BEEN MISHAP? SYDNEY, February 24. There is anxiety regarding the whereabouts of Hinkler. At 9.15 this morning he passed Katherine, where he dropped a message, “Goodbye, Katherine. See you again.” He expected to reach Cloncurry before dark, but since he passed Katherine nothing has been heard of him. It is feared that he may have met trouble or been compelled to land. He is flying over a wide, difficult and sparsely-peopled country between Darwin and Cloncurry. Among the congratulatory messages received was ffiie from the King, , AEROPLANES TO SEARCH. \ SYDNEY, February 25. There is still no news of Hinkler since passing Katherine. An unconfirmed report states that he made a forced landing near Cloncurry and the machine was damaged. Bad weather ruled in the districts over which he was to have flown. Experienced aviators state there is no cause for alarm. An aeroplane search will commence at daylight to-day. FEDERAL GOVT’S GIFT. CANBERRA, February 24. In the House, Mr. Bruce, amidst applause from all parties, announced that the Government had decided to invite Hinkler to visit Canberra, and there to present him with a cheque for £2OOO as well as a memorial of his great flight. » The Prime Minister paid a glowing tribute to his achievement, which the Leader of the Opposition fully endorsed. FRUITS dF SUCCESS. SYDNEY, February 24 The newspapers have, opened subscription lists towards a fund for recognition of Hinkler’s, achievement. It is reported that a Melbourne theatrical firm has. offered the airman £lO,OOO for his services for six months He has also received other offers.

AMERICANS IMPRESSED.

WASHINGTON, February 23.

Mr Trubee Davison, Assistant Secretary of Wax;, says the economy of air travel is demonstrated ,by Hinkler’.s flight. “This coxyAgepus, skilful British airman flew 12,000 miles in fifteen days at a cost of about two cents a mile. There is really nothing further to say. The facts and figures speak for themselves.

EARLY DAYS RECALLED,

(Special to “Star.”) AUCKLAND, February 24. A Wanganui lady, who was at one time on the nursing' staff of the Auckland Hospital, supplies the following particulars anent the early career of Captain Hinkler, who has arrived in Australia aftei’ a wonderful solo flight from Croydon. .<■ “About 15 years ago, a man named Harry Stone arrived at Auckland with an aeroplane. He advertised himself as ‘Wizard Stone,’ and his machine was a monoplane. He took it to Australia in order to give exhibition stunts, and while in Melbourne picked up with a man named Percy Cornwall/ the latter having a racing car capable of doing 80 miles an hour. They made a toui’ of, New South Wales, holding races between the cai’ ami plane, and while in Bundaberg met a boy about 17 years of age, named Bert Hinkler, then trying to make' himself an aeroplane. Harry Stone was impressed with this boy and brought him to New Zealand as junior mechanic. They had the ’plane and car in Cornwall Park, Auckland, and they had stunts advertised, but the stunts never came off. " The idea was to race the car against the plane. In the course of a trial both Cornwall and Hinkler were thrown out of thd car, the lattex 1 having some of his ribs broken, while Cornwall escaped with minox- injuries. Hinklex- was taken to the hospital, where he remained fox’ three weeks. Stone took his machine- to Napier, where he came a crash, and that was the end of his New Zealand stunt, which was a financial fiasco. This was Bert Hinkler’s initial start in the flying game.”