CENTAURUS TOUR

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 December 1937, Page 2

CENTAURUS TOUR

WINDY WEATHER AT AUCKLAND NO PROGRAMME ALTERATION [PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, December 30. After the threatening weather which ruled throughout the day had suggested the possibility of a postponement of the original plans, it was announced do-night by Captain J. W. Burgess that the Imperial Airways’ flying-boat Centaurus would leave Auckland at 7 o’clock to-morrow morning for Wellington. The party to make the flight will assemble at the Pan-American Aiiways base in Mechanics Bay at 6.30 o’clock, and with the ship departing half an hour later, she is scheduled to reach Wellington at 10.30 a.m. With meteorological forecasts predicting the unsettled weather of Wednesday night and to-day, full precautions were taken to protect the Centaurus as she rode at her moorings. At midnight, the harbourmaster, Captain Sergeant, and the master of the Auckland Harbour Board’s tug William C. Daldy, Captain D. Burgess, a brother of the commander of the flying-boat, put out an anchor on the eastward side, and a close watch was kept on the ship; The flying-boat’s moorings were further strengthened to-day, when an anchor was put out on the westward side. This gave an assurance of complete safety and prompted Captain Burgess to observe to-night that with the two anchors in -use he would be quite happy, if the Centaurus had to ride out a hurricane. With 12 passengers and her crew aboard, the flying-boat will make a non-stop flight to Wellington, following the west coast on her flight south. She will circle over New Plymouth, Hawera, Wanganui, -and Palmerston North, and before alighting on Wellington Harbour, she is expected to make a circuit of the city. Local conditions, particularly the direction of the will determine at which of the three selected mooring places she will land.

Through his decision to undertake the flight to Wellington according to the original schedule, Captain Burgess will miss the opportunity of meeting his wife and infant son on their arrival in Auckland by the Mataroa this morning. It is probable that at the time they are stepping from the gangway to the wharf, he will be bringing the Centaurus to a landing on Port Nicholson Harbour. 1

It is expected that the flying-boat will remain in Wellington for three days, and during her stay she will make several short flights similar to tHose which she undertook this week in Auckland. DEPARTURE FROM AUCKLAND AUCKLAND, December ?>l. The Centaurus left at 7.15, on the flight to Wellington, in cloudy overcast weather, with the. wind from the north east. It taxied from its moorings at Mechanic’s Bay, to mid-harbour, circled on the water two or three times, rose gracefully in the direction of Devonport, circled over the harbour, and disanpeared in a southerly direction at 7.25. LANDING AT WELLINGTON WELLINGTON, December 31. The Centaurus arrived over Wellington at 9.55,, made a wide sweep over Island Bay and Lyall Bay. and after circling over the town, came down to the water off the Aotea Quay at ten o’clock precisely. It was a graceful advent, met with syrens of the shipping about the wharves, and city hooters, and enthusiastic waving and cheers of crowds. It was a lovely summer morning with heat haze high in the sky. The sun was blazing down, and a light northerly was hardly noticeable except on the heights. Every vantage point on’ the roofs of city buildings showed, by the occupants, that the significance of the occasion was not lost on the people of Wellington, and the boat herself could hardly have had a more auspicious day to enable Imperial Airways to make their bow to the capital of the Dominion. CROWD’S CALM RECEPTION.

WELLINGTON, December 31

The flying boat made a perfect landing. The crowd down at the Aotea Quay was silent as the boat, swaying slightly at under 200 feet,, banked for the last swoop. Power lines and poles foreshortened by the angle appeared likely to rip the hull, but the boat dropped gently before flattering out after a double circle of the city. A variety of power craft and row boats bounced in the jobble caused by the churning wake of the flying boat as she picked up her moorings near the floating dock, and tile thousands lining Aotea Quay had a grandstand view. Steamers, trains, and motor cars used whatever means of signalling they had, but the crowd, busy drinking in the spectacle, forgot to applaud until the actual landing, and then It was restrained clapping. When the ship was safely moored a few minutes after ten, Captain Burgess and the crew were taken to the dock, and then to a reception by the Wellington Harbour Board, and at noon there was a civic reception. At five o’clock, this morning, Yvhen the guests were called out of bed, the Auckland sky was grey and the wind fresh, but no more, and at seven q’clock to the second, the outer port motor started up, then the. outer motor on the other wing, and the boat was jockeyed into the wind and past the mooring buoy. The early morning car ferry, from Devonport, steamed across and the Centaurus was swung in a wide circle, then taxied well up the harbour, and turned into the wind for the take-off that not one among the passengers knew about, except that (he swirl and foaming water dropped below the windows. That was at 7.17,. Height was gained astonishingly quickly. The Centaurus and all her sister ships can climb at. 1000 feet a minute from sea level. Somewhere out at sea, approaching Auckland, was the Mataroa, with Mrs. Burgess and her child on board, and a wide circle was made out to sea in gaining height, hut the Mataroa was under a grey mist, and the salute which Captain Burgess would have paid, was deferred till Mrs. Burgess and (he child arrive at Wellington by air this afternoon.

For the take off, the passengers were seated, but as soon as the ship was in the air, anyone walked anywhere. Walking on these ships really means walking, and the promenade cabin means a promenade cabin.

CLIPPER DELAYED MAY LEAVE TO-MORROW ■ AUCKLAND, December 30. A definite decision not to commence the northward flight of the Pan American Airways Samoan Clipper until Saturday morning at the and then only provided the weather is suitable, was made to-day by officers of the company in Auckland. The latest weather reports, although more favourable. were not sufficiently encouraging for any plans to be made for a start early to-morrow morning. Instructions given on Wednesday night to prepare moorings at Islington Bay, Rangitoto, for the clipper were followed by a decision early this morning to move the craft from Mechanics Bay to a more sheltered locality. As soon as it was light enough, Capta'in E. C. Musick and two of his officers went aboard the clipper and started the motors. The ship was taxied slowly out past the breakwater and down the harbour. In spite of a gusty wind and a choppy sea, the heavily laden craft handled well; and no difficulties were experienced as to her new moorings, with a launch in close company.

The progress of the clipper was watched from the shore by other officials of the company. Mooring equipment was taken to Islington Bay by launch, and the clipper was secured in a sheltered position. Arrangements were made for those aboard to keep in touch with the company’s shore stations by means of radio, regular watches being taken by the respective operators. When he returned to the city Cap. tain Musick reported that the clipper was quite snug and Avas riding easily; The first officer, Captain Culbertson. Avas in command aboard in Captain Musick’s absence. Food supplies for the skeleton creAV on the clipper Ai’ere eoni'eyed by launch. Hot dinner Avas provided to-night, and the launch also took breakfast supplies.

HEAVY MAIL AUCKLAND,, December 31. Because of the further postponement of the return flight of the Pan American Airways Samoan Clipper another extension of the air mail posting period has been made. The mail will now close at 6 p.m. to-day for registered’ letters, and at 8 p.m. for ordinary letters. All the letters received were not stamped and counted yesterday, but up to about 5 pan., when the last count was made, the total had reached approximately 23,500. At 8 p.m. on Wednesday the total was 20,272, the mail then weighing 2951 b., so ■that postings yesterday were comparatively light. They were added to by a fair consignment brought from the South Island by the Union Airways aeroplane, such letters -having been posted in the expectation of a possible postponement of the departure of the clipper, and the consequent extension of the closing time of the mail. The postponements, which have caused a considerable addition to the total postings, have naturally disappointed many of those who lodged their letters early for the value of covers, which will have a relationship to the size of the mail. The mail will not be carried beyong Honolulu by the Samoan Clipper. The portion for San Francisco and beyond will be transhipped to one of Pan American Airways Martin clippers, which run in the regular air service between Honolulu and San Francisco. BACK TO THE CITY. AUCKLAND, December 31. The Samoan clipper will be taxied back to the city at. 1.30 this afternoon from. Islington Bay. Rangitoto, where she has been sheltering from the northeasterly blow. Captain Musick having gone down by launch to bring the clipper back. She will refuel this afternoon at the Pan-American mooring jetty, Mechanics’ Bay, in readiness for the first hop on the return journey across the Pacific, but it will not be -decided until to-night whether she. will take off to-morrow morning. The outlook is still stormy, although the actual storm has not yet broken. FATAL COLLISION. NEW YORK, December 29. A message from Cali. Colombia, states that three of a group of four Cuban and Dominican aeroplanes which were making a South American goodwill flight, collided and crashed in flames. Seven persons are dead. It is believed that the aeroplanes were caught in strong air currents. ITALIAN’S RECORD RIO DE JANEIRO, December 29. Mario Stoppani completed liis flight from Cadiz to Victoria, Brazil. He is claimed to have set a new world longdistance seaplane record of 4,350 miles in 26 hours. ROME. December 30. Stoppani landed at Caravellas, on

(he Brazilian coast, and established a new straight-line seaplane record. His flight of 4,375 miles is 750 better than that the French flying boat Viasseau from Paris, (avo months ago. The SoAriet North Circle airmen still hold the non-stop 7,600 miles record.