THE SOUTHERN CROSS
DINNER TO “SMITHY” AND COMPANIONS. WHY NEW PLYMOUTH WAS LANDING PLACE. 'Press Association.! NEW PLYMOUTH, Jan. 12. A complimentary dinner was tendered to Sir Charles Ivingsford Smith and his companions on the arrival of the Southern Cross by the New Plymouth Aero Club to-night. Many members of North Island Aero Clubs and representatives of Taranak-i institutions were present to honor the three members of the crew and the two passengers.
The Mayor of New Plymouth (Mr. Griffiths), proposing tbe toast of “Smithy, and his companions”, said that Sir Charles’s decision to make New Plymouth the first landing place in Now Zealand had been influenced by its geographical situation and the fact that there was such a fine landing mark as Mount Egmont. “When I decided to come to New Zealand. I wanted to laud at the nearest possible point,” said Sil- - “Cape Egmont is closer than anywhere else and/ Taranaki is in a fine position geographically. Being so close to Australia, it will be the ultimate terminal in a trans-Tasman service that is bound to. be .established. It . might be hi ten years or longer, but it will ultimately come for a certainty”. “Smithy” paid a tribute to the crew and the ground mechanics who bad made bis job so easy.
The Cory Wright Navigation Gup. open for competition among members of all New Zealand aei'o clubs, was presented by Sir Charles to E. Meredith. pilot of the New Plymouth club.
' The Southern Cross will make a niglit of 100 miles round Mount Egmont on Saturday morning and leave on Monday for Rotorua.
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Bibliographic details
Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11832, 13 January 1933, Page 5
Word Count
266THE SOUTHERN CROSS Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11832, 13 January 1933, Page 5
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