BEING DISMANTLED

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 January 1931, Page 5

BEING DISMANTLED

SOUTHERN CROSS JUNIOR

COCKPIT FOR TWO

FURTHER WELCOMES TO PILOT,

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) HOKITIKA, Jan. 9

Guy Alenzies, the Tasman flier, was accorded a public reception at Keller’s Hotel this afternoon. There was a large and enthusiastic gathering. The Mayor, Air. Perry, presided. The speeches were of an enthusiastic nature and the airman in returning thanks expressed keen appreciation of. -tlie hospitality, the warm welcome. and the assistance given since his arrival. The airman left this afternoon for Grey mouth, travelling bv train. Tomorrow morning he will go to Springfield, flying thence to Christchurch.

A Wellington message says arrangements for the immediate future of Menzies were announced to-day by Air. E. G. Alartin, a director of the Atlantic Union Oil Company. Air. B. E. Alills, the assistant general manager, went to Christchurch to meet Menzies. He advised Air. Alartin that the Southern Cross Junior is still in the swamp at Harihari and that when the two mechanics the Government has sent from Wigram aerodrome have dismantled it it will be shipped to Christchurch, where it will be repaired.

PART OWNER, FROAI SYDNEY

Mr. A. James, part owner of the Southern Cross Junior, will arrive at Wellington by the Alarama on Tuesday, and when the machine lias been repaired the pair will tour New Zealand. It is intended' to remove the large petrol tank from tlie machine and instal a cockpit in its place, so that the two men might use the one machine.

So much of the machine’s equipment has been removed by souvenir hunters that it has been decided to dismantle the aeroplane rather than remove it in any other form.

TWELVE GOLD NUGGETS

GREYMOUTH’S TRIBUTES

G'REYMOUTH, Jan. 9. Guy Alenzies arrived at Greymoiith by motor at 5.30 p.m. A stop _ was made at Kumara, where the citizens presented Alenzies with 12 gold nuggets, the Alayor, Air Spiers, making the presentation in the presence of the town’s whole population. A large Greymouth crowd met Alenzies on his arrival and brief addresses were given from the balcony of his hotel by the Alayor, Air Greenslade, and Mr J. O’Brien, AI.P. > Later in the evening Menzies was tendered a formal civic reception at the Town Hall, which was packed. The airman was given a rousing reception on entering the hall. Air Greenslade -said the townspeople were glad to welcome the gallant solo flier of the Tasman, realising that his achievement was of world-wide interest and very important for the West Coast. The airman had “great stuff in him” and the feat would further unite the two sister Dominions.

Air O’Brien said he was proud to welcome a . fellow countryman who had hopped the Tasman. Others had said it could not be done in a light ’plane; Menzies had actually done it. _ It was characteristic of the Australian that Alenzies set off with only 2fis in his pocket.

CONTEAI PLATED FOR A YEAR

In reply Menzies said that for a year lie had had the idea of the flight, Out he could see no way of doing it until he set his eyes on “Smithy’s” ’plane, which he realised was just the one. It was designed for such work by the owner and in that respect differed from other ’planes coming to Australia. Mr Mairs, Sydney, had been going weekly through the weather charts of the Tasman for months. Kingsford Smith did not know for what lie wanted the ’plane, and the flight had surprised him. Before leaving Menzies rang Ins brother to let him know his real destination, hut to -

others he left only letters. He was told the first 50 miles would be bad, but it was good, and then the bad weather began, Menzies continued. He had proved a light ’plane could do the journey and ihe favoured their use. It was a tiring flight and, especially near New Zealand, it was worrying. He had hoped to cross in 10 hours, but the weather delayed him. After landing he did not look at the “bus” for things then started, and he Iliad not had a moment since. He saw onlv a few people walking at Okarito. The ground looked a good place at Herepo and he realised it was a swamp only when it was too late to rise again. Later Menzies was the _ guest at a ball and was presented with a gold clock. Earlier he receved a cheque from the Greymouth public. He will leave to-morrow for Christchurch* ■ Questioned regarding _ the change of his course, Menzies said that it was not correct to say that the wind and weather had taken him off his course to the southward. He had himself altered the course in order that the wind should not obstruct his progress. Had he persevered in his original course the petrol supply would have been exhausted more quickly. N.Z. AFRO CLUB MESSAGE. The president of the New Zealand Aero Club, Sir Francis Boys, sent the following telegram to Mr. Menzies; “On behalf of the constituent clubs of the New Zealand Aero Club, I extend you hearty congratulations on having accomplished the first solo flight over the Tasman Sen. from Australia to New Zealand.” PILOT’S EXPLANATION.

WHY PLAN NOT DIVULGED

The reason why Mr. Menzies did not. advise bis partner, Mr .Albert James, wlw> owns a controlling interest in the Southern Cross Junior, of his. intention of flying to New Zealand was that he feared that if anything went wrong and he was killed Mr. James might have been criticised (says a “Dominion” service message from Christchurch last night). He left a sealed letter for Mr. James to open after the flight had ’started. “I did not wish to tell Mr. James about the< trip before I started for fear that should the flight fail he might he criticised for liaving let me go. but I am quite sure that he is behind me.” said Mr. Menzies to a reporter to-day.