VISIT OF SOUTHERN CROSS

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 22 March 1933, Page 9

VISIT OF SOUTHERN CROSS

BRIEF STAY AT HAWERA RECEPTION TO FAMOUS FLYER. SPWCHES OF WELCOME. GIFT FOR INFANT SON. Hawera accorded a warm welcome to Air Commodore Sir Char les Kings ford Smith when the famous aviator landed his equally famous “Southern Clro-ss” on Dunlop Field at 10.40 this, morning after a trip of two hours 10 minutes from Dannevirke. “Smithy”, was making his second appearance at Hawera, but this was the first occasion the “old bus” had been landed in the district. There was. an estimated gathering of 3000 at the aerodrome, including hundreds of school children, tired s of school children. The visit was unfortunately brief, a departure for New Plymouth being made at 11.55.

■ After flying over the town of Hawera and circling the aerodrome. Sir Charles made a perfect landing with the ease of one handling a Moth ’plane and taxied up to within a. few feet of a roped enclosure. The wind was not favourable to making use of the full length of the landing field, but nevertheless there was ample landing space for the big machine. ‘Smithy’s” characteristic grin was in evidence in acknowledging; a cheering welcome as he stepped from the ’plane as though piloting the world’s most famous ’plane was just part of the day’s work —a true fact as far as Sir Charles is concerned.

Speeches of welcome were given by the Mayor of Hawera. (Mi- El. A. Pacey) and the president of the Hawera. Aero Club (Df. W. F. Burst). On behalf of tiie club Dr. Burst presented Sir Charles with a silver eating .set as a gift for Charles Arthur, the infant son of Sir Charles and Lady Kingsford Smith, and Sir Charles was wished every success on his return venture. Regretfully the Aero Club had to announce that, owing to a train derailment at Taumarunui, Mr. Scotty Fraser, who was to have made parachute descents, was unable to be present. The club considered sending a ’plane to Taumarunui to convey Mr. Fraser to Hawera, but when the advice was received it was then too late. Sir Charles is to leave New Plymouth for Ninety Mile Beach on Friday. It is presumed & call will be made at Auckland. Should weather conditions permit, and if the taking-off place is reached on Friday in time for last-minute benzine supplies lo be taken on board, Sir Charles will start his fourth Tasman flight next morning. EARLY ATTENDANCE.

.After heavy rain earlfidr .tin the morning the weather cleared, with a fair southerly wind filling the direction indicator “sock” on the ’drome. There was an attendance of approximately 2000 at 9.45, the expected time of arrival, with the numbers steadily increasing as heavy motor traffic poured. from all parts of the district into the accommodation grounds next to the aerodrome. Although the ..drools had not given a half holiday there was an exceptionally large attendance of children. Traffic control at (lie ’drome was handled by officers of the South Taranaki Automobile Association.

Adviice was received that the “Southern Cross” had left Dannevirke at 8.30, but no progress report was receivedv until Flying Officer Keith sighted the ’plane over Patea. Captain Gibbons and Mr. M. King, piloting the Moth machines A.B.P. and A.A.X. arrived at the ’drome shortly before 10 o’clock, and while waiting telephone progress reports of the Southern Cross an exhibition of stunting was given by Flying Officer Keith. Both machines later started out to escort the Southern Cross to the landmg ground. The public had only a comparatively brief wait, and in tir e meantime were kept in touch with events through a loudspeaker snstem installed by W. Davy and Co., the announcer being Mr P. 0. Veale. The speeches of welcome were subsequently broadcast throughout the system. At 10.35 the two Western Federated Flying Club’s Moths returned and lined up on the side of the landing ground. A minute later the Spartan (tender machine, owned 'by 1 ITmiaru \Airways, ;and piloted by Squadron Leader T. W. White, appeared in sight, with the Southern Cross' approaching the ’drome from a southerly direction. The ground was circled at a low altitude and Sir Charles slipped steeply from the turn to make a perfect landing. With less than half the available runway used the Southern Cross had touched and was on a turn to taxi. Approaching the enclosure the pilot cut out the central engine and came to a standstill with port and starboard engines just idling. Territorials under the command of Lieutenant Heni'y formed a cordon about the machine until the engines were stopped, when the cheering crowd dived under the rope barrier and got as close as possible. Passengers in the Southern Cross were Messrs. G. Stannage (radio operator), H. Affleck (aircraftsman). J. T. Pethybridge (engineer), E. Harvie (acting secretary for the tom*), C. Sawyers (passenger) and D. Morphy (Wellington Aero Club’s engineer).

SPEECHES OF WELCOME. The speeches of welcome were brief. The Mayor, recalling Sir Charles’ visit in 1928, said it was indeed a pleasure to again welcome him to Hawera. Sir Charles was regarded as the pioneer of aviation in Australia and New Zealand, and due to his lead, civil aviation in both Dominions had received a start. His first visit to Hawera had been after the initial transTasman flight and isince then Sir Charles and the “old bus,” as lie termed it, had flown .many miles in many countries, and the old machine had very nearly circled the globe. Since his first visit to Hawera Sir Charles had been honoured by the Kino; with a Knighthood, and Hawera extended its congratulations. (Applause). Wherever Sir Charles had travelled with the “old bus” lie had and would uphold the credit of his country, with diistineton to himself. He wished the aviator every success m his future ventures, and trusted that his stay in Hawera, although brief, would be thoroughly enjoyable. Dr. Buist said it was due entirely to the visit of Sir Charles four and aTiaff years ago that the district, and Tii' fact New Zealand, had been given its air-minded sense. Later at Hawera had followed the formation of the Aero Club and the aerodrome. Hawera, therefore, had a deen personal interest in Sir Charles. On behalf of the club- it .gave him great pleasure to welcome Sir Charles and to pay a tribute to him for his pioneer work m aviation in not only New Zealand and Australia, but the Southern Hemisphere. Sir Charles was making a purely personal call at Hawera and

derived no; benefit whatever from his visit. The club felt that while Sir Charles was averse to receiving personal presentations some means should be taken to commemorate the occasion, and had decided to. make a gift to Charles Arthur, “the. nine-pound baby”. (Applause). Dr. Buist wished Sir Charles every success upon hi® return flight and later ventures and assured him of a hearty welcome should he again visit the Dominion. In reply Sir Charles said, the only way in which he could express his gratification of the magnificent reception at Hawera four and a-half years ago. was by way of a courtesy call. He did not anticipate such a spontaneous welcome on this occasion and to his immense gratification it was just as enthusiastic and sincere as on his firsi visit. He had also visited Hawera fpr another reason—to again isee Mr. T. H. McWilliams, a comrade of another flight. “If ‘Mac’ is as pleased to see me as I am to see him, then we will become a mutual admiration society,” said Sir Charles. “Our meeting recalls to mind an incident when we were last in Western Australia. We had been missing for 11 days and. ‘Mac’s’ ribs were so prominent they could be counted with ease. On the twelfth day—tnei day on which we were rescued —‘Mae’,’ whose spirit had never flagged, brought a laugh with his playing of ‘come to the cook-house door boys’ on a mouth organ. Even if the flesh was weak, the spirit was willing, and that was typical of ‘Mac’ Sir Charles said he sincerely appreciated the gift to Charles Arthur, and the spirit in which it had been given. He was glad to have mad© Hawera- his last official port of call, and again desired to express his thanks for the cordial reception. Sir Charles and party were the guests of the club at morning tea, the opportunity being taken to meet district residents. The stay was, however, brief and after a preliminary warming up of the engines the ’plane took off for New Plymouth at 11.55.

Sightseers found everything about the “Southern Cross’’ of vital interest and during the whole of its; shoi'i stay it was subject to a minute examination. Her enormous wing spread (78 feet) in comparison with the 30ft oi the Moths, and her weight of 3) tons without fuel wei’e the subject of considerable comment, while the three engines, the methods of re-fuelling and re-oiling were of especial interest. One of the most important features of the ’plane was overlooked by the majority because they did not know of it. That wais the installation of a new wireless telephony outfit which will be used on the return trip to Australia, and which will enable Sir Charles to speak to all New Zealand during the first stage of his return trip, and to all .Australia when lie is nearing Sydney. On his jirevious fUglrfcs lie has carried, only Molise outfits, no suitable telephony instruments being available. During the morning numerous passenger flights were made in the Spartan ’plane,* which afterwards also leit for New Plymouth. As the result of Sir Charles’ visit the Hawera Aero Club; shows a net profit of £45 on the gate receipts.

ARRIVAL AT NEW PLYMOUTH. RETURN FLIGHT ARRANGEMENTS (By Telegraph —Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, March 22. The Southern Cross landed, at 12.30 from Hawera. The fuel tanks and fittings left here when the Dominion tour commenced will be re-installed immediately and. conditions allowing, the ’plane will leave on Friday for the Ninety Mile Beach. , , . , Sir Charles said lie hoped to hop off on the return flight to Australia on Saturday morning. Besides Captain Taylor and Mr. J. Stannage (wireless operator) he will take as passengers Mr McKay (managing director of New Zealand airways) and Mr. Pethybridge, on© of the ’planes mechanics. The ’plane was described by Sir Charles to be in perfect order, requiring little adjustment. Expressing appreciation of the hospitality extended during the tour, “Smithy” said he hoped to return next year and probably would land again at New Plymouth. He appreciated the co-operation and assistance given him by the various aero clubs, without which the tom* would not have been so successful. He added, that he mayreturn for a month’s holiday with his family later in the year. INTEREST IN HOME-COMING PREPARATIONS. FOE- WELCOME (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) SYDNEY. March 21. Considerable interest is* being taken in Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s homecoming on Sunday from New Zealand. Arrangements are being, made to give him a rousing reception at- Mascot.