SAFE ARRIVAL AT BLENHEIM.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 September 1928, Page 5

SAFE ARRIVAL AT BLENHEIM.

AFTER TEIP OF 2 HOURS 8 MIN. (Special to "Chronicle.") .' - BLENHEIM,, This Day. .The Bristol planes arrived at 1.18 p.m. The fliers, report a terrible trip from Wanganui. They < were buffeted all the way by headwinds and rainstorms. After landing here they decided to stay the * night, and will leave early to-mor-row for Christchurch. SOUTHERN PASS SOUTH. GALE PREVENTS FLIGHT OVER LEVIN. ' To-day was to. Have been a memorable one ir. Levin, because it had been anticipated, following on the Southern Cross fliers' reply to the Mayor's invitation, that they would pass over lie town on their way from Wanganui .to Blenheim. However Ihe meteorological condi--1 tions were such that the party evidently kept well out to sea after leaving Feilding.; As the roughness of the weather this morning caused some doubts to be felt", as to whether the airmen would be able to start, the Chronicle got into touch with Wanganui by. telephone, to ascertain the "fliers' intentions. The reply was that a gale was blowing, but the party would take off from Wanganui at 10.30 a.m. for Nelson, and from Marton they would follow the railway line, i, Evidently the westvrly ,vhi'h !inust have been a hurricane at the flying level, rendered full carrying-out iof the aviators' program mo imp j-s'tble. After a departure which was Jel lyi'd ! until 1115, they seem to have kept to the inland route, with tin? wind partly behind them, until they reached Feilding. A very heavy downpour was experienced then, and subsequently the fliers were not reported until they wore seen flying over Paekakakriki at 12.15. Keen, disappointment was felt by the pupils of the Levin District High School who were lined up, at the schoolgrounds for three-quarters of an hour, anxious to get a glimpse of the famous airmen. CALL AT HAWERA. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) I .. HAWERA, This Day. 'A crowd of 5000. gave another vociferous reception from Taranaki to the Tasman fliers when they landed.at the Hawera Racecourse at 2.10 yesterday afternoon, after a journey taking 1 hr 40min. from Auckland.

Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith, who led the landing of the three planes,, thrilled the crowd with a loop, which .was repeated just before his departure. After-re-filling the petrol tanks, . the planes left at for wanganui. departurelfroFwanganui. SUCCESSFUL TAKE-OFF IN WESTERLY GALE. (By Te'.egraph—Press Association). WANGANUI, This Day. The airmen left Westmere at 11.5 a.m. for Blenheim. The weather was very boisterous With a strong, westerly gale .blowing. About 300 people journeyed out to witness the take off, which was accomplished, must successfully in spite of the shifty wind which .blew-with great force at times. The fliers circled over the city and' then proceeded south. AIR-MARSHAL ARRIVES. ..TO CONFER WITH GOVERN-.. MENT AS TO DEFENCES. (By Telegraph—Press Association). AUCKLAND; This Day. Air-Marshal Sir John Salmond was a passenger by the Aprangi, which arrived tins morning. He proceeds to Wellington to confer with the Government on air defence. Sir John is accompanied by Squadron-Leader Drummond and Plight-Lieutenant Ledger. They were met on arrival by MajorGeneral Young, Major Wilkes and Major Isitt. -'-• *' : CIVIL AVIATION. .PROGRESS IN THE COMMON- . WEALTH. (By felegraph—Press Association). AUCKLAND, This Day. In an interview, Sir John Salmond, „\vho is Commander-in-Chief of the British Air Forces, said, "The commercialaspect of air flying has made great strides in the Commonwealth, which has wonderful visibility. There are enormous tracts of territory and important outposts which civil Hying is capable, of bridging. The latest link is between Perth <md Adelaide which contains 'for the greater part practically no habitation. "■I am not exagg. 1 "(V ig/' he said, "when I say that air natters are very much in the" boom and flying clubs ate largely responsibl3 for the public interest. They are fundamentally essential to maintain public inferos*,." In respect of world flights by British airplanes, Sir John said nothing had been arranged as far as h-j *'as aware, but as".matters wer-a moving vc-y quiekly in the sphere of flying, o:w never knew what was <zv >jr to happen next.