TASMAN FLYERS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1928, Page 6

TASMAN FLYERS

AIRMEN LEAVING AT 2.30. CHRISTCHURCH ~TO BLENHEIM. 'By Telegraph.—Special to Guardian). CHRISTCHURCH, .September 28. Tin! flight to Blenheim is timed for 2.30 p.m. The weather is fine with a light southerly. Crowds are arriving in the city. • SOUTHERN CROSS. TEST FLIGHT MADE. TO-DAY’S DEPARTURE. (By Telegraph—Press Association).

CHRISTCHURCH, September 27. For the first time since its arrival, the Southern Cross was in the air today. Smith made three flights—two short ones over the city, and a longer one northward of about an hour, dining which every appliance on the machine was subjected to a rigorous test. Captain Findlay was with Smith in the cock-pit. In the cabin were Dr Kidson (Government Meteorologist) and foui other passengers. . On the second flight the Mayoi, o Christchurch, Rev. J. Iv. Archer, and the Town Clerk were passengers. Both of these trips were to different parts of the city, and on the second the ; pl#ne flew very low . jovei; . Square, just' above the':, froiyfc pf- the; Cathedral spire. , . , After the final. Jesting flight, Smith, announced to the press tliat the radio, which had been thoroughly tested on the long flight, was one hundred per eeht'efficient,- and "everything else was highly satisfactory. Consequently the departure for Blenheim will be made on Friday at two o’clock. All arrangements are complete for a public farewell to-morrow. A crowd as big as that present at the arrival is expected, and traffic- difficulties are feared. In addition to-the farewell speeches, there are to he presentations from the citizens to the Southern crew. Sir Henry Wigram will lay the comffiemoratidh slab to mafic the 5 spot where the Southern Cross first touched New’Zealand * I ’ l ' Smith and Ulm visited Summer today 'and were there’ - welcomed by assembled school children, and afterwards were the guests of the Mayor at mprnipg, tea., ./The spjiofars presented 'Sffiithj’ hath ,a , list t signed ,by all ,the cif Smith received another mascot today— a gold fern leaf, inscribed “ Te Hunga Waiata,” presented by Mr A. C. Hill, of Christchurch, and formerly of the West Coast. Mr Hill expressed the wish that Smith would wear it as a- mascot on his future flights. Smith promised to wear it oil his return 1 osman flight. - ...... < »» ... ••• ••• “ the” radio operator on the Southern Cross, was the. guest of the Radio Society of Christchurch and the Third District' Transmitters’ Association, this afternoon.. ; wfis ivijjli,/,a silver- cigarette ’ btfsejbhgraved with Tiny' maps of Australia and New Zealand, with an aeroplane" in flight between. The plane’s call sign was also inscribed on the ease;

PRESENTS FOlt THE FLIERS. "Va CITIZENS’ BALL, A Citizens’ Ball in honour of the fliers was held to-night and was a splendid success. The ceremony of presenting parting gifts from the city was preceded by an effective piece o'f stage craft. At one end of the hall was a representation of Australia., and at the other one of New Zealand, arnd on a wire between ran an aeroplane to the accompaniment of stage thunder and such storm, noises:

Tl,ie city ens I ' testimonial cheque was presented. The amount was not disclosed as the collection is not yet complete. Lady Wigram, on behalf of the Aero "Club, presented each of the four with greenstone;and gold sleeve links, .Canterbury Aero Club. r lhe gift-’included four handsomelybouncl albums of views, containing a series of pictures of the landing.of the Southern ' dfoss.; A Maori cloak, the gift of a woman, 'aged 101, who prefers anonymity,; was presented to Kingsford Smitii/ The airmen themselves presented Captain Findlay with a book of views in appreciation of kindness shown by him and the members of the Air Force. A gift to each of tlie airmen Was made this evening by the Cl in sichurch Returned Soldiers’ Association, each man being presented with a gieenstone paper weight, on which , was a map in gold of Australia' and New Zealand, with a line between the two countries representing the route taken by the Southern Cross. ,

AIRMEN’S MESSAGE. TO PRESS ASSOCIATION. (Copyright) WELLINGTON, Sept. 28. Flight Lieut. 171 m telegraphs to the Press Association: “Unfortunately we Will be |unable to accede to many requests to go further south to Timaru, Oamaru, and Dunedin as previously planned. Everywhere we have visited in New Zealand we have been received most enthusiastically, and it is indeed pleasing to find that our flight has stimulated a tremendous amount of public interest in aviation throughout the Dominion. “Priolr to our arrival there was practically no civil aviation activity in New Zealand, but 'we are happy to know that our flight has been the cause of seven or eight aero clubs being formed, and the public are now practically cla.mouring for the estab-

lishment of regular air services in the Dominion.

“Blenheim is particularly enthusiastic and has prepared a magnificent taking off ground for our return flight to Australia, Nearly six thousand feet of a runway into the prevailing wind, is now ready, and enthusiastic residents are completing the erection of a temporary hangar to house the Southern Cross in case of our being delayed by unfavourable weather reports. “Dr Kidson, Government Meteoro’ogist, will arrive in Christchurch this moaning to spend a day with us in discussing meteorological .ispects for the forthcoming return flight. His help throughout has been invaluable. .

“Under Air McWilliams’ supervision the radio equipment has been repaired, and will be tested in the air to-day, and provided these and compass tests are satisfactory, we hope ,to leave for Blenheim this afternoon,,, where we will' fuel the machine and await favourable weather reports.

“It is practically certain we will have head winds, travelling at about 25 miles per hour .throughout' the whole of our return flight, and therefore it may take anything from eighteen to twenty hours. “Subject to the weather we. will leave Blenheim between 1 and 6 ’a.m. and therefore cannot at present give even an approximate time of our arrival at the Richmond Aerodrome, but as it is almost certain we will arrive at Richmond after dark, we are cabling asking that light facilities in the way of flood lights etc. he prepared. We are also asking that if possible searchlights he played at both Sydney, Newcastle, Bulli and Wollongong, also to have distingushmg lights when we are coming over.

“Dr Kidson informs- us that there is a probability of an anti-cyclone existing on'the eastern. coast of Australia, and. that it ns possible that within the next week, •we may have conditions favourable enough to warrant our taking off, but we would ask the public to bear in mind that we may be delayed for two or three weeks, as we are sticking to safety first, and definitely will not leave until fair average conditions prevail. “The hail through which we flew coming over tore off a good deal of the protective paint covering on the leading edge of our wings, but this has- since been reconditioned by the Air Force here, and by ' to-day we will be satisfied that the good old “Southern Cross” us in as good a condition. as when we- left. “After oiir -tests and .after our consultation with Dr Kidson, we will communicate*again, and hope to give you- more definite news regarding our projected 'departure.! - • •

'“The Governor-General,-Sir Charles Fergus Son: and Lady Fergusson have been very kind in asking us to spend as many-days as we can in seclusion and rest at Government House in Wellington prior to our departure, and ■we will avail ourselves, >of this kind invitation, should unfavourable weather conditions hold us up for days at Blenheim, as throughout our tour, we have •attended- inntimbnible functions in our honour',.' and" we. are now really physically tired.”