DARING AVIATORS.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 183, 4 August 1920, Page 5

DARING AVIATORS.

ARRIVAL AT PORT DAB WIN

[Press Association.] PORT DARWINT, Aug. 3. Lieut. Parer and Lieut. Mclntosh arrived with sufficient petrol to last only two miles.

Lieut. Parer was expected in tho forenoon, but did not arrive till after dark. A large number of people gathered anxiously awaiting the aviators, who succeeded in making a graceful landing after flying over the town. The last stage of the journey, from Atomdoco, occupied eight hours. Parer, who is boyish-looking, stated that when they were ready to start at six o'clock this morning they found the* carburettor faulty, owing to the rubber having perished. It had to be taken to pieces; so the departure was postponed for three hours. Shortly* after starting the air-speed indicator went wrong, and they were unable to tell the drift of the air. An empty petrol tin was lashed to the machine to serve as a float if they should be compelled to descend in the sea. Storms were encountered in the early part of the journey, and strange nir currents in the latter part. Theso currents carried them considerably out of their course. Smoke from big- bush fires obscured the- Coast, but eventually they sighted Darwin after a very anxious time, owing to the low petrol supply, which was only sufficient to cany ibem another two miles.

The aviators met with a great public welcome, and were afterwards accorded a reception by the Administrator.

In a few days they continue the flight across the Northern Territory to Brisbane, going thence to Sydney.