AVIATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1706, 22 December 1919, Page 5

AVIATION.

ROSS SMITH ATCLONCURRY. I By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. , Australian-New Zealand Cable Association BRISBANE. Dec. 21. Flying carefully over tho short stage owing to a damaged propeller, Captain Ross-Smithfroached Cloncurry. lie will ship a new propeller at Brisbane, and hopes to reach Sydney about the 26th.'

THAT DAMAGED PROPELLER. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. Received December 22, 9.15 a.m. BRISBANE, Dec. 22. Captain Ross Smith, interviewed at Lioncurry, said tiio trouble on the journey from Darwin a'rosu from tho "fact, that when he was leaving Calcutta (sic) a hawk struck and cracked the propeller.. This gradually grow worse, but he hoped it would sec him through to Sydney. When nearing Anthony's Lagoon after the blade had been mended with a wire, the propeller suddenly split. He managed to make a good landing near the artesian bore. He thought the case was hopeless as two blades were badly split. With tho assistance of the police officers and mon engaged at the; bore, their only working tools being pocket knives and pieces ot glass, they managed, after 3£ clays' hard work, to make tho propeller again serviceable, and he travelled short stages to Cloncurry, staying the nights at various stations, whero ho replenished supplies and petrol. They encountered thunderstorms and high winds, which severely tested the damaged propeller. The crew are almost worn out with their continuous work.

POULET ON THE WAY. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association PARIS, Dec. 19. Poulet has cabled .that ho is very tired, but the motors aro in good condition, though thrice baffled between Rangoon and Bangkok—twice by fog, and once by black vultures attacking .him. I