ABSENCE OF INFORMATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 283, 27 October 1934, Page 7

ABSENCE OF INFORMATION.

THE PROBABLE REASON.

Received October 27, 10.15 a.m. CHARLEVILLE, Oct. 27. At 2 o’clock this morning there was no news of McGregor and Walker. They were five hours overdue at Cloncurry. Although the absence of news regarding the New Zealanders is sufficiently serious to have caused a certain amount of misapprehension, it is not altogether alarming. Leaving Darwin at 9 o’clock yesterday morning, they took five hours to cover the 384 miles to Newcastle Waters, their speed thus being less _ than 80 miles an hour. As the special aerial mail was delayed by head winds ajid poor visibility, and had to make a forced landing at Avon Downs, 50 miles from Camooweal, it seems certain that the New Zealanders experienced similar conditions.

The wireless and telephone stations at many of the outlying places were closed down during the night and it was impossible to communicate with certain centres until morning. It must be remembered that there has not been any definite report of McGregor and Walker having left Brunette Downs, where they landed at 5 p.m. The air mail pilot who reported their landing at Brunette Downs merely stated that they had enquired there for the route to Cloncurry and did not report that they had taken off. If McGregor and Walker landed after wireless communication had ceased at Brunette Downs and decided to remain for the night their decision would not be known until this morning.

The country between Brunette Downs and Camooweal is monotonous and featureless, but towards Cloncurry it is rather dangerous and, in many parts, hilly with few facilities for forced landings. Assuming that McGregor and Walker pushed on to Cloncurry, and the ’plane maintained a speed of 80 miles an hour, they should have covered the 350 miles in about four hours and should, therefore, have landed at Cloncurry shortly after 9 o’clock last night. If they were forced down in the desert country they should have been able to land without serious injury, but a forced landing in the hilly section would bo fraught with danger.

AIRMEN VERY MODEST.

GOOD FLIGHT OVER TIMOR

MELBOURNE, Oct. 26. McGregor and Walker are flying the smallest a.ir race machine yet to reach Australia. The ’plane is only about the same size as the well-known Moth. Both men were pleased with their experience of crossing the Timor Sea.

McGregor said at Darwin they would have been in Australia on Thursday had it not been necessary to dismantle the cowling at Koepang. The pilots were more than a little tired, but a cold wash and hot breakfast revived them.

McGregor was very modest in describing the flight, which has occupied 5 days 15£ hours from London. “We have had a very good trip,” be said. “There were no incidents, I could do with a little sleep. Both of use have bad practically none since London, but we managed to get a short nap last night while waiting for the cowling to be overhauled.”

When it was pointed out to McGregor that his time from London was really an excellent performance for a light single-engined machine, he merely replied : “It feels like a month. We want to push on as quickly as possible. There is no sense in wasting time.” McGregor added that they did not encounter any major trouble. They were bogged a.t Alor Star, where the mud seemed to be giving trouble to most planes. “The flight over the Timor Sea this he said, “was a very good one, but at one stage we ran into a heavy rainstorm, and in order to dodge it had to climb to a very great altitude. Night flying does not worry us a bit now, because we have done so much of it on this flight.”

CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE. TO LOCAL AIRMEN. Anticipating their early arrival a.t Melbourne, tlie Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford), Mr J. A. Nash,M.P., a.nd Mr J. Linklater, M.P., have sent the following cable to Squadron-Leader McGregor and Mr Walker. “Your magnificent achievement has thrilled everyone. Heartiest congratulations.” The Mayor lias also despatched a cable to tlie Air Race Committee at Melbourne asking to be advised of the approximate time of tlie arrival of the Manawatu ’plane at Flemington and, in reply to a request that the arrival of the New Zealanders at Melbourne be broadcast, the New Zealand Broadcasting Board lias stated that if conditions are suitable it will endeavour to make arrangements for this.