SOUTHERN CROSS FLIGHT

Northern Advocate, 21 December 1932, Page 4

SOUTHERN CROSS FLIGHT

dominion: arrangements MR W. KENGSrORD SMITH ARRIVES. LANDING GROUND INSPECTION. (Per Pres- Association.—Copyright.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Among the passengers by the Zealandia yesterday from Sydney was Mr Wilfrid Kingsford Smith, brother of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, who intends to fly across the Tasman early next year. M.r Kingsford Smith will handle all the arrangements in connection : with his brother’s tour of the Dominion. He will be "chiefly concerned with inspecting suitable landing grounds for the Southern Cross and arranging the dates Of visits to various towns.

Mr Kingsford Smith states that the “mystery” passenger for the Tasman flight is Mr S. E. Neilson, secretary of the New Zealand Aero .Club, and the Western Federated Aero Club. Mr Neilson leaves Auckland for Australia by the Monowai on December 29.

Mr Kingsford Smith states that the Southern Cross will definitely ‘ visit Now Plymouth, Auckland, Hamilton, Napier, Hastings, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Levin, Masterton, Blenheim, Christchurch, Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin and Invercargill.

A number of other places -will be visited if landing places suitable for an aeroplane the size of the Southern Cross are available, but no definite decision will be made until an inspection has been made. The towns in this category - include Whangarei, Pannevirkc, Gisborne, Hawera, Hokitika, Alexandria and Gore.

Sir Charles expects to be in New Zealand until the end of February, and it has been practically decided that he will thou fly back to Australia; The Ninety mile Beach has been chosen provisionally as a taking-off place.

The Auckland office of the Vacuum Qil Company has received advice fkat the crew of the Southern Cross oh the flight to New Zealand on- January' I 4 will be: Sir Charles Kingsforl Smith, chief pilot; Mr P. G. Taylor, assistant pilot; Mr J. Stannage, wireless operator; Mr H. Affleck, aircraftsman; and Mr J, T. Pethybridge, engineer. Mr W. Kingsford Smith, the business manager, will be a passenger.