HOLIDAYS WILL DELAY CLIPPER PLANE

Northern Advocate, 24 March 1937, Page 6

HOLIDAYS WILL DELAY CLIPPER PLANE

Will Not Arrive Until Next Week Now 7 [Special to "Northern Advocate .”l AUCKLAND. This Day. The plans ' of the Clipper plane, which is making a survey flight from San Francisco to Auckland, have changed again, and it now seems unlikely that the machine’ will arrive in New Zealand until after Easter. Mr Gatty, representative in New Zealand for Pan-American Airways, stated last night that the Clipper would take off from Honolulu this morning to survey the Kingman Reef route, but that it was unlikely that she would go further than the Reef until after the Easter break. The main difficulty, he said, was that the company could not get full weather reports from- the islands and various centres, due to the holidays, and thus it was impossible to make up full weather maps. It would be Tuesday before a proper weather map cculd be obtained again. Mr. Gatty said it was uncertain whether the Clipper would remain at Kingman Reef or return to. Honolulu. Will Be Guided By Weather, Mr. Harold Gatty said Captain Musick would be guided solely by weather conditions on his arrival at Kingman reef. Mr. Gatty said his personal view was that it was highly probable that the clipper would return to Honolulu, but he did not expect definite information until tonight.

Take-Off For Kingman Reef (Received 3 p.m.) HONOLULU. This Day. The Pan-American Airways Clipper plane has left for Kingman Reef on its pioneering flight in an air u ; service from San Francisco’ to Auckland. The pilot, Captain Musick, stated: “While this is purely a survey flight, it heralds a regular air service, as did the Orient Line survey two-years ago. By connecting Auckland with an Imperial or any other air line it will practically establish a world circuit.” A 30-passenger ship, he stated, would be expected to reach Kingman,; 'Reef in eight or nine, hours. Captain Musick states that he will probably leave Kingman Reef for Pago Pago on Wednesday. As the flight is-of a survey nature, he says he. is not keeping to a strict schedule. Fierce Cyclone On The Way IPer Press Association. Copyright.] WELLINGTON, This Day. The New Zealand Meteorological Office has advised that the survey Clipper should be “held” in the, meantime, on account of a severe tropical storm in the vicinity of the New Hebrides, which is moving in such a direction that it would be likely to* cross the flight should the Clipper commence her flight to New Zealand. The storm appears to be of the same type as that which moved "down the Pacific early last February, and did such damage in Auckland-and sonrth to Palmerston North. It may, or may not, reach Auckland about the end of the week.