GREAT AIR RACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21949, 5 November 1934, Page 9

GREAT AIR RACE

AUCKLAND COMPETITORS ARRIVAL AT MELBOURNE MET BY NEW ZEAL.ANDERS COMING TASMAN FLIGHT By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received November 4. 5.5 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Nov. 4

The Auckland competitors in the Centenary air race, Squadron-Leader J. D. Hewett and Flying-Officer C. E. Kay, with Mr. F. Stewart, arrived in Melbourne yesterday at 11.31 a.m. In spite of their long delay at Cloncurry Squadron-Leader Hewett claims that they have a good chance in the handicap event. The airmen intend to return to Sydney shortly preparatory to flying across the Tasman.

Cries of "Tenakoe" and "Kia Ora" greeted the fliers, as they descended at Laverton aerodrome. They were welcomed by other competitors and several New Zealanders.

The pilots are both well. They say the section over Australia was the worst part of the flight.

In regard lo the Auckland fliers' prospects in the handicap event, a recent cablegram stated that the time spent at Cloneurry would count against them because the accident to their machine which caused the delay happened on October 29 after thev had checked out.

Squadron-Leader J. IX Hewett has not communicated yet with Mr. L. W. Swan, secretary of the air race committee in Auckland, as to the date on which lie and his companions propose to leave Sydney on their transtasman flight to Mangere. Advice is expected from Melbourne to-dav.

Arrangements are well advanced for a. reception to the airmen in the Mangere East Hall after their arrival, but the date cannot be fixed until further details regarding the time of departure are known. Local residents and members of the Railway 'Workers' Social Club have held several meetings to further the plans for the reception, and invitations have been issued to the guarantors of the flight and to officers of the Auckland Aero Club. Flying-Officer Kay was accorded a similar welcome at the Mangere East Hall after his flight from England to Australia with Flying-Officer C. L. Piper.