PACIFIC FLIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22685, 24 March 1937, Page 14

PACIFIC FLIGHT

DELAY PROBABLE

HOLIDAYS DIFFICULTY

NO FULL WEATHER NEWS

STAGE TO KINO MAN REEF

"The survey Clipper will take off from Honolulu in the morning to survey tiie Kingman Reef route, but it seems highly improbable that she will go further than Kingman Reef until after the Master holidays," said Mr. Harold Catty, representative in Now Zealand for I'.in-American Airways, last nivrht, after receiving advice from the United States by wireless. "Our main difficulty lies in the fact that wo cannot get full weather reports from the Islands and various

centres, due to the holidays, and thus we cannot make up full weather maps,'* Mr. (ratty said. "It is very unlikely that the Clipper will proceed beyond Kingman Reef until next Tuesday. It will be Tuesday before we can get a proper weather map again. "It is not certain whether the Clipper will stay at Kingman Reef or return to Honolulu. They will have a chance to test the direction-finding apparatus and will survey the route- as far as Kingman Reef." Storm Centre Moving The meteorological reports revealed that there was a storm centre south of the New Hebrides, and that it was moving in a. south-easterly direction, 31 r. Oattv added. If the machine were to continue her flight it looked as if she would just about meet the storm centre at Pago Pago. That position might change, but any flight beyond Kingman Reef until after the holidays seemed unlikely. The fact that the present flight was purely for survey purposes, and that there was no question of delays or broken schedules, was again emphasised by 7 Mr. Gattv. He said he had at no time given a definite statement as to when the Clipper would reach Auckland, as no schedule had been drawn up, and the flight would extend over whatever period was necessary for full information to be gleaned. There would be nothing approaching a timetable until the regular Service was commenced. Floating Gangway in Place

A floating gangway to connect the Clipper's mooring-barge with the shore was put in place in Auckland yesterday. A dais is m course of construction and on it the official welcome to Auckland will take place. A large area of land between the foreshore and the waterfront road has been cleared for the parking of spectators' motor-cars. There will be accommodation for about 1500 motorcars on the three sections set aside. CONTROL OF SHIPPING RESTRICTIONS ANNOUNCED CLEAR SPACE NECESSARY Notice is given by the Auckland Harbour Board that for two hours prior to the time of arrival of the Clipper all navigation is strictly prohibited in the area immediately to the eastward of King's Wharf and bounded on the western side by King's Wharf, on the southern side by the breastwork from the wharf to the eastern vehicular ferry landing, on the eastern side by a line 16 degrees, 1300 ft., and on the northern side by a line to the north-eastern corner of * King's Wharf. After the Clipper has landed, and while she is taxi-ing up the harbour to the moorings, all craft are to keep well clear of the course. The board also announces that while the Clipper is at her mooring buoy all vessels are prohibited from navigating within 3Coft. of the buoy. While the Clipper is at anchor she will display forward centrally, where it can best be seen, a red light 3ft. vertically above a white light. The lights will be visible all round the horizon for at least a mile. WELCOME TO PORT HARBOUR BOARD FUNCTION CABINET MINISTERS INVITED A report on the arrangements made for the arrival of the Pan-American Clipper, and the official welcome to Captain Edwin C. Musick and the crew, was given to members of the Auckland Harbour Board by the chairman, Mr. C. G. Macindoe, at a special meeting yesterday. "it has always been the custom of tho board to provide a fitting welcome to distinguished visitors, and I proposed, had the date of arrival been more convenient, to arrange for a luncheon to be tendered by the board to the officers of Pan-American Airways and tho pilots and crew of the Clipper, to which there would also have been invited certain Government representatives and other persons i closely associated with the undertaking," said Mr. Macindoe. "Tho preliminary arrangements were made, but, unfortunately, owing to the imminence of the Easter holidays, this proposal is now hardly practicable, as I am informed tho men are likely to desire an immediate rest after their arrival, and it would be impossible for them to attend a function on that day.

"As matters now stand, tho only form of welcome which it will be practicable to hold will be at the landing area in Mechanics' Bay, where members will meet inside an area enclosed for tho purpose, and where a message of welcome will bo delivered," said Mr. Macindoe.

-Mr. Macindoe added tlmt it had boon Ijis intention, with hiembors' conourronce, and lio had already approached the Primo Minister to obtain the. necessary validating legislation, to provide that the pilots and crew of the Clippershould bo the guests of the Harbour Hoard during their brief stay in Auckland, but ho had boon advised by tho representative of Pan-American Airways in New Zealand that this, while very much appreciated, would be contrary to the policy of the company. Five Cabinet Ministers, the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. Ernest Davis, and representatives of the fighting services, the churches, local bodies, and shipping companies, have been invited to nttond tho official welcome arranged by tho board. The Government representatives are tho Minister of Marino, the Hon. P. I'raser, tlio Minister of Defence, tho Hon. P. ,Jones, the Minister of Transport, tlio Hon. Iv. Somplo, tho Minister of Internal Affairs, the lion. W. I'\ Parry, and tho Minister of Justice, tho lion. 11. 0. I!. Mason. Tho chairman of tho board will welcome the crew of tho Clipper, and will have associated with him members of tho board.