SYDNEY REACHED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22921, 27 December 1937, Page 11

SYDNEY REACHED

WELCOME TO AIRMEN PROSPECTS FOR TO-DAY WEATHER OUTLOOK GOOD By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received December 26, 7.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 26 On her flight from Brisbane, the Imperial Airways flying-boat Centaurus landed at Rose Bay, the new flyiijg-boat base for Sydney, at 8.40 o'clock on Friday morning. Thousands of people around the foreshores of the harbour had their first glimpse of the iiiant craft, which made an impressive sight. ' A party of Parliamentarians, including the Premier of New South Wales, Mr. B. S. Stevens, and the Lord Mayor of Sydney, were taken for a half-hour flight over the harbour and city, which greatly impressed them. Mr. f Stevens described the visit of the Centaurus as an epoch-making event. The Centaurus will take off for New Zealand about dawn to-morrow, between 4 and 5 o'clock Sydney time, weather permitting. Hie local weather bureau which has been co-operating with ships at sea ai|d with New Zealand reports that the Centaurus should have a good trip. There will be scattered cloud in the western half of the Tasman. The winds will be chiefly from the north, at ,a low altitude, and from the west at higher altitudes.

A high pressure system prevails over the eastern Tasman and should ensure good conditions for the final stages to New Zealand.

AMUSING INCIDENTS SIDELIGHTS OF WELCOME SWIMMERS INSPECT CRAFT 'J here were varipus entertaining sidelights associated with the arrival of the Saraoan Clipper at Auckland yesterday afternoon. One of the most amusing incidents was provided by a number of swimmers who, after the Clipper had been berthed alongside the landing barge, dived off the eastern tide deflector and spent some time swimming round the giant flying-boat in order to make a personal inspection. They were rewarded by a much closer view than was obtained by the bronzed young men and women in yachts and launches which were kept at a respectable distance from the actual moorings.

An Auckland crowd has an innate love of spectacle, but it is seldom that it can be roused to vocal enthusiasm. However, when Captain Edwin C. Musick and his crew walked up from the landing stage yesterday afternoon there was a volley of hand-clapping and even a sporadic cheer. It was left to the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, to give a lead in the city's greeting. As Captain Musick was walking with the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, toward the space reserved for the Harbour Board reception, Sir Ernest walked apart from the official party and went over to the crowd which was swarming outside the enclosure. There he called for three cheers for the crew of the Clipper, and the response lacked nothing in enthusiasm. The crowd waited round the Pan American building for some time after the official reception, and as the fliers walked to their waiting motor-cars they were again given a rousing cheer. The members of the crew are somewhat scattered for their short stay in Auckland. Captain Musick and his copilot, Captain W. D Culbertson, areat the Hotel Cargen, several members of the crew are at the Hotel Auckland, while others are staying privately.