TO-DAY'S PLANS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22922, 28 December 1937, Page 11

TO-DAY'S PLANS

VICE-REGAL VISIT

FLIGHT IN THE CENTAURUS ENTERTAINMENT OF VISITORS SEVERAL OFFICIAL FUNCTIONS A V ice-Regal party will inspect the Centaurus this morning, and later will be taken for a flight in the machine, with Captain J. W. Burgess at the controls. A second flight will be made in the afternoon.

The party for the morning flight comprises His Excellency the GovernorGeneral, V iscount Galway, Viscountess Galway, Viscount Coke, Major A. F. Purvis, Captain R. Stuart French and Lieutenant S. R Le H. LombardHobson. Other visitors to make the flight will be Rear-Admiral th*e Hon. E. R. Drummond, commodore commanding the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, and the Hons. P. Fraser, P. C. Webb, M. Fagan, H. G. R. Mason and W. Lee Martin. An invitation was extended to the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, but prior engagements prevented his acceptance. Captain Burgess will call on the Auckland Harbour Board at 10 o'clock this morning and the Vice-Regal party will go aboard the machine at 11 o'clock. The. crew of the Centaurua will attend a luncheon given by the Auckland Harbour Board at one o'clock, when officers *of the Pan American Samoan Clipper will also be present, and at 2 p.m. the second flight will be made. Guests who have been invited to inspect the Centaurus will go aboard between four o'clock in the afternoon and 5.30. The crew Mill attend the Government dinner at the Grand Hotel to-night. The American officers will also be guests. ' Plans for the remainder of the flyingboat's stay in Auckland are as yet not definite. It is likely that checking over the machine will occupy part of the time. The machine will leave at seven o'clock on Friday morning for Wellington. TALK WITH MACHINE FATHER GREETS RADIO CONVERSATION FAMILY REUNION IN AUCKLAND "While the Imperial Airways flyingboat was still well over 150 miles away from Auckland yesterday afternoon on its flight across the Tasman, the commander, Captain J. W. Burgess, and his father, Captain J. W. Burgess, sen., of the Government lighthouse steamer Matai, were talking together. A two-way radio conversation was arranged from station IYA shortly after two o'clock and father and son exchanged greetings for the first time in three years. Immediately the call was put through from Auckland a reply came from the flying-boat: "Hello, Auckland. Captain Burgess of the Centaurus speaking."

His father then welcomed the commander and told him Mrs. Burgess would be waiting at the wharf. He also expressed greetings to the other officers of the Centaurus.

l, We can't see Auckland yet," said Captain Burgess in reply. "We're having a perfect trip. We're at 10,000 ft. and above cloud. Wc are doing about 177 knots. Thank you very much, dad, for your kind wishes. We're looking forward to arriving at Auckland."

The conversation lasted a few more moments and then Captain Burgess of the Matai went down to the Pan American Airways base to greet his son when the flying-boat arrived shortly afterward. Other members of the family were also in Auckland to welcome Captain Burgess home.

FLAGS ON CENTAURUS TRUE NAVAL ATMOSPHERE Three flags flew from small masts nn the hull of the Centaurus as she came to her moorings in Mechanics' Bay yesterday afternoon. In pride of place was the New Zealand ensign surmounting the light blue Royal air mail pennant, and 011 another mast was the civil aviation ensign, also of light blue, with dark George's cross and the Union Jajek in the upper inner canton. / Imperial Airways seems to run its service with combination of the efficiency of the Royal Navy and the Hoyal Air Force. A typical naval touch is provided at the entrance to the. pilots' cabin, where in overhead racks are stored the flags of practically every other foreign countrv, together with all the necessary flags for purposes of signalling.