THE SOUTHERN CROSS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20501, 31 August 1928, Page 9

THE SOUTHERN CROSS

TRANSTASMAN FLIGHT. HOP OFF ON SUNDAY. EXPECTED FOLLOWING AFTERNOON. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) SYDNEY, August 30; It has now been arranged that the Southern Cross will hop off at 10 o'clock on Sunday night. . The airmen expect to arrive at Christchurch at 2.30 on Monday afternoon. Captain Kingsford Smith hopes to have the help of the same moon for the return flight. A HUMANITARIAN ASPECT. ENDOWMENT OF HOSPITAL BEDS. SALE OF FLAGS AS MEMENTOES. (Per United Press Association.) WELLLINGTON, August 30. The Prime Minister (Mr J. G. Coates) has received word from the directors of Sydney Hospital that at their request the aviators in their flight to New Zealand will carry four flags—the Union Jack, and the Australian, New Zealand, and Royal Air Force ensigns—bearing the signatures of Captain Kingsford Smith and Flight Lieutenant Ulm, which, with the official messages of goodwill, will be enclosed in a package addressed to the Governor-General. Four other flags will be posted back after the flight to Sydney Hospital. The idea is that all the flags should he sold and the proceeds divided —half to Sydney and half to the four city hospitals in New Zealand. It is hoped that sufficient money may be raised to endow a “ Southern Cross ” bed in in -each of the five hospitals. Mr Coates states that the Sydney Hospital has been informed that the New Zealand Government will be pleased to co-operate. “ I am sure,” Mr Coates said, “ that the proposal will meet with a very enthusiastic and practical response so far as New Zealand is concerned. It will afford a unique opportunity to secure these flags as mementos of the first air flight over the Tasman and the completion of the air chain from Britain to New Zealand. Apart from the historical importance of the occasion there is thus a humanitarian aspect which is deservedly worthy of practical support. I desire to commend the proposal of the Sydney Hospital directors to all our citizens, and especially to the hospital boards in the four centres, more particularly concerned.”

COMMUNICATION WITH AVIATORS. TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENTS ARRANGEMENTS. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 30. In the House of Representatives today, in reply to Mr T. E. Y. Seddon (Westland), Mr K. S. Williams (acting Postmaster-general) said the Post and Telegraph Department expected to be in touch with the aviators when crossing the Tasman Sea, and the results would be given to the Broadcasting Company and to other forms of publicity. BROADCASTING ARRANGEMENTS So that there may be no hindrance to the clear and uninterrupted reception of short-wave signals from the aeroplane Southern Cross during the forthcoming flight across the Tasman the district telegraph engineer advises that transmissions from amateur radio transmitters’ stations will be absolutely prohibited during the period of the flight. Listeners who possess short-wave sets should listen to 4YA, which station will keep in touch with the aeroplane by Morse code, and will rebroadcast its movements on a wave length of 463 metres. The actual date of the flight will, of course, be published as soon as full details are ascertained. •