THE TASMAN FLIERS

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10954, 1 October 1928, Page 5

THE TASMAN FLIERS

HELD UP AT BLENHEIM. Electric Telegraph —Trees Association BLENHEIM, Last Night. Up t 0 late on Saturday afternoon people were on the qui vive, following the announcement that the Southern Cross would hop off for the trip hack across the Tasman at 4.45 o’clock on Sunday morning. A very large crowd had gathered in Blenheim from all parts of the Dominion and all day' Saturday and to-day a ceaseless stream found its way to the aerodrome where the big monois housed. Tucked under its wind is a Bristol fighter, the pictuus being like an old hen and its chick. Camera people were busy' and under the very line arrangements made "by the aero club officials, close-up views Could be had of the big machine without danger of interference. In the afternoon of Saturday, Smith and Ulm made a final overhaul of the Southern Cross and replaced the propellers. The tanks were filled and everything, was in readiness for rhe great adventure. The late afternoon weather report, however, was pessimistic and on being amplified later, Ulm announced officially' that owing to the bad weather outlook in the Tasman, the flight as scheduled would not take place. This was a great disappointment to the crowd of visitors.

During the week-end, Smith and Ulm were presented each with a Maori mat by Marlborough Maoris. The aero club gave each of the four fliers an inscribed gold cigarette case. Mr George Edwards, of Auckland, and one tim.e of Blenheim, sent a fine floor rug made by' himself for the floor of the monoplane’s cabin, the central design being a kiwi, symbolic of the Dominion aero clubs. Miss Smith, furrier, of AA T ellington, sent each flier a fur waistcoat to keep them warm on the trip back. Mr H. Lloyd, of Wellington, sent four greenstone tikis and / Messrs Fairhi:.ll Bros., owners of the flying field, presented an enlarged photograph of the field in harvest time. GUIDING LIGHTS IN AUSTRALIA SIDNEY, September 29. Captain Chateau is co-operating with the naval and military- authorities for the* use of searchlights at Sydney, Newcastle and Jervis Bay, as a guide for the Tasman fliers. A code will he arranged to indicate to the fliers which light they sight. The Minister of Defence lias given instructions that every possible co-operation should be given. Special arrangements have already been made for flood lights at Richmond.