17,000-MILE FLIGHT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18551, 10 November 1934, Page 5

17,000-MILE FLIGHT

"SMITHY’S” NEW VENTURE PLANE RELEASED. . LOS ANGELES, Nov. 8. The attachment of the Lady Southern Cross lias been lifted following on a conference Between Sir, Charles Kingshml Smith’s attorney and, counsel for Air. Catton. “Smithy’l admitted that Mr. Catton had an agreement to act 1 as the promoter for.himself and Mr. Ulm in 1928, but declared that Mr. Catton failed completely in ids efforts to finance the flight,' and thus has no claim against him. Air. Catton charged that he spent £l5O on belfalf of “Smithy” and asks for an additional £2OO for liis services.

The issue is expected td come to a speedy trial. The aviator, speaking of his intention to fly back to Australia via the East, said: “1 shall fly 17.000 miles to Australia this time. This will *f>e one of the longest flights in the history of aviation. I would much prefer to make my way home by boat in a leisurely manner, but plans have just about materialised for me to fly from Los Angeles to New York, thence to London, and from there to Australia.”

Sir Charles Kingsford Smith to-day boarded the exploration cruiser Velero HI, owned by Captain G. Allan Hancock, a wealthy oilman and explorer, who financed the 1928 flight. “Smithy” plans to rest aboard the cruiser for several days.