TRANS-TASMAN FLIGHT

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1932, Page 6

TRANS-TASMAN FLIGHT

THE “MYSTERY PASSENGER” ■ ■ .• . _ . ' ■ : . : - ' V- ' : ' ■ ■ - / Sr' IDENTITY DISCLOSED AT LAST. RESIDENT OF NEW PLYMOUTH. '-• ' - While speculation has be* n rife, during the past few weeks as to the personnel of the Southern Crow on its forthcoming Tasman flight, and the personnel was changing daily as far as some announcements .wert concerned, negotiations were going on between Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and * “mysterious New Zealander,” as one newspaper put it. The identity of the mysterious New Zealander was disclosed last night He is a resident of New Plymouth, Mr. S. E. Nielson, secret ary of the New Plymouth Aero Club, Western Federated Flying Club and New Zealand ' Aero Club. The negotiations were brought to aconclusion yesterday by the receipt by Mr.. Nielson of a cable from Sir Charles Kingsford Smith stating that “In consideration of the courteous co-operation of the New Zealand aero clubs and as a •. compliment to yourself” he wbuld- be' pleased to offer Mr. Nielson a passage' - across the Tasman. ’ Mr. Nielson went to Wellington- last week to meet Mr. Wilfred Kingsford rSmith, Sir Charles’ brother and-advance-manager, who arrived’ by boat* yesterday morning from Sydney. During the day he received from Sir 1 Charles’the cable ■ referred to, confirming the fact that he would take Mr. Nielson with him bn .the »• trip. Mr. Nielson arrived in New;Plymouth Carly this morning from Wellington. He leaves New Plymouth for. Auckland, probably by plane, on December 28,. .and sails from Auckland .on December 29 by the Monowai for Sydney. ' [The Southern Cross’ detailed itinerary ■ at New Plymouth and further informa- . tion relating to the forthcoming flight appear oh page 9.1