SOUTHERN CROSS RETURN

Taranaki Daily News, 13 February 1933, Page 9

SOUTHERN CROSS RETURN

ENGLAND-AUSTRALIA FLIGHT Record attempt in new plane. SMITH’S HOPE OF MAIL CONTRACT. TASMAN WEATHER PREDICTION. ■ By Telegraph—Press Association. Ashburton, February 11. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith will attempt to lower the England to Australia record at an. early date, it is announced by Mr. Jack Percival, a member of the Southern Cross party. The plane to be used is a monoplane of a new design now under construction. The flight will be made in conjunction with a new mail contract which the aviator hopes to secure. ■ - ' • ■ ' • ■■■ ■ It is probable that if Sir Charles is successful with his tender for the contract to transport mails between England and Australia he will attempt to cut down the period at present taken for mails to between eight to ten days, added Mr. Percival. Sir Charles had secured the Australian agency for the PercivalSeagull machine, a recent British type and one of which may be used for the run from England to Australia. “NOT AT AN EARLY DATE.” STAYING DOMINION TILL MARCH. By Telegraph.—Ptess Association. Auckland, Last Night. Mr. Wilfred Kingsford Smith denies the statement that Sir Charles is likely to make an early attempt on the record flight from Australia to England. Sir Charles is unlikely to leave New Zealand with the' Southern Cross, he says, before the end of March. The materials from Australia for repairs to the Southern Cross are expected at Palmerston North on Wednesday. REPAIR WORK PROGRESSING. RETURN OF SIR CHARLES. Wellington, Last Night. “The repair work to the Southern Cross is going on well,” said Mr. Beau Shiel, aviation officer of the Vacuum Oil Company, yesterday. “We have'received cable advice that the parts from Cockatoo Dock are on the Wanganella arriving on Tuesday. They will be immediately sent to Palmerston North, and the machine. will be ready for a test flight on the following Monday. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith is to leave Australia by the Makura on Thursday, and will arrive in Wellington on the following Monday.” Mr. Percival says the defect which prevented the broadcast of . speech from the Southern Cross on its recent Tasman flight has been rectified and speech wpuld be broadcast for the first time on the return flight. Dr. E. Kidson has given an assurance from reports of the past 40 years that the weather will be suitable for the flight to Australia by the tirpe the New. Zealand tour is completed. .