8008 AID WRITERS

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18877, 22 February 1933, Page 10

8008 AID WRITERS

COMMENTS AND EXTRACTS. That is a good hook which is opened with expectation and closed with prollt. —Alcott.

“THE OLD BOS.”

cheers added to the sound of sirens and motor horns was -so great that even our deafened ears were conscious of it." The “ old bus ” was temporarily forsaken, on the return to Europe by boat, for Southern Cross Junior, and later Southern Cross Minor, in England-Australia, Australia-England solo ventures, which are described with the concluding observation: “At. Heston Aerodrome, in, London, there is a small plane, and here in Australia is a pilot, anxious and willing to complete a job which lie regards as still unfinished. That job is to regain for Australia a record —namely, the shortest- elapsed time in a light plane, flying solo, between the two countries . •” Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, more enterprising than Alexander, is not weeping yet for new worlds to conquer! The Author. Sir Charles “ strongly deprecates ” the phrase “ world’s greatest airman ” being applied to him, regarding himself purely as a long-distance flyer. He says: “ In these days, aviation is a highly specialised profession with many branches of activity.”

KINGSFORD SMITH’S BOOK. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith (says J. M- in the Otago Daily Times) has made “ The Old Bus” the hero of his new bock, nid the conclusion of readers will be that of all aeroplanes that have been built since aviation cast off swaddling clothes, the Southern Cross most deserves to have its praises sung. “ Fokker built her for a flight across the Atlantic; Wilkins took her over A rctic seas; I have flown her round the world-—and more.” Since Sir Charles wrote this testimony his ‘‘old bus” has made another crossing of the Tasman, ,pnd -still is asking for more I The story -of the adventures of the “old bus" with Kingsford Smith in control commences in San Francisco In 1927, whither he had gene with Flight-Lieutenant C. T. P. Ulm and another friend to promote a transpacific flight. Finance proved the main problem, but Sir Hubert Wilkins agreed to sell the Fokker for half the purchase money down, and new engines were procured with the balance of the cash in hand. Money difficulties remained, however, and Sir Charles decided on an attempt on the “endurance reoord" as a means cf making It. With another pilot he took the Southern Cross up for 50 hours, but was -then forced t-o land, owing to fuel shortage. “We had failed to beat the reoord, but the Southern Cross had net failed us. She had lifted a weight of fuel equivalent to that of 68 people." Then Captain Hanoook name forward as deliverer, agreeing to purchase the plane for £3200, and virtually making the flyers a present of It. On May 31, 1928, they toolc off from the Oakland airport on the flight tha,t first made the name “ Smithy" a household word. The second stage of the flight, it may be recalled, from Honolulu to Suva, was the longest -ocean flight that had been mad£. This interesting journey has already been described in another book, but is here retold in the pilot’s words.

“A CHATTY DIARY.”

NEW BOOK IN THE MAKING

The Tasman Crossing. The next adventure was the crossing of the Tasman, which will always be reoalled with particular interest in New Zealand, not only because it brought the famous flyer here in person, and made Dominion history, but also because it had a definite influence in making New Zealanders, to use Sir Charles’ own phras'e, “air-minded." It would be difficult to estimate the extent of the stimulus given by that flight to aviation in this country. The flyers had received weather forecasts from Australia and New Zealand whioh were “extraordinarily accurate,” but unfortunately covered only the areas at each end of the journey. Consequently they had no knowledge of a bad eleotrlc storm over the dangerous strip -of ocean until they ran into it. In climbing to get cut of the storm area they reached an altitude of nearly 10,000 feet. From the onslaught of rain, “terrific sheets of water,” they ran into driving ice, and then the air speed indicator failed. Then Sir Charles glanced at the engine revolution indicator. It showed 2300 revolutions instead -of 1800: “What had happened was this; We were diving down at a terrific angle and at the enormous speed of 150 m.p.h. or more. Below us—and not far below—was the angry Tasman Sea. All around us was a black ©ha-otio void punctured every few eeoonds by great jagged rents of lightning which, like vivid green snakes, fieemed to leap at us from every direction."

This was the (beginning of a most anxious time. Sir Charles brought the plane with difficulty to an even keel. Meanwhile it was experiencing “humps” which, ho estimated, must have been two to three hundred feet, and lightning put both radio sets out of action. “ Although all this occurred over three years ago,” he says, “I must oonfess that that njght is still a vivid memory 'to me. | recollect every detail. I was never so frightened in my life before—as also were my three companions.” But through “the most violent and terrifying storm I have over experienced" they ploughed on accurately to Cook Strait, and even had the good spirits left to make a “nice gesture” by circling Wellington and to appreciate the sight of an enthusiastic spectator tearing off his pyjama jacket to wave to them, before they flew down the South Island to the WJgram Aerodrome. Sir Charles speaks appreciatively of the extraordinary warmth of tho receplion the flyers received everywhere in New Zealand.

“Coffee Royal.” The return ’crossing was comparatively peaceful, and in the following year he and Ulm decided on a flight to England. It was this venture which nearly ended in disaster when, missing Wyndham, they had to make a forced landing on a mud flat at “Coffee Royal.” The privations the flyers had to undergo in this inhospitable spot arc graphically described. They were practically starving, the only food supply left to them being a nauseating type of snail, when the Canberra discovered ■them. Sir Charles stated that the inquiry into the. 'circumstances of I heir foroed landing, though humiliating, was welcome, as it completely vindicated any suggestion of a prearranged “ stunt.” Ho dismisses such rumours with the reasonable reply Hint he would scarcely have risked a machine worth £IO,OOO, and the lives of llirce companions and himself, by attempting a landing “in that dreadful country where it was a miracle that, wo landed at all." He adds: “It was said that we desired ‘sensational publicity,’ to which I will only reply that, the kind of publicity which most men desire is that of successful achievement.” The determination to make. 1 lie flight to Englind remained, and on the day after tho report of the inquiry was published the "old inis” was under way again, this lime making the distance from Australia to Singapore in one hop and, in spile of delays en roulc, 'completing the 10.000 mile juorney in 1” days IS hours. Mien a record. Next came the Atlantic flight, the. complete success of which was hindered by the eccentric behaviour of Hie compasses, due. Sir Hilaries believes. io Ibo moisture-laden, electric-ity-charged atmopspere off Newfoundland having magnetised the plane. A landing was neeessiialed al Harbour Grace, and next morning I lie flight was completed with a typical New York welcome —“ the terrific volume of 1

France lias lest heavily in her “ tourist ’’ industry this year. Before Hie war her foreign visitors numbered 3,000,000 a year, and they spent some £9,000,000. Last, year, Hie number of visitors was halved, while tliis year it lias fallen lo something like half a million. A queue wailing for admission at Tottenham (London) Police Court, witnessed tricks performed by a dog at Hie instigation of ils owner, who was subsequently lined for keeping tlie animal witliout, a licence. Wireless, telephones, a library and a special ear for “culture and res! ” are given as the allracliniis of a “ luxury train " now running between Moscow and Tillis, a journey occupying 76 hours.

A NEW ZEALAND HOLIDAY. “ I’ve just had a most delightful tour up in the north, Gisborne way, seeing the wonderful work Sir Apirana Ngata is doing for the Maoris," said Miss Rosemary Rees, the New Zealand writer, to a Wellington Dominion Representative. “I am writing another book." “No, not a novel; just a chatty diary, ‘ A New Zealand Holiday,’ it is called, all about the places I see and the people I meet. “ To-morrow I leave for Nelson and from there I am going down the West Coast, to Akaroa, and then further south. “ After the South Island I expect to nail at the places in the North Island I’ve not -seen, and will end the journey at Spirits Bay." “Isn’t it all very tiring?" she was a.slc6d “ Oh well, the book is well on the way, and it’s very interesting travelling about like this, but I expect a rest will be welcome after it is over.” “By the way, my latest novel, ‘ Lo’cal Colour,’ should be out here in about three weeks, I think. Miss Rees is filling her travel book with delightful illustrations, and has written in a light and amusing vein. One chapter is devoted to Sir Apirana Ngata’s work. The many exciting incidents she -has met with -should prove entertaining reading. POTTED WISDOM.

FROM THE NEW BOOKS. Sometimes a disappointment in love saves a much bigger disappointment in marriage. • v * It’s a corking good thing to bottle up your wrath. • « * • A man may be fast asleep, but rather slow when he awakens. « * • * It isn’t what a man owes but what he pays that makes him broke. * * # 3 Many a young man visits the pawnbroker’s shop merely to pass the time away. «■ 3 * * Before returning a favour be sure it is in as good condition as when you received it. a * * * The electric-light bill is not always a light burden. ? * • • Withering looks will not make a talkative woman dry up. * 3 3 * Talk is ‘cheap—■that’s why barbers give it away with a haircut.

STRAY LEAVES. An American poet and dictionary publisher has made a list of what he considers to be the ten most beautiful words in the English language. They are: Dawn, mist, hush, luminous, lullaby, chimes, murmuring, golden, tranquil, melody. According to a report from Russia, a special suburb is to be built outside Leningrad next year to house a colony of writers. Another member of Mr Thornton Wilder’s family has entered the field of literature. This is a sister, Miss Isabel Wilder, who has written a first novel entitled “Mother and Four.” Miss E. M. Delafleld is writing a new long novel to he published next autumn. A 'combination of philanthropy and business always leads lo trouble. —Mr Justice Rennctt. Macaulay warms us (remarks the Times Literary Supplement) while Gibbon helps us to keep cool. To do cither is a virtue in a historian; more, it is a lest of his vitality. In connection with tho death of Kenneth Grahame, it is mentioned that 200.000 copies of “The Wind in Hie Willows” have been sold since 1908. Sir Gilbert Parker, die author, who died in September last, left estate valued at £11.327. Mr Si. John Ervine has completed the life of General Booth, upon which he. teas engaged for the past four years.