HAWERA'S GREAT DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 222, 19 September 1928, Page 10

HAWERA'S GREAT DAY.

CROWD WILDLY EXCITED. CRUSH ROUND >PI*ANES. MAORIS' VIVID WELCOME. HAWERA, this day. A concourse of spectators, estimated to number 10,000, from all parts of the Taranaki Province, recorded, an inspiring ovation to the famous crew of the Southern Cross when they landed on Hawera racecourse ai 12.20 yesterday afternoon. The landing marked the completion of the third stage of their air journey from Christchurch to Auckland in three Bristol Fighters. The trip from Welliugton took two hours ten minutes, against a stiff nor'-wester. Captain Pindlay, with Mr. Litchfield as passenger, led the other 'planes to the landing ground, and as soon as they had taxied to the re-filling point a big portion of the waiting crowd rushed across the enclosure, yelling .greetings to "Smithy," and so great was the; crush that the' airmen had difficulty in reaching the* waiting cars, a few yards away. Amid tumultuous cheering they .were driven along the straight to the grandstand, where a civic reception was accorded them. The Mayor, Mr. E. A. Pacey, expressed the pride and admiration felt by the Taranaki people, in common with the rest of New Zealand, in the great achievements of the Southern Cross. Deafening cheers from the crowd greeted Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith, who smilingly expressed thanks for what he said was an overwhelming reception, which accorded with the cordial spirit -he had experienced in' other centres since his arrival iu New /caland. Fli-lii ■Lieiifonant l.'ini and. Mr. Liteh-M<-ld al-.n.-jM.ke. ;n U } Kin-.-furd Smith .'Pl'lojiiti'd fur the iiiiM'iiee of .Mr. 3kV< liliani. wliii had been "lu>t in 1 lie ■ ii.wd" and tailed u> roach the dais. A spectacular feature of the reception was a haka danced by twenty , Maori >ni\e.«. naked to the waist and wearing In tie else than head adornments of flax, painted designs and piu pius danglins from waist to knees. The haka was followed by a welcome voiced fluently on behalf of the Maori people by the Rev. K. T. Haddon, a direct descendant of luri, the captain of the canoe Aotea. •lou are the men who have blazed a trail across the chartless skies. We are the children of men who blazed a trail across the chartless ocean over a thousand years ago,' , said Mr. Hadlield. "Therefore we welcome you and wish that you may be always "prosperous." We finished by draping a presentation piu pin uiut over tin- shoulders of Kin<T S . ford Sniitii. • ° Fifty representatives of local bodies throughout the province assembled ut a luncheon given the airmen and the toasts ot -Our and 'The Air Force" were honoured. In reply, Kiugsford Smith commended Hawera for its possession of a good ; landing gruiuid fur 'planes. Earlier iu the ceremony Mrs. A. Illin«»1 worth, of Alton, a sister of the late I Captain Iluud, was presented, to the party.