TEST FLIGHTS TO-DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 229, 27 September 1928, Page 8

TEST FLIGHTS TO-DAY.

OVER CASHMERE SANATORIA

J'RKSENTS FOR THE PATIENTS.

(By Telegraph.—Preei Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, this day

Having a day on hand, SquadronLeader Kingsford Smitli and Flightl.ieiuenant Ulm devoted most of their time yesterday to answering a huge pile of ietters,. One of their tasks was to inscribe 1500 autograph books, which they set about, steadily plodding through. " """ '.'

The airmii»i , • making toet flights yeaterdey, the J noi'-wester to s|ou'4 west gale, witnr§in. ','•; t . They state |ha^they 4 intend leaving on. Friday if tl^rwfa^r'jjermits; 'After refuelling at ATwhcMi .they ,m\\t there for advice Wr-fifaf tjiel •weather and will flr^t; lnjurn* ing that, proepecta of settled wfiatbW jire good. '..."' ••'■"-'. ' ' ■ /

The *p£ the, airmen in. ( hristofaurch f'hivti fieito *uti"<lown; to * minimum in order that .they shallie a.% tree as possible to attend to the teetirig of the Soutberii Cross. - '■■■■ ■ ■'■> '■, '

Squadron-Leader Kings ford Smith has derided to make a flight over thw-Cash-mere sanatoria this afternoon so ihat the bed patients wKo were unable, to meet him on his vieit there will have a ••hance of seeing the monoplane. Sereral hundred small parachutes, each eontaiiring a packet of tobacco and' a packet of cigarettes, will be dropped from tHe aeroplane for the patients. Mr. T. H. Mc- ■ William will take the opportunity of testing liia radio apparatus.

In deference to - the expressed wish of the airmen that no collection be taken publicly on their behalf, the proposed street appeal which was to have been made yesterday to raise further money for the Mayor's fund to commemorate tlio flight was abandoned. Blue badges labelled "Tasman flight, 1928," were to have been sold on the streets.

Radio amateurs of Christchurch, through their association, will today present Mr. McWilliam with a silver cigarette case, with a map of Australia nnd N'cw Zealand on it, and a dotted line connecting the two countries. On the route will be a little aeroplane with the call letters of the Southern Cross, \7.V,Y, beside it.

The Mayor of Dunediii. Mr. VV. B. Taverner, called on the airmen at their hotel last nighf. having made a special trip to Christchurch for the purpose, mul presented each of the four members <if the crew of the Southern Cross with a trn veiling rug on behalf of the city. Mr. Taverner expressed regret that cireuniatancns prevented the fliers from visiting his city, and wishing them a safe return to Australia. •