PARTING GIFTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 230, 28 September 1928, Page 5

PARTING GIFTS.

CITIZENS OF CHRISTCHURCH.

CHEQUE, MAORI MAT. GREENSTONE

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

CHRISTC-HURCH, this day,

The citizens' ball held last night in honour of the Southern Cross airmen was a splendid success.

The ceremony of presenting parting gifts from the city was preceded by an effective piece of stage craft. At one end of the hall was a representation of Australia, and at the other New Zealand, and 011 a wire between ran an aeroplane, to tho accompaniment of stage '"thunder'' and other noises of the storm.

Tile citizens' testimonial cheque was presented, but the amount was not disclosed, as the collection is not yet complete, Lady on behalf of the Aero Club, present' ach of the four with greenstone ;r * old sleeve links. The city's gift iiic.uded four handsomely bound albums, containing a series of pictures of the landing of the Southern Cross and a Maoi> cloak, the prift of a Maori woman aped 101, who prefers to remain anonymous, was presented to Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith.

The airmen themselves presented Captain J. L. Findlav with a book of photographs, in appreciation of the kindness shown by him and other members of the Air Force.

Earlier in the evening the Christc-hurch Reftirned Soldiers' Association presented each airman with a greenstone paperweight, 011 which is a map in gold of Australia and New Zealand, with a line between the two countries representing the route taken by the Southern Cross.