SURVEY ’PLANE DELAYED

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 19 June 1933, Page 7

SURVEY ’PLANE DELAYED

ASTREA LANDS AT BATHURST. PETROL SUPPLY RUNS SHORT. (Ururetr rress Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) DARWIN, June 18. The Imperial Airways liner Astrea, which left Koepang this morning, was unable to. reach Darwin owing to head winds, which delayed the flight. Petrol ran short and the ’plane landed at the aerodrome on Bathurst Island, 90 miles north of Darwin. Arrangements are being made to send petrol and oil across by launch. Bathurst Island has an emergency landing ground a mile from the Roman Catholic mission station; so the ’plane’s crew should be well cared for. Strong south-easterly winds are blowing and visibility is bad owing to busli fires along the coast. The launch should arrive at the island in about 10 hours, but the landing ground is a long way from the beach. Hence the Astrea is unlikely to resume the flight till Monday. The Astrea crew is making a survey of the route and aerodromes between England and Australia. LAUNCH GOES FOR, PETROL Received 12.30 p.m. to-day. DARWIN June 19. The mission lugger St. Francis arrived at 9.30 last- night from Bathurst Island. Brother South, from the Bathurst Island Mission, says the survey ’plane Astrea which had no land owing to shortage of petrol, made a good landing and all are well. The St. Francis loft Bathurst Island at .5.30 on Saturday afternoon and fouahi strong head winds and head sea's. The usual time for the trip is six hours. The lugger will leave as soon as the cargo is aboard, but it is unknown when the Astrea. will leave the Island.