AUCKLAND RECEPTION

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 79, 27 December 1937, Page 7

AUCKLAND RECEPTION

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Arrangements Complete

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AUCKLAND. This Day. The iiidications are that the waterfront will be Crowded this afternoon

for the arrival of the Centaurus All is in readiness at Pan-Americian Airways mooring jetty, where the officiai reception will be held. Contact by wireless with the flyingboat as she crosses the ITasman, also with Sydney, is being maintained throughout the day from the Chief Post Office, where Group Commander Wilkes, Controller of Civil Aviation, and other Air Force officers, are installed. It was thought the Centaurus would arrive between 3.30 and 4 o'clock, but a message from kfcr at midday stated that she was within 390 nautical miles of Auckland, and that with the lessening of the full load the speed had increased to the equivalent of about 162 miles per houx, and it was estimated that she would arrive at AuckiSSu at appxoxxmately 2.45 p.m.

Ideal weather prevails in Auckland, and motorists are taking up points of wantage to witness are arrival of the first Imperial Airways flying-boat. Arrangements for the official reception of Captain Burgess and the crew of the Centaurus are now well in hand. These functions will include an official welcome by the Auckland Harbour Board near the landing at Mechanics' Bay, and a civie leeeption in the Town Hall this evening. On Tuesday the Harbour Board will entertain - the officers and crew at a mneheon^ and in the evening the Government will give a dinner at the Grand Hotel in honour of the pioneer flight to New Zealand by rhe Centaurus. The opp •rtunity will be taken to associate Captain Musick and his officers of the Pan-American Clipper with the reception to the British flyers, while the Auckland Harbour Board also proposes to mark the inauguration of regular flights by Pan American Clippers by holding an official ceremony.

The Government and other mterests will be represuited at the civie reception which ihe Mayor, Sir Ernest Davies will tender to the personnel of the Centaurus in the Town Hall this evening. The Prime Minister will be present and will welcome the flyers cn behalf of the Government. Passengcrs who travel by the Centaurus following her arrival at Auckland on Monday will have a constant reminder of the city's assoeiation with the inaugural journey from Southampton "Water to the Waitemata. The Mayor, "Sir Ernest Davis, has provided a silver plate with suitable inscription, which is to bo presented to Captain J. W. Burgess at the civic reception tomorrow night, with the request that it be affixed to some appropriate part of the vetsel's accommodation. The plate has tlio city's Coat of Arms beautifully engraved upon it and beueath that the inscription: "City of Auckland— flight by Imperial Airways. EnglandN.Z. Commemorating the inaugural New Zealand. December 27, 1937."