AVIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 June 1928, Page 3

AVIATION.

(United Service.)

(Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) SUVA, Juno 5. After a moonlit tropical night, this morning is bright and clear with a

light breeze. The runway is looking

' splendid. The grass is like a howling green, hard and firm underfoot, equal to any runway in the world. It pro- . vides a length of 450 yards diagonially, sufficient for the aviators who will he welcomed by thousands of all nationalities. Europeans, Fijians, East Indians, Polynesians and others arc coming in from the surrounding districts. After the aviators land the Governor, Sir Eyre Hutson, will go to

tho park to welcome them. The runway is marked out with white calico. J Lahaska station is endeavouring to givo tho Southern Cross its bearings.

A MESSAGE. CHRISTCHURCH, June 5. , A radio message from the Southern ’ Cross heard by E. C. Shipley this morning read:—“About four and n half hours out from. Suva against head wind otherwise all 0.K., but all the crew aro very tired from battling tho elements last night. Cheerio.” Time 8.55. ARRIVED AT SUVA. SUVA, June 5. Tho Southern Cross was over Suva -Harbour at 2.15 p.m.

The distance from San Francisco to Honolulu is 2089 miles and from Honolulu to Suva 2723 miles. AIR RECORD. BRUSSELS, June 4. Hot on the heels of Ferrarin’s record, two Belgians, Lieutenants Do Crooy and Gwenen have-been fifty-four hours in the air and expect to create ,a new record, thanks to a secret mid-air petrol replenishment, which already has been carried out four times from another aeroplane.

FORCED DOWN. CONSTANTINOPLE, June 4. Arrachard and Brignit were forced down by bad weather.