AVIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1928, Page 3

AVIATION.

Australian Press Assn.— United Service .MAKING GOOD HEADWAY. SYDNEY, August 27. The Southern Cross left Tamming as scheduled and according to wireless reports to-night is making good headwav and should reach Adelaide ahead of time.

AN AIR CHALLENGE. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, Aug. 27. A challenge to an air race across the Tasman was issued during the weekend hy Mars Rrunilel, on behalf of Lieut. Hay Paper and Lex ins Burlington to the Southern Cross fliers. A telegram was Kent hy Brunuel to Adelaide for delivery to Smith and Elm noon their arrival fro.ni Best Australia announcing the challenge, one of the conditions being that neither navigators nor radio operators he employed. Brimdel’s men would use a Ryan oneengiried monoplane, now in hand, with width Cant. Moody intended to carry out aerial operations in New Guinea. •Rrimdel declared his men were prepared to show the world that firing to Now Zealand was not unduly dangerous.

ANTARCTIC PLANS. WILKINS’. EXPEDITION. NEW YORK. Aug 26. A message from Desmosines, Totva, states that Wilkins denies reports that his expedition intends to compete with Byrd’s expedition, in the Antarctic, or that lie is being lured to tho Antarctic hy a spirit of venture.

Wilkins, on his way to the East, outlined his plans for his South Polar venture. He said that Eileson and himself, with some as vet unnamed companions would leave New A ork on September 22nd. to join a fleet o Norwegian whalers off Montevideo. These would take them to Gralinmsland, in the Antarctic, where their first base would be established. mgn hundred miles south of Cape Horn. A second base would be established in Boss Sea for further exploration. Wilkins said their prime motive would he the finding of a suitable local ion for a meteorological station, wherewith it would he possible to determine the weather conditions for a len«t three years in ndvnT.ce. thus making it possible to ward off croj

failures tlimnehnnt the cultivated Sooriiern areas of the world. He said that lie exneoted to V twentv-five hundred miles over the infield lint lie would he prepared to walk his wav out of the Antarctic if Joree down. He ife.marked: .Always, those who know the Polar regions go prepared for all the emei cencies under the sun.” Edeson» an he intended to finance the expedite EXPEDITION. NE4Y YORK. Aug. 20. The baroue. City of New York, the flagship of Commander Byrds Antarctic Expedition, carrying thirty-two t>vn limKlml *«»>»£ sailed to-day, for Dunedin. New Zea la Commander Byrd will leave later.