“THE SMITH, A MIGHTY MAN—--”

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1928, Page 7

“THE SMITH, A MIGHTY MAN—--”

The leading spirit in the doughty hand which brought the “Southern Cross” safely across the Pacific in the epoch-making flight from U.S.A., was officially known as Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith, but, when the Ausralian public and hero worshippers got to know him better, he was more familiarly spoken of. Hence his rise to fame in the eye of at least one tiny tot living not many miles from the aerodrome at Richmond. The story was told by one of the local fliers to a group of pressmen who ’ were waiting one day in expectation of chronicling the departure of the “Southern Cross” on the Tasman “lion.”

Little Eli id, the four-year-old daughter of a Richmond identity, had been tucked into lied safely one evening, but, inside ten minutes, she wag back in the kitchen telling her mother she was afraid of the dark. “Nonsense, child,” said mother, as she picked the little one up in her amis and endeavoured to calm her fears, the while she slowly carried her back to the bedroom, “I’ve told you before there’s someone up above who always takes care of little children ; don’t you remember, dear?” At the. final assurance Enid looked up fro S her resting place in her mother’s protecting arms, here eves shitting brightly: “Ob,'yes, mummy,” -she smiled back, “T know now; Smithy!” —Sydney paper.