SOUTHERN CROSS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1929, Page 5

SOUTHERN CROSS

THE NAVIGATOR. REPUI) I ATaS SUSP I CIONS. vAuetralian Press Association) (United Service.) SYDNEY, May 22. At the Air Enquiry, Clifford Benne*s employed at Richmond Aerodrome, gave evidence that when the American engineer Maidment was overhauling the Southern Cross after the Pacific flight, he removed a box of emergency rations, and remarked to Dennett: ‘‘Don’t lose , sight off this •box. . It is the emergency food and stuff tor the fliers.” The box Was placed on the floor on the Richmond hangar. • Bennett never saw it afterwards.

Frank Burke, attached to Richmond Aerodrome, said that lie received a message on the telephone from the postmaster at Richmond on March 30, signed: “Chateau, AVyndham,” saying: “ Weather fine. Drying winds.”- Later he received another message warning tlie fliers against starting for Wyndham without receiving a final “ 0.K.” He handed that to Smith just as the flight commenced. Harold Litchfield, navigator of the Southern Cross, after describing his qualifications, was asked by Mr Hammond, K.C., what he thought of the press' suggestions to the effect that the crew had pre-arranged to lose themselves and that somebody was to find them.”

“ Thev are malicious lies,” replied

the witness

Litchfield said that, owing to the impossibility of getting observations, he had to rely on dead reckoning most of the time, and after leaving Port George and turning back to seek the Mission Station, an unknown southerly drift carried the machine to south of the Mission. The enquiry was adjourned till Monday at Melbourne.

TRUCK SETS OUT. t • / TO BRING ANDERSON AND HITCHCOCK. ' " ' • i SYDNEY, May 23. The Thornycroft truck which is being fitted out to bring hack the bodies of Anderson and Hitchcock, leaves Adelaide probably to-morrow for Central Australia. . it is expected the trip will occupy several days. ’Messrs F. Nottle and L. Miles, who will he aboard the truck, are travelling by train part of the journey. The truck will drop ‘water supplies every.ten miles. No aeroplane will be needed. Two leaden coffins* are aboard.