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Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1929, Page 4

The Southern Cross, carrying Kingsford Smith and his companions has completed the tremendous adventure by flying to England from Australia in under thirteen days. In a little more than a year the leader and his chief colleague have flown well over twenty thousand miles, making no fewer than five separate flights of two thousand miles or more at a stretch, making one “hop” of over three thousand miles, and achieving the double passage of the Tasman Sea in spite of the most dangerous weather conditions. Tlic Tasman flight was probably the most perilous of their enterprises, the long flight from Honolulu to Suva the most spectacular ; but in some respects this last great journey was the most remarkable. Their ’plane had already flown ten thousand miles when they left Sydney and the engines were undoubtedly showing signs of wear, so that they had to nurse the Southern Cross carefully throughout the flight. They took a week to cross the Pacific, though the actual flying time was only throe days and a-lialf. They flew from Sydney to New Zealand in fourteen hours and took twenty-three hours to return against adverse weather conditions. On the journey to England two long flights took them to Singapore, and thereafter they had fo he content with comparatively short “hops,” yet even so they made remarkable time. That Smith and Ulm are wonderful fliers, men of great nerve, sple"' i; d courage and marked

endurance has been demonstrated again and again during the past year, and it was certain that nothing but sheer misfortune could have interrupted their flight to Croydon. New Zealanders will he delighted to learn of their safe arrival and to congratulate them on their fine achievement.