MR RECORD BROKEN

Hokitika Guardian, 20 October 1930, Page 6

MR RECORD BROKEN

. iv ——f KINGSFORD SMITH REACHES DARWIN DIG BREAK OF HINKLER’S RECORD CART. MATTHEWS ALSO REACHES DARWIN HILL SUFFERS A CRASH SMITH S GREAT FLY United Press Asaoeiation—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

Matthews' reaches daravin. % LANDING ON SATURDAY. . daravin, oot. is. -Captain, Matthews has ,arrived here. •He .landed at 4.20 p.m, , There is rio news yet of .either. Hill or Smith. MATTHEWS SPRINT. " C,SYDNEY, Oat! 19. : ,-Captain 'Matthews who landed on ..(Saturday afternoon. at. Darwin at. 4.20 was --7 i .Hpure on the . Right. left Hilly (in Timor) at pVIO. to-day. He saw both Hill and JCinjgsford .Smith on the way, so ..he .hurried to arrive first. He - had,' a rest at the Golf Club, where his.health was drunk. ! fte ha» received, many telegrams of wngratulations. Matthews had an easy trip from England, .and he is' returning to London from here. He considers that Kingsford Smith . is a wonderful aviator. Captain-Matihewie was received on his arrival by. the Government Resident, Colonel Waddell. He Slew in a large yellow and silver areoplane. There was a-fair crowd on the ground ,but/his arrival was not expected at the time. The heat and humidity excessive' and tTie people were shelter. Matthews brought a bottle of wine from the Governor of Bma to the Governor at Darw,in. MATTHEWS’ CONCERN.

MATTHEWS GOING TO SYDNEY. DARWIN, Oct. 19. Matthews is going on to Sydney, after all, and he may leave Darwin on Monday. His aeroplane needs an overhaul before making a return trip. SMITH DELAYED * SYDNEY, Oct, 18. Amalgamated Wireless Limited reported at 8.10 p.m. Darwin time Saturday as follows : —“Koepang advipes that Kingsford Smith returned to Atamboea at 4.50 p.m. to-day Javanese time.” SYDNEY, Oct. 19. .Kingsford Smith, after passing over Atamboea on his way to .Darwin yesterday, turned back for some unexplained reason. He will probably land at Darwin to-day. There was an entire absence of news about him at Darwin on Saturday. SMITH ARRIVES. AT DARWIN YESTERDAY. DARWIN, Oct. 19. AVingr-Commander Kingsford Smith landed here a.t 1.56 p.m. to-day (Sunday). News by radio received by the Vacuum Oil Coy. indicated that Smith had a successful run over the latet liop, the machine, and oil and fuel supply working perfectly.

SYDNEY, Oct. 19. AVing-Commander Kingsford Smith, according to reports received last night, had actually left Atamboea for Darwin, but returned to Atamboea. His motive will probably remain unexplained until he reaches Darwin, where he is definitely due to-dav. There is feeling that he returned to ascertain what liad become of Hill lor whom there is the greatest sympathy all over the Commonwealth. KNIGHTHOOD PROPOSED. FOR KINGSFORD SMITH. LONDON, Oct. 17. In an editorial in appreciation of Kingsford-Sinith, the “Daily Express” outlines his achievements. His wings it says, have giidled the earth./ He is the most travelled of all the airmen, and is also one of the most modest of them.

• FOR HILL’S ARRIVAL. ; • SYDNEY. Oct. 19. Typical of the dashing English airman Captain Matthews, after he had swooped unexpectedly cut of the hlnc on Darwin, being thus the first home on one!otf the greatest triangular air races of all time, declared it wajs his determination to stay at the aerodrome, although he was tired and rfirty, until his brother airman, Hill, had arrived. This proved;a weary find an anxious vigil of many hours' in the oppressive heat. Ominous fears grew steadily with the dusk and .flares were prepared, ready to, be lighted, and while the atmosphere was tense with gloomy speculations, word was received that Hill had ,come down at Dilly, in Portuguese Timor. When Matthews arrived at 4.10 p.m.i yesterday, he cheerfully asked: "Where is Hill?’’ ( /Crowds of excited ' onlookers were unable to supply an answer. •"Give him an hour!” went on Matthews. "I saw him leave Dilly, hut he was going in a different direction.”

The “Daily Express” continues:— “There is the more reason then why the Crown which always is dbuhly appreciative of merit that refuses to obtrude itself, should hohour with a Knighthood this insatiable conqueror of the air. Not only would this be a graceful act, on the part of the Sovereign, but the whole Empire would rise to it.”

BERT BlNKjffeß’S CONGRATULATIONS. NEW YORK, Oct. 19. Bert Hinkler has given the Australian Press Association the following statement: "I am glad to add my congratulations on Kingsford Smith's very fine show. I am very glad that he had the benefit ,of modern equipment, the reliability of which has been a wonderful demonstration of. the progress that w,e are making with small touring aircraft. The few extra miles per hour that are available on their speed, because of till© added power and the advancement in design, is a ' tremendous aid in negotiating the longer hops. 1 can appreciate the quality of Kings ford Smith’s performance,' because I still vividly remember the difficulties which I encountered on the long journey from England to Australia. The difficulties, however, must progressively disappear as the route becomes more traversed, the facilities are increased, and .the aircraft is improved. I never dreamed that, my little run home nearly three years ago would remain the standard for so long,' but the progress in aviation is sure and definite.”

MATTHEW'S’ FLYING TIME. ONLY 13 DAYS. I It. “■ “ • . . FASTEST ON FINAL HOP. ' SYDNEY, Oct. 19. A later message states that Capthin Matthews crossed the Australian coast line forty miles away from Darrin, • and thus he arrived o a.t Darwin itself from an .unexpected direction. Matthews picked up his (bearings from the Ross-Smith memorial obelisk, and then glided in behind -the backs of the crowd. His first remark .was: "I am jolly glad to see you folk. W T hen T/was 'taking off from Dilly tliljs morning, I saw other planes in the distance,, which I recognised as being Hill’s and Smith’s. They hovered about as if they wished me to accompany them across the water. -1 would have been delighted/ but in a ,few minutes we ; became parted, as my jnachine is faster than their’is.” Captain Matthews added- "My actual flying time is" thirteen days. I have had a lot of hard luck, but ray experience sho.ws that a last air seivioe between England and Australia is quite feasible.”

RECORD BROKEN

MANY CONGRATULATIONS

DARWIN, Oct. 19. There is a.serious delay on the landline and congestion of traffic. Hitherto Hinkler held the isolo record between England and Australia of 15y days, accomplished in 1928. Kingsford Smith now holds it. His flying time was ten days seven Louis.

Ho started out from England on October 9th. Captain Matthews began his flight on September 16th hut lost time owing to a crash between Rangoon and Bangkok. He claims actual flying time of thirteen days. Hill’s time was also thirteen days to the moment ’of his crash. He began his trip on October sth. Smith, was the recipient of scores of congratulatory messages from all parts of Australia and abroad. Ivingsford-Smith left Heston Aerodrome, London, at dawn, October 9, His stages so far have been: — Miles October 9, Heston-Rome BSU October 10, -Rome-Athens 660 October 11, Athens-Aleppo 775 October 12, Aleppo-Bushire 770 October 13, Bushire-Karachri ... 1200 October 14, Karachi-Allahabad ... 900 October 15, Aliahalbad-Rangoon 1100 October 16, Rangoon-Smgapore 1080 October 17, Singapore-Sourabaya 1030 October 18, iSouralbaya-Koepang 950 October 19, Koepang-Darwin ... 550 HILLiS BAD LUCK. PLANE OVERTURNS. FLIER UNHURT. V Flight Lieutenant Hill’s machine overturned when flying between Koepang and Atapoepoe. The plane was damaged. Hill was uninjured. AVELTVRiI'DEN, Oct 18. Flight Lieut. Hill was obliged to land on the seashore When his plans overturned and the engine was damaged. Hill is safe. HILL’S AVIFE COMING OUT. LONDON, Oct. 18. Mrs Hill and her three-year-old daughter are leaving during the weekend for Sydney in order to join her husband. Mrs Hill says:—“His heart has Ibeen set on the Australian flight for many years. He has been speaking of it ever since the war ended, and he-planned to go with a friend many veans ago. He 'bought a machine and worked out the details, but then, when his friend was testing the machine, iie crashed and was killed. He is at present on six! months leave, on half-pay. ’ He wants to fly Home again, hut I do not wish this.” *.., - X ■ MRS HILL NOT CAST DOWN. LONDON, Oct, 18. Mrs Hill on learning husband’s mishap, said: “It will, be a terrible disappointment to him, but the only thing that matters jtome. is that he is safe.’’ Mrs Hi 11,., who is leaving for Sydney on Monday (October 20th) with her .jthreq-year-okl daughter, said: “My husband and I have /arranged to spend..,, jfis s'x months’ leave in Australia, \yhatever has happened ••- we . are - both ,A ustra r iians, and ‘have not seen opr people for a Mg time.” ;J .

SMITH’S .LAST LE&

PARTICULARS OF TRIP

LEAVING DARAVIN TO-DAY. (Received this day at 8 a.ro.) DARAVIN, Oct. 19. Smithy' arrived at 2.10 in the afternoon not 1.56 as cabled. He occupied ten days two hours ten minutes for the trip, flying at an average of 110 miles per hour. He was warmly greeted by representatives of the Government.

He asked for cigarettes and' was offered a whisky and soda, but declined, saying he preferred travelling on water. He expressed sorrow at Hill s mishap after putting up a good battle. He borrowed Hill’s collapsible boat tor the final hop and can ied three sets ( of plugs and changed once. He filled a tank with two and a half gallons of oil in the morning and still had a gallon and a half left when he alighted.

He approached . the aerodrome on the eastern side as the wind was very strong. He banked steeply but made a delightful landing. He had allowed five degrees for wind and picked up Bathurst Island easily. It ’was the Itefft flying he had done/ He was wearing plus fours an arrival and also a gold lucky elephant on his wrist.

All planes are leaving to-morrow (Monday). Smith and Haigh at 6 a.m. for Cloncurrv, Matthews and Owen at 7 a.m. for Daly Waters.

THE PITIFUL SIDE. HILL’S SMASH UP. TOLD BY KINGSFORD SMITH. (Deceived this day at 10.30 a.m.) DARWIN, October 20. As great as Kingsford Smith’s victory, the poignant story of bow the tuo Australians stood beside the wrecked plane at Atambola, proved O' courage of one in adversity, and the grief of the other in victory. Kingsford Smith was flying from Sourabava to Atambola when lie saw a machine apparently dismantled, fifty feet from the aerodrome. He flew low, and saw it was wrecked, so landed to see if lie could be of any assistance, and met Hill. His sporting action naturally delayed his flight to Darwin till Sunday. - Tliere is deep sorrow in my heart for Hill, said Kingsford Smith to-day. It was pitiful to see his machine smashed up and the gallant pilot lose all he had fought for so pluckilv. His was a flight infinitely more difficult, and therefore a finer achievement than mine. He told me he had run the

machine the full length of the aerodrome hut it would not lift and the left wing caught on a fence. The machine then overturned and the undercarriage was damaged, the propellor was broken, two wings smashed, fuselage wrecked and other minor parts broken. As it was impossible to have repairs done there, I suggested that h e should go to Singapore and have nis plane shipped home. Although Hill’s face showed hitter disappointment he met me with a smile. “Have you a collapsible boat,” he asked. I told him that I had not. “Then take mine” he continued. “I don’t want it now.” “I had to look awa-v to hide my emotions. I take off my hat to Hill,” said Smith.