TASMAN FLIGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1933, Page 5

TASMAN FLIGHT

NOT BEFORE XMAS MACHINE MAY NOT BE READY (Per Press Association—Copyright). WELLINGTON, October 24. Advice received by Mr S. Sheil, tli Aviation Officer of the Vacuum • Oi Company from Sir C. Kingston Smith, makes it doubtful whether th trans-Tasman flight will be undertake! mnoie Christmas. Smith delayed the shipping of tin engine for the Codock monoplam from England until lie had had an op portunity of testing and personally examining it, and it will not now arrive at Sydney until December 3 Consequently, it is doubtful whethei the machie will be ready to fly the Tasman liefore Christmas. It is certain, however, that the Southern Cross and the Codock will both cross together the Tasman Sea no later than mid-January. Sir C. Kingsford Smith may bring the Percival Gull plane in which he made his Eng-land-Australia record, to New Zealand, but the machine will be shipped, not flown across.

SMITHY’S SERVICES RECOGNISED FEDERAL GIFT OF £3OOO. CANBERRA, October 24. The “Canberra Sim’s” oprrespon. dent says: It is understood that the Federal Minister is making Sir Charles Kingsford Smith a gift of three thousand pounds in recognition of his services to aviation. smithy appreciates gift. (Received this day at 11.45 a.m.) CANBERRA, October 25. Mr Lyons announced that the Fedora] Government has decided to make a graint of £3OOO to Sir Charles Kingsfo"d Smith. An alternative suggestion to

find ;a position for'Smithy was ■considered by Cabinet, but it was found that, at the present stage of air development in Australia, no service position, suitable to a man of his; qualifications, was available. Furthermore, acceptance of a Government appointment would have revented Smith’s intended appearance as’ a tenderer for an air mail contract. Smithy, interviewed at Melbourne, said: “This is a wonderful gift, and the most practical thing that could have been done for me at the moment, NEW.MAIL 'PLANE. DESTROYED. ’ LONDON, October 24. A new Boulton-Paul high'speed mail carrier plane was completely wrecked during its official ..trials at. an experimental establishment in Suffock. The pilot on the flight, Lieut. Richmond, was seriously injured. The cause of the accident is obscure, but the fact that the plane was flown three times for . many hours during the makers’ trials, as the contract required, suggests it was not due to lack of airworthiness, IMPERIAL AIRWAYS SERVICES RUGBY, October 24. The Imperial Airways Company’s services show an increase in traffic of 75$ per cent, compared with the previous year. Empire services made particularly rapid develoment, . and 5095 passengers were carried during the year ending March 31, 1933, compared with .2050 in the previous year, and 1100 in 1931.

LINDBERGHS FLY TO IRELAND RUGBY, October 23. Colonel and Mrs Lindbergh, to-day Hew from Southampton to Ireland. When oyer the Cork neighbourhood, they dew over Belvelly, where a trans-Atlantic airport is contemplated and visited the site 01 the Cork Municipal Aerodrome. Later they proceeded to Bantry and Galway. ITALIAN’S SPEED OF 372 m.p.h. ROME, October 22. At Ancona, Captain Pietro Scapinelli, dying Signor Cassinelli’s seaplane, averaged 372 miles an hour for nalf-an-hour. He is the drst winner of the cup presented by M. Bleriot to replace the Schneider Trophy. - “FAITHFUL CITY’S PROGRESS.” (Received this day at 10.30 a.m.) BATAVIA, October 24. The “Faithful City,” piloted by Lynch and Bosse, made a forced landing at Somecang but will continue to Sourabaya to-morrow.