TRANS-TASMAN FLIGHT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3808, 21 June 1928, Page 3

TRANS-TASMAN FLIGHT.

ARRANGEMENTS IN HAND. Christchurch, .June 19. According to cabled advices received at Christchurch to-day from Captain Kingsford Smith and Lieutenant Uim, arrangements for-the New Zealand flight of the Southern Cross are in hand with the Australian Civil Aviation Department.

It is considered in aviation circles that the Department is unlikely to advise a landing at any other place than Christchurch, since the facilities existing here are so much greater than those in any other town,- and that Captain Kingsford Smith will he guided by the Department’s advice. Stations controlled by the Radio Broadcasting Company of New Zealand will he running practically continuously, while the Southern Cross is making its Tasman flight. The Mayor of Gisborne, Mr. Coleman, has accepted the suggestion from the Rotary Club that Captain Kingsford Smith and party be invited to visit Gisborne in the course of their Dominion tour. It was pointed out a landing ground was available, and that the citizens were anxious to entertain the aviators.

Speaking at a luncheon given by the Institute of Journalists Captain Kingsford Smith said he would not only ily to New Zealand but would liy back again to Australia. KINGS FORD SMITH SUES FOR DIVORCE. ' Sydney, June 20. The aviator Captain Kingsford Smith has liled a petition in divorce against his wife on the grounds of desertion. NOBILE’S PLIGHT. Oslo, June 18. The Citta de Milano reports that ltiiser Larsen flew over the spot where General Nobile last indicated his position. He saw nothing, but soon after Nobile wirelessed that he saw the aeroplane. The party’s present position is latitude 80deg. 33min. north, longitude 27deg. 12 min- east. London, June 20. It is persistently reported from King’s Bay that Captain Amundsen descended in open water close to the Nobile party, whom he met. “FRIENDSHIP” SUCCESSFULLY CROSSES ATLANTIC. Rugby, June 18. The seaplane Friendship, with Amelia Earhart, an American airwoman, and three companions on board alighted in the Burry estuary, off Burry Point, South Wales, shortly after noon to-day after a successful flight across the Atlantic.

Although several ■ west-to-east trans-Atlantic flights have been accomplished, this is the first occasion on which a woman has succeeded in such an enterprise.

The flight was financed by Mrs. Guest, wife of Captain Guest, formerly Air Minister, who is owner of the seaplane Friendship. She and her husband flew to-day in separate machines to Southampton, and intend Hying to meet the 'Friendship as she approaches Southampton Water. The Friendship descended at 12.40 p.m., after twenty-two hours’ flight. “\Ye are short of petrol,” called Miss Earharf when a motor-boat rushed up to the seaplane. Stultz, one of Miss Earhart s companions, who was taken ashore in the mo-tor-boat, said that the party was dead tired and that there was only sufficient petrol to permit the seaplane to taxi for another ten miles. “No one was more thankful than 1 to see the coast of Wales,” he said. “It was a bad trip throughout. Most of the way we were flying blind. 1 was at the controls for the whole journey, and had considerable difficulty in keeping the course, because 1 steered through fog and rain solely by instruments. We realised some time before we sighted land that we were running out of petrol, and we resolved to laud at the first opportunity.” Stultz’s companions are well, but were all fatigued, and were surprised to learn that the petrol was so low. The machine had not sufficient to allow it to take off.