SOUTHERN CROSS AVIATORS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3849, 25 September 1928, Page 3

SOUTHERN CROSS AVIATORS.

SEND-OFF AT AUCKLAND.

At about half-past twelve on Sunday, Kingsford Smith and the party of aviators now touring New Zealand, took the air from the Ihumata (Auckland) landing ground, having had a wonderful farewell by the public, Smith and Ulm looped the loop, and set a course for Wanganui.

When he took off Squadron-Lea-der Kingsford Smith had in his pocket a miniature leather kiwi, the gift of the friends in the Auckland Aero Club. He will take it back to Australia in the Southern Cross as a mascot. SMITH AND ULM LOOP THE LOOP. At 12.20 p.m. Mr. D. Mill’s Moth shot into the air and soon Kingsford 'Smith and Ulm followed and the huge crowd was thrilled when the Tasman flyers looped the loop several times. Then the other two Bristol Fighters took the air and after all the machines had circled over the crowd for awhile, they set out for the south, being accompanied for some distance by the Moth. The weather was fine and clear when the airmen left and a stiff following wind was blowing. ARRIVAL AT WANGANUI. Wanganui, September 23. Squadron - Leader Kingsford Smith and party arrived at Westmere, five miles from the city, at 4 p.m. The landing-ground Avas crowded with 15,000 people from Wanganui, Taranaki, Rangitikei and other surrounding districts, and gave the men the largest and most enthusiastic demonstration since the visit of the Duke of York. The three ’planes made a perfect landing, Kingsford Smith’s machine swooping to the ground, seemingly only a few feet from the heads of the onlookers. As the machines touched the ground, the crowd broke through the barriers, the police and other officials being powerless, and the crowd swarmed over the dais. When the cars bearing the aviators arrived the latter had to fight their way to the centre platform. The Mayor (Mr. W. J. Rogers) extended a welcome, after which short speeches were made by Messrs W. A. Veitch, M.P., W. Morrison (chairman of the Waitotara

County Council), A. 6. Bignell (chairman of the Harbour Board), R. Purnell (Mayor of Martonj, and tVV. A. Collins (chairman .of the (Education Board]. Kingsford Smith munched an apple while listening to the address es and Ulm puffed at a cigarette. On behalf of the City 'Council, the Mayor presented the four Tasman flyers with Wjanganui rugs with their monograms embossed in blue and also suede albums containing views of Wanganui. A model aeroplane, made of choice flowers, was the gift of Mrs. F. Walker. Kingsford Smith, who replied briefly, said: “W'e like New Zealand immensely, and we don’t want to go back.” He referred to the loss of Hood and Moncrieff. It was the mistakes of men like them that enabled them to achieve success. He asked the crowd to stand in silence for a brief moment in respect to their memory. Flight-Lieutenant Ulm complimented Wanganui on its progressiveness. “The Mayor,” he said, “was on our tail as soon as we arrived in Wellington.” Tumultuous "scenes marked the departure of the airmen for the city. Crowds mobbed the cars, shaking hands with and cheering “Smithy” and his companions as they left the ground. A procession of over a thousand vehicles followed the official cars to Wanganui.

ROUGH TRIP FROM WANGANUI TO BLENHEIM. Blenheim, Sept. 24. The Bristol ’planes arrived at Blenheim at 1.18. The fliers report having a terrible trip from Wanganui, being buffeted all the Avay by head Avinds and rainstorms. After landing here they decided to stay the night, leaving early to-morroAV for Christchurch. In vieAV of the very bad weather forecast issued to-night by the Government Meteorologist, SquadronLeader Kingsford Smith and party are afraid that unless the indications in the morning are more favourable, they will be running a grave risk of being so delayed by storms in the South as to upset their entire schedule for the Blen-heim-Sydney flight. „ Accordingly, it may be necessary to-morroAV regretfully to cancel all southern engagements. However, the fliers will be guided by the indications in the morning and they will continue their tour if it is at all possible without running the risk of upsetting their arrangements for the return to Sydney.