WOULD NOT FLY BACK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 13 January 1931, Page 5

WOULD NOT FLY BACK

MENZIES AT CHRISTCHURCH PUBLIC WELCOME EXTENDED (By Telegraph—Preßa Association) CHRISTCHURCH, 10th January. Guy Alenzies was given a public welcome at Wigram Aerodrome this afternoon. Owing to threatening weather the crowd was small, but it gave Air Menzies a hearty reception. He arrived by aeroplane from Springfield, having travelled from the coast by train. Air Menzies landed perfectly and shook hands with Dr. Thacker, the Act-ing-Alayor, and others of the official party. Speeches of welcome were made by Dr. Thacker. Air James Leslie, chairman of the Paparua County Council, Lady Wigram (speaking for Sir Henry Wigram), and Sir Francis Boys, president of the Canterbury Aero Club. Sir Francis Boys said be bad no doubt Mr Alenzies was a wiser man than be was a week ago. Ah’ Menzies was loudly cheered when bis turn came to speak. He said he was very unused to making speeches. He expressed his gratitude ior the cordiality of the welcome given him everywhere in New ‘Zealand. “Aviation is treated far more seriously here than in Australia,” he said. “Everybody is very keen.” “Tell us what you felt like when you landed in the swamp,” asked Dr. Thacker. “I felt the happiest man in the world,” said Mr Alenzies. Referring to the statement of Sir Francis Boys that be knew more than he did a week ago, Mr Alenzies said that what Sir Francis bad said was very true. “I would not fiv back,” he added. Air Alenzies had a triumphal crossing from the West Coast to-day. All along the line crowds waited at the stations eager to see and cheer him, people jostling for an opportunity to seize his hand and congratulate him.

MISSING ARTICLES RETURNED CHRISTCHURCH, 10th January. Many of the articles which were posted as missing from the aeroplane Southern Cross Junior have been returned. West Coast people were merely looking after them till they could ,be returned to Mr Guv Menzies. . . Included among the missing things were logs and other records of the flight- These have all been recovered, Wether with many parts from the machine, which were believed to have been “souvenired.” SAFELY REMOVED FROM SWAMP HOKITIKA, 12th January. Guy Menzies’s aeroplane was safely remov-ed from La Fontaine swamp on Saturday evening, taking only a couple of hours. It was then loaded on a lorry and brought to Hokitika yesterday afternoon, a large crowd interestedly viewing it. This morning the aeroplane was loaded aboard a railway truck lor Christchurch. future plans AWAITING ARRIVAL OF PARTNER CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The Tasman aviator, Guy Menzies, has not vet made any plans for leaving Christchurch, intending to wait until the arrival of his partner who is expected here from Sydney on Wednesday. Last night lie was the guest of the Canterbury Aero Club at a private c.innei, and later lie appeared at the broadsiding at Monica Park Speedway. An aeroplane has been placed at the disposal cl Mr Menzies during his stay in the city.

flight to japan

CAREFULLY THOUGHT OUT

WELLINGTON, This Day. Mr Albert E. James, part-owner of the Southern Cross Junior, arrived by the Maramu from Sydney. He will accompany Mr Menzies in the New Zealand’ tour with the machine. He paid a tribute to Menzies oil his magnificent flight, saying that Guy was a tiger. He repeated that he had no intimation that the flight was to New Zealand until after the hop-olf. Questioned regarding the proposed flight to Japan, he said it had been carefully thought out, and when the ’plane returned to Sydney R might be fitted with floats or a land undercarriage might he used as far as Dur win or Wyndliam. At either of those places floats would be fitted. In any case the flight is planned in easy stages, taking hops about 250 miles each. Janies lias a spare propeller for the Southern Cross and a bag of spare parts. James will be a participant in the flight to Japan.