DAMAGE SERIOUS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 105, 24 December 1931, Page 5

DAMAGE SERIOUS

(Press. Assn.-

engineers expect at least three weeks' delay ' OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE

— By Telegraph— Copyright)

LONDON, Tuesday. Air-C ommo dor e Kingsford Smith's return will.be delayed indefinately. No other machine being available he must await the carrying out of repairs t othe Southern Star, the damage to which is apparently more extensive than at first thought. Pending a decision by the company as to what is to be done the Post Office is holding 70,000 letters addressed to Australia and New Zealand. Although Air-Commodore Kingsford Smith is hopeful of being able to start on his return trip within a weelc, engineers are of opinion that he is too optimistic, as the whole of the fuselage must be dismantled and rebuilt, and even if the overhaul discloses no other damage, this cannot be completed under three weeks ; it normally takes six. The Dutch Air Line offered to take the mai! to Batavia, where it could be picked up by an Avro machine from Australia. The ' Imperial Airways also volunteered to take it to Karachi on Deeember 2. Air-Commodore - Kingsford Smith, in gratefully acknowledging the generosity of the offers, declares that acceptance is unnecessary, as he can have a test flight within a week, and. reach Sydney within three weeks.