CLIPPER ARRIVES IN N.Z.

Southland Times, Issue 24233, 17 September 1940, Page 6

CLIPPER ARRIVES IN N.Z.

Fine Passage From Noumea i TRIBUTE PAID TO AMELIA PUTNAM (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, September 16. Completing her first flight from San Francisco with fare-paying passengers, 17 in number, the Pan American Airways American Clipper arrived at Auckland a little after 3 p.m. today after a fine passage from Noumea. Captain K. V. Beer, who had flown the route previously as first officer, was in command.

Among the passengers were five who have made a hobby of “first flights” on trans-ocean and other air routes. Easily the first of these is Mrs Clara Adams, of Long Island, New York, who has a remarkable record in air travel. Others are Mr James McVittie, a Chicago industrialist, Mr William Hoch, a Boston business man and Mr H. L. Stuart, head of a large Chicago investment banking firm. The passengers described the trip as most enjoyable in every way. At the crossing of the international date-line between Canton Island and Noumea, King Neptune, impersonated by Captain Beer, held his court and everybody had to submit to the usual initiation ceremony, which provided a great deal of fun. Earlier the same day as the clipper was passing south-east of Howland Island Mrs Adams, as honorary vice-president of the Women’s International Association of Aeronautics, cast into the sea a large wreath of bronzed magnolia leaves in tribute to Amelia Earhart Putnam, the American aviatrix who was lost in that part of the Pacific in 1933 with her co-pilot, Fred Noonan.

When the American Clipper leaves Auckland on Wednesday morning for Noumea on the first stage of her flight to San Francisco, she will carry a number of passengers apart from some of those who arrived today and are returning to the United States. Several of them arrived from Sydney by the Tasman Empire Airways service at the week-end.

proposals to increase tram fares- on Sundays and holidays, to reduce the number of rides on one-section concession tickets from eight to seven, and to revise the system of bus fares. The increase in operating expenses as the result of the recent five per cent, rise in wages was estimated in the report as £16,900 a year, which, unless steps were taken to meet the position, would result in a loss for the year of £18,900. The proposed new charges are to be submitted to the Price Investigation Tribunal for approval.