Anti-Climax Again

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 483, 12 October 1928, Page 1

Anti-Climax Again

BLENHEIM SUFFERS REACTION MAY FLY TO-MORROW (Special to THE SUN) BLENHEIM, To-day. The inevitable reaction after the excitement of yesterday has set in. Everybody, the flyers and public included, is 'keenly disappointed that the bad weather forecast at 11 o'clock last night made it impossible for the Southern Cross to start. At 7 o’clock the prearranged time, the searchlight flared across a clear sky. telling Marlborough that a start was as certain as it could be at that time. When the final decision was made many people did not learn of it, and by 4 a.m. between 400 and 500 people were on the ground. Thinking it a ••stunt" to clear the field they would not believe the Assurances of the guard that there would be no flight, staying on and hoping hard. Several bus-loads of people came

from Picton, some from further afield fcieeping at the airdrome. After 5 a.m., however, hope died, and the crowd, little by little, went home. To-day Captain Findlay will return to Christchurch and Captain Buckley will fly to Wellington. AIR RECORD FOR NEW ZEALAND Kingsford Smith's trip to Trentham and back was safely accomplished in a little under an hour and a half yesterday. With Major T. M. Wilkes, the airman arrived at Blenheim at 4.40 p.m. At 6.7 p.m. Captain Findlay with two passengers arrived from Wigram in a DH 50. Both Major Wilkes and Captain Findlay were very eager to be present to see the Southern Cross start on her great trip. Kingsford Smith’s excellent times establishes a new record for a double trip. Even with all the arrangements to be finalised and, the dash to Wellington to be made yesterday, Kingsford Smith found time to sign some of the dozens of autograph books which have been sent him by admiring hero-wor-shippers, many of them children from all over New Zealand- Almost all the books sent are now signed, and there remains the stupendous task of returning hundreds of them. Thi3 will be undertaken by Mr. C. A. Macdonald, secretary of the Marlborough Aero Club. Last evening all the Southern Cross party, with the exception of Kingsford Smith, who was still working, attended the Leckie fight. The 6,0001 b. of petrol and oil that was pumped into the Southern Cross in the afternoon for the journey across the Tasman brings the total weight up to between five and six tons. The crew weighs 6401 b., rations 401 b., flares and smoke-bombs 1501 b., and mail weighing 1001 b. will be taken when the plane hops off.