LAST NIGHT IN NEW ZEALAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 484, 13 October 1928, Page 1

LAST NIGHT IN NEW ZEALAND

TENSION AT BLENHEIM airmen get good sleep (Special to THE SUN) “Well, we’re off in the morning. Now let's get back to bed again.” This was how Flight-Lieutenant Ulm received the news from Dr. Kidson at eleven o’clock last night. Smiling broadly, the co-commander of the Southern Cross was obviously very pleased at the end to the heartbreaking delays. The pilot, navigator. and wireless operator were not awakened, and slept on, ignorant of the decision till .they were wakened at 3.30 o’clock this morning. The decision was somewhat of a surprise, for though the main body of Australian weather forecasts were not in at noon, the Hobart report was not good, and the barometer here was falling, so it was thought that a flight today was scarcely probable, though still on the cards.

By six o’clock in the evening it was announced that there would he no flight, but soon after six o’clock came tile forecast, this time unexpectedly favourable, and it was decided that if the later report was as good, the flight would be no longer delayed. “It’s not wonderful,” said Ulm, “but it is better than last night. If the eleven o’clock report is as good, we'll go ” In the early part of the evening the

flyers, all confident that to-morrow would be the big day, sang popular songs to the accompaniment of an impromptu orchestra, while a friend played the piano. Kingsford Smith strummed a ukulele, Mr. H. A. Litchfield and Captain Findlay struggled with a “swanee whistle,” and Ulm was the “effects’' man of the team with a tin 'tray. “Well, they aren’t worried about it,” was the verdict of those who heard the musical effects. At 10 p.m. Kingsford Smith turned in. “I think the late forecast will be good.” he said. “I hope so. I’m going to get a bijt of sleep on the strength of the last one, apyway.” Mr. Litchfield and Mr. T. H. McWilliam also went to bed early. Both were sure that all the apparatus of the Southern Cross was p.K. Fifty large sandwiches, several bars of chocolate, and five thermos flasks of coffee, will keep the flyers going while on their long trip. Kingsford Smith, Ulm and McWilliam all asked for meat sandwiches, but Litchfield specially asked for no meat but egg and lettuce. Mr. McWilliam told The Sun reporter that he intended to use short waves for transmitting all the way over. • Luring the evening Lieutenant Simpson made sure that all was well with both the Bristol fighters, which were to keep the big plane company for a few miles of its lonely journey. At three o’clock this morning Dr. Kidson reported on the local weather conditions, giving his final advice, and telling the airmen which 1 course it would be better to follow. ULM'S ONLY REGRET Perhaps Lieutenant Ulm’s only regret as he sat beside Kingsford Smith in the cockpit on the way across the Tasman was that he could not be flying one of the Bristol fighters. Each day for the last week he bas been in the air for an hour or so. To-day he amused Blenheim about noon by circling and twisting right over the town. Many people in Blenheim for the late shopping night stayed on till after eleven o'clock that they could hear the decision. The crowd outside the “Marlborough Express” office cheered when the notice went up, and a few people straightaway set out for the airdrome. Just after midnight the airdrome was a busy spot. It was arranged for the telegraph operator on duty working Wellington to send a flash later in the morning as the plane left. Thew radio man, too, was busy in the early hours this morning setting up microphones from one of which the flyers will broadcast their farewell message. This

was in the hangar, under the wing of the Southern Cross. The other, which handled the description of the takeoff, was on top of the hangar. FAREWELL MESSAGES VICE REGAL GOOD WISHES AIRMEN THANK AUCKLAND THROUGH THE SUN (Special to THE SUN) BLENHEIM, To-day. “Good-bye and good luck,” was the message of all New Zealand to the Tasman flyers as they winged westward out of sight on their hazardous journey, and “Goodbye and good luck” was practically the message each of the men gave THE SUN representative before they took off. “Good-bye and thank you for the great times we have had,” said Kingsford Smith and Ulm when asked to speak to The Sun readers. “We have had a wonderful stay in New Zealand. We used to think that it must be a great little country. Now we know it is. We deeply appreciate the kindness we met everywhere, both official and unofficial. “We are very, very pleased to see how keen the Dominion is on aviation, and hope we have done our bit toward stirring up interest in flying. If we have we are satisfied. We regret we were unable to visit some places, but our time has been limited and the weather was beyond our control. “We wish the people of Auck* land who gave us such a splendid time the best of luck. To the Auckland Aero Club we wish ‘more Moths and safe landings. 1 ” More enthusiasm than he had ever dreamed there could be, was Mr. T. H. McWilliam’s description of -his reception. “Thank them,” he said, “for the splendid time we have had. There has been nothing but kindness and generosity everywhere. It has been great, absolutely great. I’ll be coming back again to my own country soon.” In a similar strain was Mr. H. A. Litchfield’s message. “I have enjoyed every minute of it,” said the navigator on the Southern Cross. “Naturally I will be pleased to see Australia again, but I certainly do like New Zealand and its people.” Mr. Litchfield told The Sun man that it was quite possible that he would not go back to sea again.

“CHEERIO TO N.Z.” AIRMEN’S GRATITUDE WHAT VISIT HAS DONE Press Association BLENHEIM, To-day. Before boarding the Southern Cross, Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith handed to the Press the following message to the people of New Zealand: “On behalf of the crew and myself, on the eve of the departure of the Southern Cross on the return trip to Sydney, we feel that we cannot undertake the trip without a final farewell message of goodwill to the people of the Dominion. “Our short stay here has confirmed the already high opinion which we had of the people of New Zealand, and in addition has been the means of forming many new and treasured friendships. We can honestly say that nowhere in the course of our flying careers, have we been as enthusiastically and hospitably received as by the New Zealand people. “If in a small way we have been the means of further cementing the cordial relationships between our two countries, we feel indeed that our visit has done some good. “Again, with every expression of goodwill from the crew of the Southern Cross to tjie people of New Zealand, we say, ‘Cheerio’ till we meet again.” FROM GOVERNOR-GENERAL At 3.30 this morning Kingsford Smith received the following brief telegram from his Excellency the GovernorGeneral:— “Good luck. “Governor-General.” The following reply was immediately dispatched: “My companions and I wish to thank you and her Excellency for your kindly interest in us and for your messages of encouragement.” MR. COATES’S GOOD WISHES At 3.45 a.m. the following telegramwas received from the Prime Minister: “I desire to extend to yourself and Flight-Lieutenant Ulm and Messrs. Litchfield and McWilliam hearty good wishes for your safe journey back to Sydney. We have been delighted to have you with us, and trust that you will have pleasant recollections of your stay in the Dominion.” “Kia Ora, “J. G. COATES.” The reply was as follows: “Before taking off from Blenheim for Sydney my companions and I wish to express once again our keen appreciation of the splendid hospitality extended to us in all portions of' New Zealand which we were privileged to visit. We carry with us most pleasant memories of the wonderful country and its warm-hearted, virile people. We would like to take this opportunity just before clambering aboard the Southern Cross to express to you and your Government and to your departmental officers our heartfelt thanks for your many kindnesses. “Farewell. New Zealand. “C. E. KINGSFORD SMITH.” *