[?] va Proud of

Posed Memorial

Famous Airman

[?] va Proud of [?] sociation [?] h Smithy

E'ER a large private gathering If Fiji’s business men had heard I fascinating address by Mr.

Stannage—“My Personal lections of Charles Kingsford r momentum and shape given to the movement to col he funds necessary to erect a ‘rial .in Suva to the famous jr aviator. his initial Trans-Pacific flight Francisco to Brisbane) in 1928, by” made only two stops in Southern Cross —at Honolulu uva. The story of his miracul anding in small, tree-lined Park, in Suva, has been told times. mage was not with “Smithy” at occasion; but he was on tneer trans-Tasman and North ic flights; and his stories ited the lovable, erratic and ost resourceful character of lia’s most notable airman, sr speakers from Suva’s i citizens described how they idio watch on “Smithy” while w the Southern Cross from ilu; how they organised which frantically cut trees emoved wires from Albert how they put round the hat set £lOO for the four airmen, total resources when they were one US dollar, now ed in a glass case in the Suva e Club). i remarkable that in Suva, if one of “Smithy’s” most re )le exploits, the manager of adcasting Commission should mage, and the head of Fiji 3 should be Harold Gatty— f whom were so close to V” when he made his pioneer nearly 30 years ago. expected that the memorial a plain, impressive construc stone, probably carrying a head of the aviator, and a inscription saying that he the Southern Cross there in Park in June, 1928. The ent should be at the western the Park, facing Victoria and the Grand Pacific Hotel, nemorial plan has been under ’ation for some years It w as if it may reach finality.

Pbter Robinson, first vet officer to be posted to the flflands, took up duties at early in Anril. His services p be available to private for testing TB in their cattle,